Whether you know it as Joburg, Jozi, Joeys or Johannesburg, there's no question that South Africa's largest city has emerged as one of the world's most exciting destinations. Business is booming, leisure opportunities abound, and the creative energy is infectious – and right in the heart of it all is the new Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg.
Preparations for the 24th annual World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC 2015), to be held in Cape Town, have stepped up a gear as representatives from organiser WYSE Travel Confederation met with South Africa's Minister for Tourism recently.
Townend brings more than a decade of local and international experience to his new role at Hilton Durban. In his former role as food & beverage manager at Fancourt Hotel and Spa Resort, he was responsible for all bars, restaurants, banqueting, room service and major concerts that attracted approximately 3,000 guests.
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
Nheweyembwa brings 10 years of experience to his new role at Hilton Durban. In his former role as the Food and Beverage Manager at Hilton Sandton, he was responsible for all bars, restaurants, banqueting, room service and major projects like the launch of Queeni's Shebeen. Prior to Hilton Sandton, Nheweyembwa has been with the Hilton family since 2007, starting at the Hilton Dallas/Park Cities as Assistant Front Office Manager, then returning to South Africa where he worked at Hilton Durban as Front Desk Manager from February 2009 to September 2010. Nheweyembwa has also held positions with Hilton in the Middle East and Indian Oceans
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Marriott International will open 30 new hotels in South Africa by 2020 as it seeks to expand across the continent following its 2 billion rand ($190 million) buyout of Protea Hospitality, a senior official said on Monday. The New York-listed hotel group is targeting the bulk of its additional growth in Nigeria, Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as it aims to triple revenue and rooms to 75,000 across Africa and the Middle East within six years. The hotels under construction in Africa, which will have a total of 5,000 rooms, will require around $1.5 billion of investment by its real estate partners, Marriott's Middle East and Africa head Alex Kyriakidis told the Reuters Africa Summit.
Andrew Conn has been appointed General Manager of African Pride Mount Grace Country House & Spa in the Magaliesberg, succeeding Nelson Rodrigues. Andrew has a wealth of experience, having run many 5-star operations during his 30 years as an hotelier, and is a welcome addition to the African Pride Hotels TEAM. Born in Durban, Conn was raised in Zimbabwe and trained at the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg, back in its halcyon days when it was an industry icon and spawning-ground for top hoteliers.
Arne Sorenson, CEO & president of Marriott International, discusses his company's acquisition of the largest hotel company in Africa. Marriott International, Inc. became the largest hotel company in Africa according to published information, and nearly doubled its presence in its Middle East and Africa region to more than 160 hotels and 23,000 rooms as it completed its acquisition of the 116-hotel Protea Hospitality Group (PHG), based in South Africa. Marriott now operates or franchises more than 4,000 hotels in 79 countries.
Mr. Weighell will lead GBTA initiatives in Southern Africa and will be responsible for the growth and development of GBTA SA by overseeing the delivery of the association’s full membership, events, education and training, as well as facilitating industry solution discussions between corporate travel buyers and key industry bodies.
Arne Sorenson, CEO & President of Marriott International, discusses his hotel's plans for global expansion and creating jobs in the industry. Marriott International, Inc. and South Africa's Protea Hospitality Holdings yesterday announced that they have signed definitive agreements for the purchase by Marriott of Protea's three brands and management company.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) and South Africa's Protea Hospitality Holdings announced today that they have signed definitive agreements for the purchase by Marriott of Protea's three brands and management company. Under terms of the agreements Marriott will pay approximately 2.02 billion rand, or approximately US $186 million at current exchange rates, subject to normal closing adjustments. The purchase price represents approximately 10 times anticipated pro forma 2014 calendar year EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) excluding transaction costs.
South Africans will go to the polls in 2014; consequently the first half of 2014 is likely to be dominated by election-related activities. While the 2014 elections are anticipated to proceed without incident, we anxiously await the outcome of what is undoubtedly going to be a highly contested election in order to fully appreciate the potential impact on tourism policy.
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the voice of the global business travel industry— today announced Mr Kovilan Naidoo, Travel Manager – Africa for Cummins Inc, as its newly appointed President of GBTA Africa. Mr Naidoo will act as the lead buyer in the organization with a remit to steer GBTA in developing a full advisory board and strategy across key Africa regions outside of Southern Africa during 2014. The role compliments the existing buyer leadership position held by Ms Linda Basson, Accenture, as head of the board for GBTA’s Southern Africa region. GBTA is the only formal, not-for-profit, buyer-led, member association to operate in the business travel sector in South Africa. Mr Naidoo has held his existing role at Cummins Inc since 2011 with a remit to manage the travel and expense programme for the company across an extensive expansion project across Africa. Prior to this role he worked for First National Bank in South Africa as a Financial Manager and a Travel Sourcing Specialist.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today said it has signed a letter of intent with Protea Hospitality Holdings of Cape Town, South Africa to acquire Protea Hotels' brands and its management business that operates or franchises 116 hotels across three brands with 10,184 rooms in South Africa and six other Sub-Saharan African countries. The transaction would nearly double Marriott's distribution in Africa to more than 23,000 rooms, and would also provide Marriott with a proven operational platform and leadership team to accelerate Marriott's expansion plans and solidify its leadership position in the dynamic and growing African hotel market. [Click here for images and b-roll.]