Carlson Rezidor has accelerated its growth strategy in Africa, with five Radisson Blu hotels opened in the first six months of 2016 and four new hotels signed including the first Quorvus Collection in Africa.
The group is also entering its 28th country in Africa and taking the Park Inn by Radisson brand to the Indian Ocean islands.
In 2016, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group opened five Radisson Blu properties serving the upper-upscale segment: Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill in Kenya (271 rooms); Radisson Blu Hotel, Marrakech Carré Eden in Morocco (198 rooms); Radisson Blu Residence with 187 luxury hotel apartments in Maputo, Mozambique (the group's first residence concept in Africa); Radisson Blu Hotel Abidjan Airport, Ivory Coast (261 rooms) and Radisson Blu Hotel 2 Février in Lomé (320 rooms).
Speaking at the opening of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (held at the newly opened Radisson Blu Hotel 2 Février in Lomé), The Rezidor Hotel Group president and CEO Wolfgang M. Neumann said: "Africa is Rezidor's biggest growth market. Our group's total portfolio comprises 69 hotels in 28 countries, with over 15,000 rooms in operation or under development.
"Radisson Blu leads the way with more hotel rooms under development than any of the other 85+ hotel brands active in Africa today. Our ambition is to be the leading player in the travel and tourism sector across the continent."
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Carlson Rezidor also signed its first Quorvus Collection in Africa: the five-star, 244-room luxury Emerald Grand Hotel & Spa in Lagos, Nigeria.
The group also signed a new Radisson Blu Hotel Harare in Zimbabwe (245 rooms), a Radisson Blu Hotel in Durban Umhlanga (207 rooms) and a Park Inn by Radisson in Quatre Bornes, the new commercial hub of Mauritius.
Rezidor' executive vice president & chief development officer Elie Younes added: "In the last 24 months, we have signed a new hotel deal in Africa every 37 days. And it's not just about signing hotels; we are delivering our pipeline. We have opened a hotel in Africa every 60 days.
"In South Africa alone, we now have 14 hotels. In 2016 and beyond, we aim to maintain this great momentum by opening four more hotels in the second half of 2016."