Marriott International, Africa's largest hotel company following its strategic acquisition of Protea Hotel Group, continues to gather momentum with a packed schedule of 30 property openings across the continent by 2020, 9 of which will open by end of 2015.
The Group, already present in 17 countries, with 93 hotels and almost 16 000 rooms, is opening new frontiers in Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. During the Africa Hotel Investment Forum, held in Addis Ababa, Accor reaffirmed its commitment to development in Africa. Accor is already present on all segments, from luxury to budget, with its Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget brands.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced that it will launch the W brand in Marrakech in 2017 with the opening of W Marrakech. Owned by Morocco-based Menatlas 14 S.A., the 148-room hotel will be located in the city's dynamic Hivernage district.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today announced the signing of Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene, a new build hotel scheduled to debut in 2015. Owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene marks Starwood's 10th hotel in Nigeria and second hotel in the state of Akwa Ibom, after Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort.
NAIROBI, Kenya (Sept. 25, 2014) – Wyndham Hotel Group, the world's largest hotel company with approximately 7,540 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the signing of a management agreement for the first upscale Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® property in Africa, the Wyndham Amboseli Golf Resort and Spa, close to the Amboseli National Park in Kenya.
Hotel Investment Conference Africa (HICA 2014) Features Inspiration and Investment Confidence for Sub Saharan Africa; Brand Pipeline Announcements Shared; Skills Development Still Critical Challenge for Hospitality in Africa
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Tsemex Hotels and Business Plc to develop Crowne Plaza Addis Ababa. The 210-key hotel represents the entry of IHG into Ethiopia and adds to the company's growing presence in Africa.
The increasing rate of inbound tourist arrivals and planned events/conferences is widening an already huge gap between demand for international-standard hotels and supply of accommodation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. A search on Trip Advisor reveals just two international-class, five star hotels in the city, the Sheraton and the Radisson Blu - and anecdotes about delegates attending meetings at the Africa Union's headquarters having to travel up to 60 miles to find a bed for the night are not unknown.
Minor International Pcl ("MINT") and Sun International Limited ("Sun International") announced today that terms have been agreed whereby: (i) Sun International is disposing a significant portion of its shareholdings and interest in its Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia operations, consisting of eight properties ("African Assets") to MINT for a total consideration of R679.5 million (USD 63.9 million), and (ii) Sun International and MINT are forming a new strategic partnership to own and operate the African Assets going forward ("Partnership"). The Partnership intends to leverage both companies' core strengths where Sun International will continue to manage the casino operations, while MINT will assume the hotel management, marketing and distribution under MINT's Anantara and AVANI brands.
Nigeria's new 117-room Protea Hotel Select Ikeja opens its doors this week in the upmarket Lagos suburb of Ikeja. The internationally competitive hotel is just a stone's throw away from Ikeja City Mall & Lagos State Secretariat, and a mere 5.2km away from Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Accommodation at Protea Hotel Select Ikeja caters for corporate travellers with a variety of room types to suit GUESTS' needs, as well as a comfortable restaurant, bar and conference facilities for close to 60 people.
Welcome to the inaugural African Hotel Valuation Index (HVI), an index studying the relative values of hotels in 14 markets throughout Africa. We consider 2014 to be the ideal time to launch the study as data are now more readily available, allowing a more reasoned analysis of the recent trajectory and the growth in performance and values. As the number of investors considering African markets increases and interest in African real estate generally grows, the launch of this publication is ideally timed to be of most assistance to existing and potential hotel owners, investors, developers, banks and operators.
Joining U.S. President Barack Obama, 200 corporate CEOs from the U.S. and Africaand over 45 African heads of state at the US-Africa Business Forum tomorrow, Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) President and CEO Arne Sorenson will share the company's plans to reach over 150 hotels across 16 African countries, resulting in more than 25,000 jobs, between 2014-2020.
At a recent gathering of top executives, working on the agenda for the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) - Africa's top event for hotel investors, research was undertaken by the Forum's organiser, Bench Events, to find out what the essential principles are for doing business successfully in Africa.
The internationally acclaimed, 8th annual Hotel Investment Conference Africa (HICA), to be held September 14-16, 2014, at the Maslow Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, promises to showcase a stellar line up of business leaders in the field of hotel development, investment and tourism.
Kempinski Hotels officially took over the management of the famous Hôtel Des Milles Collines in Rwanda's capital Kigali at the beginning of the month. Hôtel Des Milles Collines by Kempinski will be the European luxury hotel company's ninth hotel operating on the continent, with three more hotels in Africa scheduled to open in the next six months.
– Hilton Worldwide and DoubleTree by Hilton today announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Zanzibar - Stone Town, located 64 kilometers (40 miles) off the coast of mainland Tanzania. Nestled in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town, the 58-room DoubleTree by Hilton Zanzibar - Stone Town offers a perfect base from which to experience the enchanting Island of Zanzibar. The hotel marks the brand's third hotel to open in the country.
The first few months of the year have been challenging for hoteliers with RevPAR down significantly. The recent increase in bombings has also led some tour operators to repatriate their guests and cancel all flights until October. What is needed is a period of calm to foster stronger confidence in the security in the country. Whilst it is easy to criticise over-reaction to events and sensationalist journalism, no-one will travel to a country or city in which they feel unsafe. Many of the recent events in Nairobi have centred around the Eastleigh area of the city; an area few tourists would visit. Yet at first glance the media reports suggest the whole of Nairobi is off limits. Of course, all visitors must take sensible precautions and heed advice from government and security sources, but now is a time for all parties to hold their nerve and continue to support the somewhat beleaguered Nairobi hotel industry.
Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotel company with approximately 7,500 hotels and part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced plans to expand into Kenya after signing a franchise agreement for Ramada Nairobi, the first Wyndham Hotel Group property in the country.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Century Park and Hotel Residences Ltd. to open a new Sheraton hotel in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Scheduled to open in 2018, Sheraton Kigali will mark Starwood’s entry into Rwanda and will be the company’s 50th hotel in Africa. With this signing, Starwood is on track to increase its African portfolio by over 30% with more than 15 new hotels to open over the next five years.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Century Park and Hotel Residences Ltd. to open a new Sheraton hotel in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Scheduled to open in 2018, Sheraton Kigali will mark Starwood's entry into Rwanda and will be the company's 50th hotel in Africa. With this signing, Starwood is on track to increase its African portfolio by over 30% with more than 15 new hotels to open over the next five years.