Brussels/Addis Ababa—Carlson Rezidor extends its African network and adds two new countries to its portfolio: Uganda and Ghana. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Kampala, Carlson Rezidor’s first property in Uganda, will feature 195 keys. It will be located in Kampala’s business district and open in fourth quarter 2016. The Radisson Blu Hotel Accra Airport, The Exchange in Ghana will comprise 207 keys and welcome the first guests in 2017.
“We are delighted to arrive in Uganda. Tourism is one of the country’s fastest developing sectors, and Uganda is also becoming an important market for foreign investment due to its rich oil reserves,” said Wolfgang M. Neumann, president and CEO of Rezidor, at the African Hotel Investment Forum in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). “Our arrival in Ghana supports our strategic growth in West Africa—a resource-rich and fast growing region with considerable potential for our core brand Radisson Blu.”
Carlson Rezidor has 30 hotels under development in Africa. “We are committed to the African continent. We aim to establish Radisson Blu as the leading upper upscale brand in the region—present in capital cities and financial and economic hubs—and to pursue the scaled growth of Park Inn by Radisson in high potential primary and secondary destinations,” Neumann said. “Quorvus Collection and Radisson Red will offer additional potential to accelerate our growth in the region and to cover all market segments.”
“Africa is one of our most important markets for growth. We believe in the great potential of this continent and are committed to becoming a key player in the travel and tourism sector across the continent,” added Elie Younes, senior vice president and head of group development of Rezidor. The group’s overall development strategy is built on a proactive asset-light growth with a considerable focus on emerging markets.
“Africa offers excellent opportunities due to its huge natural resources and workforces, improved infrastructure, and a growing middle class,” Younes added.
Carlson Rezidor opened their first hotel in Africa in 2000, the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, Cape Town (South Africa). Since then, the group has built up a network of 51 hotels and 11,500 rooms in 21 countries in Africa, and has a regional office in South Africa. Recent flagship openings of the group include the Radisson Blu Hotel, Maputo (Mozambique), the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka (Zambia), and the Park Inn by Radisson Foreshore Hotel Cape Town (South Africa). Future openings include Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Nairobi (Kenya), Kigali (Rwanda), and Cape Town (South Africa).
