Carlson Rezidor extends their African network and adds two new countries to their growing 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 prime business district and open in Q4 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 & 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”, added Neumann.
Carlson Rezidor further strengthens their leading position on the African hospitality market: With 30 hotels under development, the group holds the largest pipeline on the continent (source: W Hospitality Group, Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa 2014). Besides Radisson Blu in the upper upscale segment, Carlson Rezidor develops and operates Park Inn by Radisson in the full service mid-market segment. In early 2014, the group also launched two new brands: Radisson Red for the lifestyle select segment and the Quorvus Collection for the luxury market.
“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 & economic hubs – and to pursue the scaled growth of Park Inn by Radisson in high potential primary and secondary destinations,” explained Neumann. “Quorvus Collection and Radisson Red will offer additional potential to accelerate our growth in the region and to cover all market segments.” Neumann stressed that “our goal is always to form part of the local communities, blend and engage with the societies of the markets which we enter’’.
“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 & 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. We want to grow further on the continent together with our existing and new partners through transparent and responsible long-term business relationships. We also want to be a leading employer in Africa. By creating new jobs for local talent and by contributing to the communities where we operate in, we can make a huge difference”, said Younes.
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).
