Marriott International continues to gather momentum in Africa with a schedule of 30 property openings planned across the continent by 2020, nine of which are slated to open by the end of 2015.
“The potential of the African market is awe inspiring and only really matched by the extraordinary people and places we encounter every day as our brands puts down roots across the continent,” says Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director of Middle East and Africa for Marriott. “Over the next few years we plan to expand our presence even further from 10 countries to 17 with a capital investment by Marriott’s real estate partners of $1.5 billion across the continent. With it, we will create jobs and support local communities because our success is only ever possible through strong bonds of friendship, trust, and cooperation in the markets we inhabit.”
The new Residence Inn by Marriott Kampala Kololo has just been signed, bringing the total property count under the Protea Hotels and Residence Inn brands in Uganda alone to three. Several more openings are scheduled to follow in 2015 across the continent with openings in South Africa, Nigeria, and Uganda, as well as Marriott International’s first properties in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda.
Marriott Executive Apartments Addis Ababa in Ethiopia is slated to be the first property under the extended stay brand to open in Africa. By 2020, Marriott’s portfolio in Africa is expected to increase from its current 120 properties and 14,000 rooms across 10 markets to 150 properties and 19,000 rooms across 17 markets.
