Starwood Revs it Up in Africa

By Balazs Szekely, Associate Editor

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s accelerated expansion plan in Africa involves the addition of seven new hotels in Africa and the Indian Ocean region, as announced on September 30 during a meeting organized within the Africa Hotel Investment Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The new signings will increase Starwood’s presence in Nigeria, Egypt and Senegal, and also mark the hospitality giant’s entry to the Mali, Kenya and Tanzania hotel markets. The new facilities will fly the flags of the W Hotels Worldwide, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Westin, Aloft and Element brands. As disclosed by Senior Vice President Neil George, who represented Starwood’s Acquisitions & Development Middle East & Africa department, the company is also pursuing opportunities to introduce its recently announced 10th brand, Tribute Portfolio in the region.

The upcoming additions are the following: the W Sharm El Sheikh and The Residences at W Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt, 2020), the Sheraton Bamako (Mali, 2017), the Westin Abuja and Residences along with the Four Points by Sheraton Abuja and Residences (Nigeria, 2022), the Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport (Kenya), the Aloft Dakar (Senegal, 2018) and the Element Oyster Bay Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, 2018).

Starwood will open seven hotels in Africa in the next year, including the Four Points by Sheraton Oran in Algeria, followed by the Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene in Nigeria, the Sheraton Conakry in Guinea and the reopening of the Sheraton Cairo after renovation. The company’s 2016 schedule also lists the debut of the St. Regis in Egypt with The St. Regis Cairo, as well as the opening of the Westin Soma Bay Golf Resort & Spa and the Westin Katameya Dunes in Egypt.

Rendering courtesy of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide