Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the signing of a new hotel project for development in Douala, the commercial and economic capital of Cameroon.  The 150-room hotel will consist of studios and apartments, and will be branded as Radisson Blu Hotel & Apartments Douala.

This is the first Radisson Blu signed for Cameroon, bringing the brand to its 30th African country and the total number of hotels, operated or in development, by the group to 83 hotels with over 17,500 rooms

The hotel is expected to open in 2019, which is when the country will host the All Africa (CAF) Games.

• 150 Guestrooms, studios & 1- and 2-bedroom apartments,
• All-day dining restaurant,
• Lobby bar,
• Destination Sky Bar and Restaurant,
• Gym and wellness spa,
• Conference room and four meeting rooms.

The site of the development is located in the Bonanjo district, the administrative nerve center of the city.  The hotel will be built to 15 floors, and will be one of the tallest buildings in Douala.  Speaking of the deal, Andrew McLachlan, Senior Vice President Africa and Indian Ocean, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, commented:  “once open, it will be the finest upper upscale product in the financial hub of Cameroon and an important addition to our Central African Radisson Blu portfolio.”  Serge Yanic Nana, President & CEO of FINANCIA Capital, the project developer, also expressed his excitement about the deal, saying:  “The hotel will be an iconic building in a city that plays a central role in the Central African region.”

Douala is a strategic entry into the Central African region for Carlson Rezidor – Cameroon is an important member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).  The city currently has no 5-star rated hotel.  The former Le Meridien – now a Pullman – is the highest ranked hotel in the market, in terms of positioning but is in need of renovations.  The only other international brand operating in Douala is the Ibis.  The Pullman and the Ibis brands are both operated by AccorHotels, a Paris-based global hotel operator.  Hyatt in a recent press release (see ei coverage here) also announced plans for a 200-room Hyatt Regency Douala.