Marriott International announced on Monday it was planning rapid expansion across Africa, which will see the global hotels chain increase its presence in markets they already operate in and new ones. This was announced at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Nairobi, Kenya. The American multinational firm said it will increase its portfolio by 50 per cent with over 200 hotels and 38,000 rooms by 2023, estimated to generate 12,000 new job opportunities. This is based on the fact that it had signed deals with partners. “Strong demand for select-service brands and conversion opportunities are driving the momentum of growth for the company, amplified by five new hotel signings,” read part of the statement. The new plan, the statement adds, will include consolidating Marriott’s presence in Ghana, Kenya, Morocco and South Africa as well as mark the company’s entry into Mozambique. The company estimates that the five new projects signed will drive investment of over $250 million by the property owners and will generate substantial economic activity. Marriott’s planned growth reinforces its commitment to Africa and underscores the substantial emphasis that countries across Africa are placing on the travel and tourism sector, it said. According to Alex Kyriakidis, Marriott’s president and managing director for Middle East and Africa, Marriott’s acquisition of Protea Hotels followed by the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has given an impetus to the company’s organic growth on the continent. “Today we are seeing strong owner interest in our brands, backed by our combined loyalty programme, the collective strength of our global platform and our highly-experienced, local teams,” he said Kyriakidis added that the sustained economic growth on the continent present them with an opportunity to grow their brands and enhance their footprint in the region. Today, Marriott International is present in 21 countries on the African continent. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
