Carlson Rezidor's Africa expansion continues, increases presence in Senegal with a second hotel

Research . 6 years ago

Blaise Diagne International Airport

Carlson Rezidor

Dakar

Diamniadio

Radisson Blu

SOGIP

SUMMA International

Carlson Rezidor’s Africa expansion continues, increases presence in Senegal with a second hotel

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Carlson Rezidor continues to expand its presence in Africa, particularly into sub-Saharan Africa.  The Brussels-based hotel group opened its second hotel in Dakar in December 2017.  The 152-room Radisson Hotel Dakar Diamniadio opened in a developing new area, within 15 miles (24 km and 30 minutes drive time) to Dakar's newly-opened Blaise Diagne International Airport. …


Carlson Rezidor continues to expand its presence in Africa, particularly into sub-Saharan Africa.  The Brussels-based hotel group opened its second hotel in Dakar in December 2017.  The 152-room Radisson Hotel Dakar Diamniadio opened in a developing new area, within 15 miles (24 km and 30 minutes drive time) to Dakar’s newly-opened Blaise Diagne International Airport.  The Radisson brand, which is more commonly operated at airport locations is distinct from the Radisson Blu brand.  The new property will complement the existing Radisson Blu Dakar Seaside Plaza, which opened in 2009.

The Radisson Hotel Dakar Diamniadio features:

  • 152 guest rooms & suites
  • Congress Center with over 14,700sqm for large scale exhibitions, conventions & events
  • Onsite restaurant
  • 3 boardrooms
  • 24-hour fitness center
  • Outdoor pool

The Diamniadio business district is part of a new master-planned city intended to ease congestion in Dakar, encourage new development, and economic growth for the larger Dakar metropolitan area.  Along with the new international airport, the new city is also planned to house a university, an industrial park, offices, residential development, and other urban services.  It is expected that in the mid-term up to 300,000 inhabitants will settle in the new city, and in the long term, up to 1 million people will share its infrastructure.

Location of the Radisson Hotel, Blaise Diagne International Airport & Dakar City Center. Source: Google maps

Map of Senegal and neighboring countries. Source: Google maps

At the opening, Andrew McLachlan, Carlson Rezidor’s Senior Vice President for Business Development in Africa and the Indian Ocean remarked on Dakar’s importance as Francophone West Africa’s largest MICE business hub.  He stated this as a critical reason why the group has “earmarked Dakar as a city for scaled growth…within its African development strategy.”  An Expo Center has been identified for future development, that will allow the hotel become a major destination for meetings and events in the region.

The hotel was built by SOGIP, who are a major stakeholder in the Diamniadio project.  The construction was managed by SUMMA International, a hospitality development management firm.  The project was completed in a record speed of under 12 months, after construction commenced in August 2016.  This is no doubt a recognizable feat in a region where hotel development programmes tend to span an average of at least six years.