Johannesburg - Africa’s largest hotel operator Marriott International has embarked on an ambitious expansion programme that will see it developing hotels and executive apartments in major cities across the continent.
The group said it was planning to expand its footprint in South Africa with the building of a hotel and an executive apartment in Johannesburg’s Melrose Arch at a cost of almost R1 billion.
Marriott president and managing director for Middle East and Africa Alex Kyriakidis said the group wanted to expand its presence in South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria as it saw the continent as fundamental to its growth.
Kyriakidis said the 150-room hotel and 200-unit executive and upscale apartments scheduled to open in 2018 would be located in the Melrose Arch precinct in Johannesburg to represent Marriott’s signature brand.
“We see our presence in South Africa as a start for better things to come for the rest of the continent,” said Kyriakidis.
“For us Africa has been a very sustainable growth story which we want to explore and we are looking at Africa to grow for us.”
Marriott, which became the continent’s largest hotel operator after its acquisition of Protea Hotels last year, including Protea’s three brands and management company for R2.02bn, said the Johannesburg precinct would consist of fully furnished apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms.
Marriott has 17 hotels in seven countries across the Middle East and Africa, with about 6 000 rooms. Kyriakidis said the immediate strategy was to grow to about 10 000 rooms.
BUSINESS REPORT