The African hospitality market has experienced a spate of activity across the first half of the year. The beginning of the year saw announcements of hotel acquisitions, signings and openings across the continent by hotel groups including Accor, and Four Seasons. Some of these announcements include:

• Radisson Hotel Group Opening its First African Resort in Zambia
• Four Seasons Hotel and Resort Launch in Rabat
• Nobu Group’s First African Hotel with Nobu Marrakech
• Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotels Becoming Mövenpick After Kasada Acquisition

While there was a slowdown of announcements in Q2, June was an exemption with  multiple international hotel groups announcing key signings in Africa. For example, Radisson’s recent announcement of 8 new hotel signings includes new entry into the Gambian market. Additionally, Hilton  announced the signing of Koko Beach Resort in Ilashe, Lagos making it Nigeria’s first internationally branded resort on this side of the Atlantic coast. Furthermore, Pan Pacific Hotels Group also recently opened their first African outfit in Nairobi, Kenya.

In this article, we highlight a few of these notable market additions based on size and relevance.

• Koko Beach Resort Ilashe, Curio Collection by Hilton

 

 

 

 

The Koko Beach Resort is located on the Lagos Atlantic coastline as a part of Ilashe Beach, and has been signed to Hilton’s Curio Collection by Hilton brand. As such, it is the first internationally branded resort in Nigeria.  The resort comprises a typology of suites, 3 bedroom and 4-bedroom private villas, with amenities such as a cinema, a sports complex and a meeting room and ballroom accommodating up to 750 guests.

• Radisson Blu Beach Resort & Spa, Banjul

 

 

The Radisson Blu Beach Resort and Spa in Banjul resort, currently under construction and expected to open in 2025, will be Radisson Group’s debut in the country, standing as the country’s first internationally branded hotel. The rooms will range from contemporary rooms to royal villas, while offering a fitness and wellness centre, a conference hall, and 12 meeting rooms.

• Radisson Blu Hotel Abuja CBD

 

 

Scheduled to open in early 2025, after Radisson Collection Abuja, this hotel will mark Radisson Group’s 10th hotel and the 3rd Radisson Blu hotel in Nigeria. Anticipated to open in early 2025, the hotel will offer 104 rooms located in Abuja’s Central Business District (CBD) along with 245 square meters of space for meetings and events.

• Radisson RED Lagos VI

 

 

The Group’s presence in Nigeria is set to expand further with the introduction of the Radisson RED brand, marking its 11th hotel in the country and 7th hotel in Lagos, currently in operation or under development. Alongside a gym and pool, the hotel will also offer 249 square meters of flexible space for meetings and events, including a conference room, a boardroom, and two meeting rooms. 

 

• Protea Hotel by Marriott Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

 

 

 

Marriott recently announced the signing of Blue Nile Resort  under the Protea Brand, officially marking Marriott Hotel Group’s Ethiopian debut. Once the renovation of the Blue Nile Resort is complete in 2025, the hotel will offer 127 keys ranging from guest rooms to suites. It will also offer amenities such as a fitness centre and approx. 1,000 sqm of meeting space.

 

• Protea Hotel by Marriott Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania

 

 

Located at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town, this property is Marriott’s third hotel in Tanzania under the Protea brand. Once open later in 2023, it will join Protea Hotel Amani Beach, Protea Hotel Courtyard, and Protea Hotel Oyster Bay. The hotel will convert an existing property and will comprise 26 guestrooms, rooftop bar, and a restaurant.

 

Other notable scheduled additions by Marriott and Radisson include:

• Radisson Collection Hotel & Conference Center, Abuja
• Radisson Collection Resort, Marsa Alam Port Phoenice 
• Radisson Hotel Nairobi Airport
• Radisson Hotel Algiers El Mouradia
• Protea Hotel by Marriott Abuja Jahi, Nigeria
• Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta, Nigeria

While Pipeline Indicates Renewed Interest, Projects Completions is Key

These signings indicate a healthy hospitality pipeline for the continent and renewed international interest in the developing ecosystem. However, according to the W Hospitality pipeline report, some of these hotels may not be opened as at when scheduled. As at 2022, only 40% of scheduled hotel openings had actually opened at the scheduled time from 2018 – 2022, with a total of 503 scheduled projects within that period.

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