DEVELOPMENT NEWS 2018
ONOMO Hotels Chain Eyes Kampala After Rwanda Entry | 14 Nov 18 | [Read More]
Luxury Hotels in Africa Market 2018 Share,Trend,Segmentation and Forecast to 2022 | 13 Nov 18 | [ Read More ]
Middle East hotels mark rough September while Africa saw gains | 25 Oct 18 | [ Read More ]
STR: Middle East and Africa hotel performance for September 2018| 24 Oct 18 | [ Read More ]
How global hotel brands are mopping up Africa’s growing hotel market | 11 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
20 global hotels in beeline for Kenya [ Read More ]
Guinea to get first Radisson Blu | 5 Nov 18 | [ Read More ]
‘We have proven in Africa that we can sign and open hotels in the African market’ | 10 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
AC Hotels by Marriott opens first hotel in Middle East and Africa in South Africa’s Mother City | 05 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
Sarovar Hotels to open 17 properties next year, considering international expansion to markets beyond Africa | 03 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
Profit slide continues for Middle East & North Africa hotels | 04 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
Why Francophone Africa’s hotel pipeline is up 12 percent over 2017 | 26 Nov 18 | [ Read More ]
Resurgent Abidjan creates opportunities in Ivory Coast | 18 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
Zimbabwe tourism sector grosses $1 billion | 30 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
Africa’s travel and tourism: Impressive growth in the past year | 10 Jan 19| [ Read More ]
This is how Africa can unlock its tourism potential | 19 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
A strong MICE sector could shore up Africa’s tourism receipts in 2019 | 21 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
UNWTO chief: Growth of African Tourism as industry remains resilient | 28 Dec 18 | [ Read More ]
Multi-Faceted Destination Mauritius offers luxury holidays| 07 May 18 | [ Read More ]
October 2017 – Marriott International Continues Extensive Expansion in Africa
From the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Kigali, Rwanda, Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced further expansion plans in Africa with seven new hotel signings. Marriott International was the first global chain to make a significant investment in Africa with the acquisition of Protea Hotels for $210 million in 2014. The company is targeting over 200 hotels with 37,000 rooms open or in the pipeline by 2022, equating to around $8.5 billion of capital investment by its real estate partners, reinforcing its continued commitment to expansion in Africa and solidifying its leadership on the continent. The investment is expected to generate substantial economic activity and around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs once the hotels open. Read More
July 2017 – Local hotel group to open Sh2.4b facility in Nairobi
A local hotel chain plans to open a new Sh2.5 billion five-star facility in Nairobi’s Hurligham area next year. Read More
June 2017 – The Largest Luxury Resort in Africa Will Open in 2020
A new vacation playground is coming to Africa.
Spanning some 3,756 acres across Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Amber Resort is a “luxury tropical community” that will host East Africa’s first Signature golf course and deep water marina, its own airport, an aqua park, luxury villas for sale, and five international hotels and over water lodges for guests. Read More
October 2017 – Rwanda-based CityBlue chain to rebrand Kenyan Best Western
“We plan to open the rebranded CityBlue Creekside Hotel & Suites next month as the value hotel of choice for the Mombasa market, as it takes off post-election and into the busy December season,” CityBlue Hotels’ Founder & CEO, Jameel Verjee, said in a statement. “The location of the hotel makes it ideal for conferences, weddings and leisure vacations but it also clearly falls into the business hotel ‘value’ category that CityBlue is currently known for.” ers of Africa’s Greenest Hotel, Verde Hotels to ensure that Hotel Verde Zanzibar will be the Greenest hotel in East Africa” stated Mr. Said Salim Awadh Bakhresa, Chairman of the Bakhresa Group. Read More
August 2017 – Address Marassi Beach Resort, Egypt, to redefine high-end hospitality
The property, which stands in a waterfront location by the Mediterranean Sea and overlooks the Sidi Abdel Rahman Bay, will be home to 140 beautifully appointed rooms and suites. It will form part of Marassi, the master-planned touristic and residential development by Emaar Misr. Read More
July 2016 – Bakhresa Group and Verde Hotels to Build Zanzibar’s Greenest Hotel
The Tanzanian based Bakhresa Group has appointed Verde Hotels from South Africa to develop and manage the total overhaul and upgrading of the old Mtoni Marine Hotel in Zanzibar, 2km from Stone Town. The brand new five star property will be known as Hotel Verde, Zanzibar’s greenest hotel.
” We are serious about being the leaders of the Green Economy sector and therefore we approached the developers of Africa’s Greenest Hotel, Verde Hotels to ensure that Hotel Verde Zanzibar will be the Greenest hotel in East Africa” stated Mr. Said Salim Awadh Bakhresa, Chairman of the Bakhresa Group. Read More
June 2016 – Carlson Rezidor Accelerating Growth Strategy in Africa
Carlson Rezidor is accelerating its growth strategy in Africa. The group has opened five Radisson Blu hotels in the first six months of 2016 and signed four new hotels including the first Quorvus Collection in Africa. The group is also entering its 28th country in Africa and taking the Park Inn by Radisson brand to the Indian Ocean islands.
In 2016, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group opened five Radisson Blu properties serving the upper-upscale segment: Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill in Kenya (271 rooms); Radisson Blu Hotel, Marrakech Carré Eden in Morocco (198 rooms); Radisson Blu Residence with 187 luxury hotel apartments in Maputo, Mozambique (the group’s first residence concept in Africa); Radisson Blu Hotel Abidjan Airport, Ivory Coast (261 rooms) and Radisson Blu Hotel 2 Février in Lomé (320 rooms)….Read More
June 2016 – Four Points by Sheraton to open in Tanzania
Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East president Michael Wale said: “The entry of Four Points to Tanzania is a milestone addition to our rapidly growing footprint in Africa and reflects the strong traction the brand has gained in the region.
“Tanzania has long been on travelers’ bucket list and Four Points by Sheraton is reinventing travel by offering guests exactly what they need while on the road,” Wale added. [read more]
April 2016 – Hotel Development in Africa Jumps 30% to 64,000 rooms for 2016
The number of planned hotel rooms for 2016 in Africa has soared to 64,000 in 365 hotels, up almost 30% on the previous year, according to new figures from the annual W Hospitality Group Hotel Chain Development Pipeline Survey. [read more]
The increase is largely down to strong growth in sub-Saharan Africa, which is up 42.1% on 2015 and is significantly outstripping North Africa which achieved only a modest 7.5% pipeline increase this year.
March 2016 – Radisson Blu Hotel Abidjan Airport Opens in Côte D’Ivoire
Operated by The Rezidor Hotel Group, Radisson Blu Hotel, Abidjan Airport features 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. [read more]
March – Hilton sees opportunity in Africa
Hilton sees Africa as a key region for growth; the new hotel is part of Hilton’s broader plan to expand its presence in all of the major cities in sub-Saharan Africa. “We’re working our way up the map. [read more]
December – Le groupe français Accor ouvre un hôtel Ibis Styles au Ghana (French group Accor opens an Ibis Styles hotel in Ghana)
(Agence Ecofin) – Le groupe AccorHotels vient d’annoncer l’ouverture d’un nouvel hôtel au Ghana sous son enseigne dédiée à l’hôtellerie économique Ibis Styles. Cet établissement rebaptisé Ibis Styles Accra Airport est la propriété de la société ghanéenne TGL Properties Ltd. [read more]
November – Interior by Areen in Hilton’s first Sierra Leone hotel capital’s first 5 star resort and business hotel
Building work has resumed on site to deliver Sierra Leone’s first Hilton hotel, The Hilton Freetown Cape Sierra. Excavations have now been completed and the main structure of this 12 storey hotel is rising rapidly skywards. London-based design practice Areen Hospitality is appointed to design and fit out all interiors of this 200 key hotel, including Executive and Presidential suites, Infinity pool, two restaurants and a state of the art business centre. [read more]
September – Marriott International Expands Brand Offering in South Africa
Marriott International, Africa’s largest hotel operator, announces an agreement to develop the Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch and Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg Melrose Arch, in partnership with The Amdec Group. [read more]
August – Minor Hotel Group and Sun International announce major plans for Africa
Minor Hotel Group (MHG) announced its launch of a regional office in Johannesburg on 30 July, to represent its Southern Africa portfolio. This owner, investor and operator that originated in Thailand and now has a portfolio of 134 hotels and resorts with 17,000 keys in 22 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean, is consolidating its growing presence in Africa. [read more]
August – Why Minor Hotel is knocking on Africa’s doors
Interview with Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotel Group [watch on youtube]
July 2015 – Hilton to open first Garden Inn hotel in Kenya
Hilton Worldwide has announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Reliance Hotels Ltd to open Hilton Garden Inn Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. The hotel joins 11 Hilton Garden Inn properties already under development in Africa, including Hilton Garden Inn Abuja Airport, and is expected to open in early-2016. [read more]
June 2015 – Africa is hoping for more tourists – 305 new top hotels in the pipeline – With 45 hotel projects Egypt trusts in re-strengthening of the tourism industry
Cairo, Egypt – June 10, 2015 – Africa has lots of problems: Ebola epidemic, fights, attacks and tumults after the Arab Spring. The sun-kissed holiday destination at the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic and Indian Ocean suffered strongly during the past years. In West African countries such as Sierra Leone the beautiful beaches remain empty as well as in Kenya in the East of Africa and Tunisia by the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless the continent trusts in a re-strengthening of the multi-billion dollar worth tourism business. According to TOPHOTELPROJECTS, the worldwide leading provider for global b2b hotel data, currently 305 high class hotels with 73,100 rooms are in the pipeline for Africa. [read more]
November 2014 – Hotel Assets New Darling of Chinese Investors
Hotel assets are becoming the new darling of Chinese outbound real estate investors this year, as firms look to tap demand from the rising numbers of Chinese tourists venturing abroad, as well as to diversify from a slowing market at home. [read more]
November 2014 – Feature on Azalai Hotel Group
The Azalai Hotels Group is the first hotel chain in West Africa, owning and running 7 hotels, spread across four nations. The term “Azalai” is borrowed from the Tamashek language, and is the general term for a Tuareg camel caravan. The Azalai Hotels Group is headquartered in Mali, where it operates three hotels: The Azalai Hotel Salam, Azalai Hotel Nord-Sud, and the Azalai Grand Hotel. The group started in 1994 with the purchase of the Grand Hotel de Bamako, a former government facility that was privatized in the same year. [read more]
October 2014 – CSCEC (Algeria) Signs Contract for Olympic Stadium Renovation and Hyatt Hotel Project in Alger
On October 14, 2014, China State Construction Engineering Corp. Ltd (Algeria) signed a contract with Algeria Hotel Investment Company (SIH) on the turnkey project of Olympic Stadium of July 4th, 1962 -Renovation & Extension and Hyatt Hotel. Based on the contract, the existing Stadium shall be expanded from 64,000 seats to 80,000 seats along with the additional capping of roof in cable membrane structure. The renovated Stadium will become the main venue of 2017 African Cup as well as a modern sports venue for multiple international sports events in FIFA standard. The contract also includes a new 258-room four-star Hyatt Hotel. [read more]
October 2014 – Ethiopia: New Agreements to Increase Addis Abeba’s International Hotel Brands to Double Figures
The partnerships between the international brands and local companies were all consulted on by Calibra Hospitality. Four hotel management agreements were signed last week, which could push the total number of international branded hotels in Ethiopia up to 10. These were in addition to two agreements signed last weekend, with all six agreements negotiated by Calibra Hospitality Consultancy & Business Plc on behalf of the Ethiopia companies. [read more]
August 2014 – The Senegalese Agency for Tourist Promotion relaunches “Destination Senegal”
L’ASPT pour la relance de la Destination Sénégal
L’état du Sénégal vient de créer l’ASPT (Agence Sénégalaise de Promotion Touristique) qui remplace désormais l’ANPT. Nouvelle dénomination, nouveau locaux et nouveau directeur : une somme de nouveautés qui suscitent un….. Nouvel espoir [read more]
July 2014 – Mangalis Hotel Group and Martinez Otero Contrat announce partnership for the Noom Hotel Conakry in Guinea.
Barcelone – Mangalis Hotel Group et Martinez Otero Contrat, le groupe hautement spécialisé dans les contrats internationaux et solutions sur mesure pour l’hôtellerie, ont annoncé le lancement de leur partenariat pour le Noom Hotel Conakry en Guinée. Dans ce cadre, Martinez Otero Contrat fabriquera les meubles pour le premier hôtel haut de gamme de la marque Noom Hotels. [read more]
June 2014 – Paul Faye, General Director of SAPCO: “We need to avoid the mistakes that were made in Saly”
Paul Faye, Dg de la Sapco, annonce la confirmation des partenaires qui vont investir dans les nouveaux sites de la Petite côte. Quelques jours après la sortie des hôteliers engageant la responsabilité de la Sapco dans la situation peu reluisante de la station balnéaire de Saly, le Directeur général de cette boite, Paul Faye, a fait une sortie hier pour apporter la réplique. [read more]
May 2014 – Hotel “Noom Abidjan”: the WADB has pumped 6 billion FCFA in the building project
The West African Development Bank (WADB) is actively taking part in the construction project of the 4-star hotel “Noom Abidjan” in Ivory Coast
The institution has just granted six (6) billion FCFA to finance Chain Hotel Abidjan SA company. The agreement was signed last Wednesday, 7th May in Lomé. Documents were signed by Christian Adovelande, the chairman of the WADB and Yigo Thiam, the managing director of Teyliom International group. [read more]
April 2014 – Minor Hotel Group further strengthens entry into Mozambique with Anantara and AVANI brands
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. [read more]
April 2014 – Marriott International Completes Acquisition of Protea Hospitality Group; Becomes the Largest Hotel Company in Africa
Bethesda, Md., USA and Cape Town, April 1, 2014 – Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today 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. [read more]
February 2014 – Senegal releases 6 million Euro to win over tourists – 3 million visitors by 2023
Le Sénégal vient de débloquer 6 millions d’euros pour créer une agence de promotion nationale, relancer la communication touristique du pays et attirer 3 millions de visiteurs d’ici 2023. Un plan ambitieux pour une destination qui doit entièrement repenser son image sur le marché français. [read more]
January 2104 – Mali’s Azalai Hotels Plans $165 Million for West Africa Growth
Groupe Azalai Hotels will invest as much as $165 million during the next four years to expand in West Africa to capture rising demand from business travel, Chief Executive Officer Mossadeck Bally said. The Bamako, Mali-based company will build hotels in Ivory Coast, Senegal, Guinea and Niger and will renovate another in Mauritania, Bally said in an interview yesterday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s commercial capital. The first will open in Abidjan in early 2015, he said. [read more]
January 2014 – Major hotel players bed down Africa deals
AFRICA is becoming the new battleground for global domination among hotel groups.
Just as the Middle East was for several years the region where the likes of Marriott, Hilton, Starwood and InterContinental Hotels Group fought for market share, so sub-Saharan Africa is now the setting for the latest roll-out of their global brands. [read more]