Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a new DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, with local operator Upper Eastside Hotel (Pty) Ltd. The hotel will be Hilton Worldwide's fifth property in South Africa and its second in the 'Mother City' of Cape Town.
Morgans Hotel Group announces the opening of its newest international property, Delano Marrakech. From the shores of South Beach to the African continent, the much-anticipated Delano Marrakech exudes the mystery and exoticism of its surroundings, while offering the style, sophistication and unmatched standards of service that world travelers have come to expect from the Delano brand.
Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure business of global property developer Emaar Properties PJSC, has further strengthened its global footprint, particularly in the fast-growing markets of Africa, with a new management contract to operate a uniquely designed resort near the world-famous Masai Mara in Kenya.
Rezidor, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, announces the Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Newlands. The mid-market property featuring 122 keys is scheduled to open in Q1 2014. It is Rezidor's second Park Inn by Radisson hotel in Cape Town; the group also has two Radisson Blu hotels in Cape Town (one in operation, one under development).
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., the leader in luxury hospitality, has announced the brand's first hotel in Tunisia. The Ritz-Carlton Tunis, Carthage is owned by Companie Tunisienne de Development Touristique (CTDT), a subsidiary of the Driss-Jenayah Group, and a pioneer group in hospitality.
Rezidor, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, announces the Radisson Blu Hotel Cotonou in Benin. The first class property featuring 203 guest rooms is scheduled to open in Q2 2014.
For the first time, Sofitel is to open its doors in Casablanca, Morocco's economic capital, with Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche. The glass building designed by Belgian architect Patrick Guénard reflects the breath of modernity that the country's largest city is currently experiencing. Situated at the heart of the business district the 24-story hotel stands out in the skyline. Frenchmen Marc Hertrich and Nicolas Adnet were given the job of decorating its interior. The pair have managed to ingeniously mix clean lines with Moorish trimmings. The innovatively designed 141 bedrooms and 30 suites all have a view of the white city.
In December 2012 Sun International Hotels & Resorts will open the company's first hotel in Johannesburg. The Grayston is located in the heart of Sandton, Johannesburg's financial district near the Stock Exchange. It will be ideal for business travelers due to its location, its conference facilities, business service amenities and significant landscaped gardens that surround the hotel. After a complete $US 48 million remodeling of an existing hotel structure, the 4* deluxe hotel will offer 267 rooms with complimentary WiFi access.
Four SeasonsHotels and Resorts has signed a long term management agreement with the owners of Bilila Lodge, a resort in the Serengeti National Park, and is now operating the property, which will be upgraded and renamedFour Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania in fall 2012.
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's largest hotel companies, has signed its first hotel in Algeria, the Holiday Inn Algiers-Cheraga Tower. The 243 room hotel will be developed by Ramdane Group and managed by IHG. IHG's Director of Development, France and North Africa, Brice Marguet said that the Holiday Inn would fill a significant gap in the market as there were no internationally branded midscale hotels in Algiers.
Hilton Worldwidehas today signed an agreement with Inveravante Group to introduce two new premium hotels in the historic city of Tangier. The agreement ceremony, held in Rabat, Morocco in the presence of Lahcen Haddad, Minister for Tourism in Morocco, was officially signed by Manuel Jove Capellan, chairman, Inveravante and Deepak Seth, vice president, development, Southern Europe, North & West Africa, Hilton Worldwide.
Morgans Hotel Group Co., the New York-based hospitality management company, today announced a partnership with Moroccan entrepreneurAhmed Bennani and Hivernage Collection which will see the unveiling of two properties in Marrakech,Morocco; a 73-roomDelano slated to open inSeptember 2012, followed by a Mondrian-branded property scheduled to open in late 2013. The collaboration was marked by a meeting with representatives from both parties, who came together to sign 15-year management agreements for both properties.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the debut of the first Le Méridien hotel in Algeria with the opening of Le Méridien Oran Hotel & Convention Centre. Owned by Sonatrach, the hotel is part of a mixed-use development, which includes an adjacent conference and exhibition centre, an esplanade and an oceanfront promenade. Located on Algeria"s north-western Mediterranean coast, Le Méridien Oran sits on a cliff offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.
The Protea Hospitality Group says it's forging ahead with expansion plans in Africa this year, with the first Protea Hotel soon to be built in a yet-to-be-disclosed location and 10 other properties in the pipeline for Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. The total value of this investment by Protea Hotels and its property owner partners is R1 billion. This will bring to nine the number of African countries in which Protea Hotels is represented and the company is expected to make a separate announcement soon in this regard.
The Riu Palace Tikida Agadir, an All Inclusive beachfront property of 444 rooms, will be located next to ClubHotel Riu Tikida Dunas, Riu Tikida Beach and Riu Grand Palace Tikida Golf, and will be the fourth resort from the Spanish hotel chain in Agadir.
The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces the Radisson Blu Hotel Conakry in Guinea. The property featuring 249 rooms is scheduled to open in 2014.
Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) announced today that it has signed agreements with Prime Hospitality S.A. to manage its first two hotels in the Central African nation of Gabon: an upscale, 250-room Marriott Hotels & Resorts branded hotel and a 40-unit Marriott Executive Apartments extended stay hotel in Libreville. The Libreville Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments, expected to open in 2015, will be located on a prime waterfront site in Libreville's central business district. The hotels will be in close proximity to the Presidential Palace, US Embassy, French Embassy, international airport and sea port.
Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) announced today the development of the 198-room Courtyard by Marriott Setif, Algeria, under management agreement with ownership group Prom-Bati SPA (president is Mr. Rachid Khenfri). The hotel will be part of the Park Mall mixed use development, located in the heart of Setif, a prosperous and diverse city in central Algeria, about 100 kms/62 miles from the Mediterranean coast and 482 kms/300 miles southeast of the capital Algiers. The Courtyard by Marriott Setif and the Courtyard by Marriott Algiers, announced previously, will both open in 2014.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has announced the official opening of the 260-room Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in the Ghanaian capital Accra. Originally built and presented as a gift by the United Kingdom to Ghana after gaining independence in 1957, the completely rebuilt Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra is ideally located downtown in the central business district, close to Government ministries, major financial institutions, Accra International Conference Centre and only 7km from Kotoka International Airport.
"Tourism is a major contributor in the Moroccan economy being the second contributor in national GDP and first contributor of foreign currency reserves. This has been mainly driven by an important investment dynamic in the tourism sector, averaging 45% of total investment agreements signed over the past decade" Yassir Zenagui, Minister of Tourism & Handicraft, Morocco.