Marriott extends South Africa offering
Marriott International, Africa’s largest hotel operator, has announced an agreement to develop a Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments in Johannesburg’s Melrose Arch precinct, in partnership with The Amdec Group.
Continuing to expand its footprint across the African continent, Marriott International’s two new properties in South Africa are expected to open by February 2018. The 150-room Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch and 200-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg Melrose Arch will be the first Marriott-branded properties under development in South Africa.
“Africa is important to Marriott International’s growth strategy because of its rapid economic growth, growing middle class and youth population, as well as the expansion of international flights onto the continent,” explains Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa for Marriott International. “With over 850 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, there are enormous opportunities there.”
Personalised service and the assurance of a Marriott experience combine with an environment that has all of the comforts of home. The 200 Marriott Executive Apartments at Johannesburg Melrose Arch will be fully furnished with one, two and three bedrooms providing the space, ambience and privacy of a home away from home.
The Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch will also be the first African property to open that reflects the new brand transformation that Marriott Hotels has undertaken globally since last year. This includes modernising the brand’s overall appeal, as well as an ongoing innovation involving the Marriott Hotels brand around the world, with re-designed lobbies and public spaces known as ‘Greatrooms’.
Marriott became the largest hotel operator in Africa following its acquisition of South Africa’s leading hotel group, Protea Hotels, in 2014. Over the next five years, the company expects that the Marriott International brands, including the Protea brand, will expand from 10 African countries to 18, involving the development of an additional 38 properties across seven brands.
