Protea Hotels today announced the signing of agreements for the development of its first hotel in Botswana, the ninth country in Africa in which the brand will have a presence. First established in South Africa, Protea Hotels has expanded over recent years into Zambia, Nigeria, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana.
The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, which operates 1,370 hotels in more than 110 countries, has targeted Africa as its key global investment region. The commitment to the emerging markets of the region is due to the continents long term economic growth rates, which are forecast to be amongst the fastest in the world. The announcement of 3 new hotel openings in South Africa, with 2 in Cape Town, will create 1500 new jobs in the next 12 months. An additional 3,000 jobs will be created across the African continent in the next 36 months.
Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe, has announced signing a new agreement to manage a new “Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana” property, for the first time in Morocco. The 140-key property will be located at M Avenue, the new high-end shopping, entertainment and residential destination in Marrakech.
Radisson Blu, the iconic hotel brand driven by innovation and design, is proudly announcing the opening of their first hotel in Morocco. Located in the heart of the famous Guéliz district, Radisson Blu Hotel, Marrakech Carré Eden offers a new generation of hotel experience in Marrakech.
The Ramada Addis Ababa opened its doors in the Ethiopian capital last year, and Wyndham Hotel Group continues to focus on the growing dynamism of the East African market, with the signature of three new hotels. The construction of the adjoining Tryp hotels by Wyndham, Addis Ababa Bole Road (120 rooms including 12 suites) and Wyndham Addis Ababa Bole Road (161 rooms), should begin this year, while works on the Wyndham Garden Langano hotel are already underway 180 kilometers south of the capital. Located on the shores of Langano Lake, it will have 112 rooms and suites, as well as two restaurants and a bar-lounge. Services available to guests include an outdoor swimming pool, a spa, a tennis court, water sports equipment in order to gain fully benefit from the lake.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a luxury operator with more than 70 hotels globally, today announced at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), the signing of two new luxury hotel developments in Morocco and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The two new projects include Fairmont Taghazout Bay, Morocco and Fairmont Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, which are both scheduled to open before 2020.
Radisson Blu, one of the world's leading hotel brands, is proud to announce the opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Abidjan Airport in Côte d'Ivoire. Operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group, Radisson Blu Hotel, Abidjan Airport boasts 261 rooms including suites and exceptional meeting facilities. The hotel is located a mere 500 meters from Port Bouet Airport also known as Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport. Abidjan Airport is bursting at the seams, with 1.3 million passengers landing in this international airport in 2015, double the tally from four years ago. The nearby Le Plateau district provides a home for many businesses, banks, boutiques and outdoor cafés.
Baar (CH)/Ras al Khaimah (UAE)/Accra (Ghana) -- Swiss International Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce the signing of a license agreement with the owning company of Alisa Hotel Accra.
Sol Hotels & Resorts has launched a brand new property to supplement its lifestyle brand Sol House, with the opening of Sol House Taghazout in May 2016.
As part of its dynamic development program in Southern Africa, Best Western Hotels & Resorts is growing its portfolio from one to 14 total properties in the region over the next 12 months. The multi-phase signing agreement with Orion Hotels is integral to the brand's expansion plans in Africa and provides travelers with a more geographically diverse portfolio at which to earn and redeem Best Western Rewards® points. Phase one will see the addition of Velmoré Hotel Estate (Erasmia) and Hotel Promenade (Nelspruit) to the Best Western Plus® portfolio and the Magoebaskloof Hotel to Best Western. The rebranding of the three hotels is projected to be complete by July 2016. The remaining 10 hotels will rebrand by the end of Q1 2017. Each of the 13 hotels will adapt Best Western brand standards, but will operate under the management of Orion Hotels. The two companies plan to further expand throughout Africa as Orion Hotels continues to lease, manage or acquire new properties, which will also be branded with one of the Best Western Hotels & Resorts brands. "More than ever, as we continue our journey in taking the reimagined Best Western brand into the future, we are dedicated to offering guests memorable travel experiences and the best in hospitality around the world," said David Kong, President and CEO of Best Western Hotels & Resorts. "This relationship positions Best Western for growth across the continent of Africa and also presents an opportunity for Orion Hotels' guests to take advantage of a truly global loyalty program." Velmoré Hotel Estate consists of the Velmoré Hotel, a stunning establishment aimed at the affluent luxury traveler, and Velmoré Grande, which showcases opulence with everything from oversized rooms to extravagant finishes. Ideally situated between Pretoria and Johannesburg, Velmoré Hotel Estate offers a tranquil country setting on the border of the Hennops River with spectacular views of the Magaliesberg Mountains. Its unique architecture is inspired by traditional French Provence, and the sprawling layout over an expansive landscape creates a sense of space and serenity. The Magoebaskloof Hotel is a charming country hotel that sits along a ridge, offering rooms with spectacular views of the superlative Magoebas Valley. Guests can enjoy an idyllic and relaxing break in the countryside with friendly personal service and comfortable accommodations. Hotel Promenade is a historic hotel in one of the town's most prominent landmarks, the original town hall of Nelspruit. This heritage city hotel offers guests spacious accommodations combined with genuine local hospitality. "It is with immense pride and joy to announce that Orion Hotels & Resorts is joining one of the largest hotel companies in the world, and the rebranding to Best Western repositions Orion Hotels as the largest international hotel brand in South Africa," said Franz Gmeiner, CEO of Orion Hotels. "Furthermore, the association with Best Western creates significant career opportunities for our management and staff. In addition to rebranding and upgrading our existing properties, securing management agreements and leases will be part of our core focus." Best Western has an existing presence throughout Africa including locations such as Nairobi, Kenya; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; and Lagos, Nigeria. In the development pipeline are the Best Western Premier Garden Hotel Entebbe in Entebbe, Uganda and two Best Western-branded hotels in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to launch later this year. "This opportunity to showcase several of our brands in South Africa will introduce Best Western to many travelers in a key feeder market to the rest of the continent," said Suzi Yoder, Senior Vice President of International Operations, Best Western Hotels & Resorts. Orion Hotels in Southern Africa will join more than 4,100 hotels worldwide that participate in Best Western Rewards, one of the richest and truly international loyalty programs in the industry, offering the lowest redemption thresholds for awards and points that never expire. Best Western Rewards is a partner of South African Airlines' Voyager Programme. In addition to Best Western Rewards points, members can also earn miles by staying at Best Western hotels worldwide. For stays that occur this May and June, Voyager guests can earn double miles for stays in any Best Western hotels globally. For more information, please visit www.bestwestern.com and www.orionhotels.co.za .
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) has reached an agreement with Quits Hospitality Ltd to open its first property under the Curio – A Collection by Hiltonbrand in Africa. The Legend Hotel is expected to open in mid-2016 and will be located at Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Nigeria.
Swiss International and Mount Kenya Holiday Homes LTD are announcing their commitment to co-develop an overall resort with a total of 299 Villas, apartments, townhouses and an all-suite hotel resort at the vicinity of Nanyuki and the Mount Kenya National Park, next to Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya Holiday Homes LTD has signed an MOU with Swiss International Hotels & Resorts in Nairobi, Kenya on Feb 27.
Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) upscale global brand of hotels, today announced the opening ofHilton Garden Inn Tanger City Center. The property, which is owned by Inveravante and managed by Hilton Worldwide, brings 320 new rooms to the Hilton Garden Inn brand of more than 650 hotels worldwide. It is the brand's first property in Morocco.
Baar (CH)/Ras al Khaimah (UAE)/Kigali (Rwanda) -- Swiss International Hotels and Resorts is proud to announce the signing of a hotel management agreement with the owning company of the Villa Portofino hotel in Kigali. As from March 1, the hotel will undergo re-branding and training initiatives for a period of 3 months. The new name of the hotel will be: Swiss International Villa Portofino Kigali.
There has been significant coverage in regional media in recent months on the subject of Citizenship By Investment (CBI) Programmes, which are now operating in five Eastern Caribbean countries. Some of the commentary underestimates the crucial potential value of these programmes for the development of new hotels, as well as for the redevelopment and modernisation of existing resorts.
POINT 1: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced it will introduce its booming Four Points brand in Ethiopia with a new-build property developed by Alemgenet Trade & Industries PLC, an Ethiopian private liability company. Slated to open at the beginning of 2019, Four Points by Sheraton Addis Ababa, Meskel Square marks Starwood's first new hotel in Ethiopia since the opening of the renowned Sheraton Addis Ababa, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in 1998. Strategically located on the main arterial avenue leading to Bole International Airport, the hotel is a short walk from popular city landmark, Meskel Square, and a quick drive to the United Nations and African Union Headquarters.
Hilton Hotels & Resortstoday officially announced its first hotel in Chad, Hilton N'Djamena which takes Hilton Worldwide's overall presence to 100 countries and territories. The 194-room property, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Chari River, is located in the new and upmarket district of Sabangali in N'Djamena. The latest addition joins Hilton Worldwide's growing portfolio of 37 hotels in Africa.
Togo is to host an additional Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in spring 2016 reflecting the country's optimism for further economic expansion. AHIF conferences bring together major international investors, business leaders, government ministers and top officials from across Africa. The plans to host an AHIF conference in Togo's capital Lomé next April run parallel with two major development initiatives designed to enhance the country's standing as a strategic investment destination for business and tourism by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Private Sector Promotion and Tourism of Togo. Lomé's new airport terminal, which was scheduled to open in late 2015, will increase passenger capacity from 400,000 to two million, and triple the international airport's passenger and cargo potential. It will accommodate direct flights from Cairo, Turkey and Dubai. Within the next decade the expansion of the capital's sea port will triple its capacity, to 1.2 million containers a year. Matthew Weihs, managing director of Bench Events, which organises AHIF, said: "Our decision to host an additional AHIF conference in Lomé comes at a pivotal time for Togo. Business and tourism is growing and we're confident this will fuel increased demand for hotel capacity. We believe the airport and port expansion will trigger other infrastructure projects, presenting significant opportunities for business and tourism. Togo is increasingly becoming an important investment destination." The AHIF conference will take place on 5th – 6th April at the new landmark Radisson Blu 2 Fevrier hotel in the capital. It will give delegates the chance to discuss the challenges and opportunities of investing and developing in the country. Ashok Gupta, CEO of Kalyan Hospitality Development, Radisson Blu's partner in the Lomé hotel, said: "What attracts us to Togo is the combination of several factors, not least the natural asset of its port with the government's vision to create a trading hub for West Africa. Kalyan had been willing to develop activities in Africa for some time and Togo appears to be the best choice in terms of business implementation. The support and the reactiveness shown by the Government since the very beginning made this project possible in such a short period of time. I am not surprised that Togo has been ranked by the World Bank in 2015 among the three countries that have undertaken the biggest steps in terms of business environment facilities, this is a great achievement and it has to be underlined." He continued: "This is an important starting point for the further extension of our hospitality segment. And the fact that Lomé is hosting an AHIF conference will complement all our ambitions. We are looking forward to some serious and fruitful discussions." The Radisson Blu 2 Fevrier is an upscale 320-room prestigious complex with two auditoriums, business centre, swimming pool, tennis courts and casino. Togo attracts a variety of tourist visitors keen to explore its beautiful scenery and enjoy its tropical climate. Latest figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council show that travel and tourism directly accounted for 3.1% of total GDP in 2014 and is forecast to rise by 6% in 2015, and by a further 2.2% each year from 2015 to 2025. On a wider analysis, the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was 6.7% in 2014 and is forecast to rise by 5.4% by the end of 2015. Bernadette Essossimna Legzim-Balouki, Togo's Minister for Commerce, Industry, Private Sector Promotion and Tourism said: "Our government is keen to see sustainable economic growth, and travel and tourism is a major contributor to that effort. Of course we face a number of challenges, and discussion between government and business, such as at AHIF, will help us find the best way forward." Elie Younes, EVP & Chief Development Officer of Carlson Rezidor, which manages the Hotel 2 Fevrier, concluded: "The emerging market of Africa is one of our key focus growth areas. We have high expectations for the AHIF conference this year based on its track record of attracting high-calibre speakers and delegates. I look forward to this prominent educational and a deal-making event" About The Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) AHIF is the premier hotel investment conference in Africa, attracting many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers. It is organised by Bench Events (www.benchevents.com), which is known for producing, alongside Questex Travel + Hospitality and MEED Events, several top-level hotel conferences around the world including Berlin (IHIF), Dubai (AHIC), Istanbul (CATHIC) and Moscow (RHIC). Sponsors of AHIF Togo 2016 are: Host Sponsor: Groupe Kalyan; Platinum sponsors: AccorHotels; Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; Gold Sponsors: Areen Hospitality Interior Design; Colliers International, France Kitchen; Horwath HTL; Hotel Partners Africa; HVS; JLL; Kempinski Hotels; Source Interior Brand Architecture; Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; STR Global; Wyndham Hotel Group and ZPC Group.Contacts For further information and high resolution images, please visit http://www.events.benchevents.com/e/106592/2016-01-14/59vs8/14001909 or contact:David Tarsh, Tarsh Consulting, Email: [email protected], Tel: +44 (0) 20 7602 5262, Cel: +44 (0) 7770 816 070.
Luxury hotel brand Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Abu Dhabi-based private real estate investment company Eagle Hills, today announced the development of a new luxury hotel in Morocco, Fairmont La Marina Rabat-Salé. The 200-room hotel, set to open in 2019, will be located in La Marina Morocco, a coastal mixed-use development strategically located between Rabat and the ancient city of Salé.
Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca, a new oceanside hotel in Morocco's largest city, is now celebrating its grand opening with special offers for its first guests. The 186-room Hotel cascades down toward the Atlantic, providing a luxurious retreat inspired by ocean waves and kissed by cool breezes. Most guest rooms and suites have balconies to take in the fresh sea air, and the Hotel's signature restaurant and lobby lounge face the ocean.