Bench Events today announced that Haile Gebrselassie, the former Olympic and world athletics champion, has been confirmed as a speaker at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) - Africa's top event for hotel investors, which takes place from the 29th September to 1st October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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.
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.
Bench Events, the organiser of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) has announced that the event will now take place at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia on 29th Sept – 1st Oct.
Alan Diaz, senior vice president of Laureate International Universities recently shared his more than 30 years' experience in the global hospitality industry with students of The Private Hotel School (PHS) and members of FEDHASA during an event organised by the students as part of their events management syllabus.
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.
Morocco has been unveiled as the host for the World Travel Awards Grand Final 2014, 2015 and 2016 today following the signing of a three-year hosting agreement during a ceremony hosted at Arabian Travel Market. The announcement was made at the press conference jointly hosted by World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke, Moroccan Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Dr. Lahcen Haddad, and Mohammed Arkobi, Chairman of Innovate Marketing Solutions.
With two new hotels due to open this year, HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings announced its firm commitment to consolidating its presence in Sudan. Addressing an exclusive press conference in Khartoum, Laurent A. Voivenel, CEO, HMH, said, "Sudan is part of our 'Go Africa' strategy.With three hotels in operation and two under development we are strongly positioned in Sudan and well-placed to contribute to the growth of the local hospitality and tourism industry. We have got a strong portfolio of brands and are in intensive discussions with Sudanese Kuwaiti Hotels Company to consolidate and build on our strategic cooperation".
Carlson Rezidor, one of the most dynamic and largest hotel groups worldwide, reinforces its presence in Tunisia with the signing of two hotels, the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Sousse and the Radisson Blu Pearl Resort, Sousse. Both are existing properties now undergoing full renovation and transformation before re- opening under the Radisson Blu flag second quarter, 2016.
Virgin Limited Edition, Sir Richard Branson's luxury collection of award-winning retreats is excited to announce that it has reached a preliminary agreement to purchase a new property - Mont Rochelle Hotel and Mountain Vineyard in South Africa, which would become the latest addition to the already eclectic portfolio.
Minor Hotel Group (MHG), operator of over 100 hotels, resorts and serviced suites in 14 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean, is pleased to announce the addition of three properties in Mozambique to its portfolio and a 25% equity investment in the properties. They will be reflagged to MHG's Anantara and AVANI brands later this year and take the total number of MHG properties in operation to 108 and the total number of rooms to over 13,000.