Several of the major global brands have made pipeline news during the Africa Hotel Investment Forum currently going on in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced aggressive expansion in Africa and Indian Ocean with seven new deals, including W Sharm El Sheikh and The Residences at W Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt), Sheraton Bamako (Mali), The Westin Abuja and Residences (Nigeria), Four Points by Sheraton Abuja and Residences (Nigeria), Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport (Kenya), Aloft Dakar (Senegal); and Element Oyster Bay Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) also scheduled for a 2018 opening.
With the expansion of its luxury, upper upscale and mid-market brands, Starwood said it will grow its portfolio by over 50% in the next five years, with more than 50 hotels operating and nine out of its 10 lifestyle brands flying their flag in the region.
Marriott International, in partnership with Sunshine Business, said it will open Africa’s first Marriott Executive Apartments and develop by 2019 a flagship Marriott hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Marriott Hotels brand currently has four properties in North Africa, with over 2,000 rooms. By 2020, the company expects to open a further 12 properties across Africa, raising the room count by almost 3,000 rooms.
Meanwhile, Hilton Worldwide announced the signing of a management agreement with Sunshine Business for the US$42 million Hilton Awassa Resort & Spa, Ethiopia, which is expected to begin welcoming guests in 2020.
Hilton Awassa Resort & Spa will join a portfolio of more than 70 Hilton Worldwide properties either trading or under development in Africa, including new Hilton additions to the portfolio in N’Djamena and Kampala expected in the coming 12 months.
Carlson Rezidor announced the first Radisson Blu Residence in Nairobi/Kenya: the property with 123 units will be located adjacent to the State House and welcome the first guests in late 2016. It is Carlson Rezidor’s third project in Nairobi and at the same time the group’s fifth Radisson Blu residence in Africa.
Carlson Rezidor’s total portfolio in 27 countries in Africa now features 65 hotels (30 hotels with 6,700 rooms in operation and 35 hotels with 7,600 rooms under development). Eight hotels in 2015 were opened in Africa; three of them even on the same day.
Carlson Rezidor also made its entrance to the Indian Ocean with two resort openings in Mauritius. Five further openings are expected till year-end – among them Radisson Blu flagships in Lomé/Togo, Maputo/Mozambique and Nairobi/Kenya as well as the first Park Inn by Radisson in Nigeria.
And, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will debut in three new African markets over the next four years. In a move that will take its Africa portfolio to 28 properties, the expansion trail will commence with the opening of the 223-key Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi in mid-2016, followed by the 212-key Mövenpick Hotel Abidjan in early 2018, rounding off with the 250-key Mövenpick Hotel and Conference Centre Abuja in 2019.