Marriott International announced it will continue its expansion across the African continent with news of brand-new signings of new properties in Cape Town, Nairobi, Cairo and Mauritius.
This announcement arrived after Marriott's recently completed acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which has created the world's largest hospitality company. The transaction has increased Marriott's distribution in Africa, affirming the company's positioning across the continent.
"The past couple of weeks have seen an incredible transformation for our company, and I am proud to say that we are continuing the momentum with our expansion and development plans across the African continent," said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. "We officially opened the Kigali Marriott Hotel, under the patronage of [Prime Minister Murekezi], and [now we have] six new deals across Africa, which when open, are expected to bring our total African property and room count to 205 and 37,000 respectively."
These new signings comprise over 1,100 rooms, and include AC by Marriott's brand entry into Africa. The Cape Town deals are in partnership with the Amdec Group, Marriott's long-term partner and owners of the new Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, announced last year and currently under development. The AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront will be located near Cape Town's waterfront, while Harbour Arch will be the site of the 200-room Cape Town Marriott Hotel Foreshore and the 150-room Residence Inn by Marriott Cape Town Foreshore.
The first deal to be signed since Marriott's completed acquisition, the Sheraton brand will make a landmark debut on the island of Mauritius with Sheraton Mauritius St Felix Resort and The Residences at Sheraton Mauritius St Felix Resort. Owned by Clear Ocean Hotel Resorts Limited, the resort will be a part of a mixed use development with a boutique retail mall and branded residences. Scheduled to open in early 2020, the resort will feature 152 guest rooms and suites and 37 branded apartments and villas.
The first Element Hotels property signed in Egypt will be the largest Element Hotel in the Middle East and Africa. Situated in Cairo's upscale Heliopolis district and scheduled to open in 2019, Element Cairo is developed by Abraj Misr Urban Development and owned by Middle East Real Estate for Development.
Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi, Hurlingham, is the brand's second hotel in the city, located in the upmarket suburb close to the city center with access to the surrounding business areas of Westlands, Kilimani and Nairobi Central. Owned by Kamcan Properties Ltd, the 96 room hotel is a conversion from an existing hotel, will be operated under a franchise arrangement, and is expected to open in 2017.
