Best Western Hotels & Resorts has announced that, in partnership with Orion Hotels, it will grow its portfolio in South Africa by 13 hotels in the coming year, adding to a single existing hotel by the brand in Cape Town. The expansion is part of an agreement with Orion Hotels, which will manage the properties.
Phase one of the development will see the opening of three hotels in South Africa: Velmoré Hotel Estate in Erasmia; the Hotel Promenade in Nelspruit; and the Magoebaskloof Hotel in the Magoebas Valley. The rebranding of the three hotels will be completed by July, while the remaining 10 projects will be finished by the end of the first quarter in 2017.
The Velmoré Hotel Estate consists of the Velmoré Hotel, a luxury hotel, and the Velmoré Grand, which showcases oversized rooms. Situated between Pretoria and Johannesburg, the estate is located on the Hennops River with spectacular views of the Magaliesberg Mountains. The design aesthetic of the buildings is inspired by the architecture of Provence.
The Magoebaskloof Hotel sits on a ridge offering rooms with views of the Magoebaskloof Valley, which is located in the Woodbush Forest Reserve near Kruger National Park.
Hotel Promenade is located in the original town hall of Nelspruit, a city near the border of Mozambique in northeastern South Africa.
“This opportunity to showcase several of our brands in South Africa will introduce Best Western to many travelers in a key feeder market to the rest of the continent,” says Suzi Yoder, senior vice president of international operations at Best Western Hotels & Resorts.
Best Western has properties throughout Africa, including hotels in Nairobi, Kenya; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; and Lagos, Nigeria. Currently in development are the Best Western Premier Garden Hotel Entebbe in Entebbe, Uganda, and two Best Western-branded hotels in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. All are expected to launch later this year.
