Marriot Opens First West African Hotel in Accra

By Demola Ojo

In continuation of its rapid expansion in Africa, Marriot International last week announced the West Africa debut of Marriot Hotels, with the highly anticipated opening of Accra Marriott. Owned by African Hospitality Limited, Accra Marriot is strategically located opposite the Kotoka International Airport, making it the perfect “Gateway to West Africa”.

Set in the heart of Airport City, a burgeoning urban development, the Accra Marriott Hotel is just a few kilometers outside of the central business district providing easy access to major corporate businesses, government entities and well known city landmarks.

“We are thrilled to open the Accra Marriott Hotel, a highly anticipated addition to our Africa portfolio and a significant milestone in our journey” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Accra is the heartbeat of Ghana, a dynamic city bustling with energy. A commercial, manufacturing, and communications center with great shopping and excellent nightlife, it makes an interesting travel destination both for business and for leisure.

The Hotel offers state-of-the-art facilities with 208 rooms, three dining venues, 800 square meters of meeting space, a pool and a fully equipped fitness center.

The debut of Marriot Hotels in West Africa continues Marriot International’s aggressive expansion drive in Africa, as it recently announced the signing of seven new hotels across the continent with two slated for Lagos, Nigeria.

Marriott was the first global chain to make a significant investment in Africa with the acquisition of Protea Hotels for $210 million in 2014 and the company is now targeting over 200 hotels with 37,000 rooms open or in the pipeline by 2022, equating to around $8.5 billion of capital investment by its real estate partners.

Presently, the Marriot group operates 140 hotels with close to 24,000 rooms across 12 brands in Africa.

The hotels announced will strengthen Marriot’s presence in Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia, while also marking a debut in Cote D’Ivoire.

This reinforces its continued commitment to expansion in Africa and solidifying its leadership on the continent.

The investment is expected to generate substantial economic activity and around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs once the hotels open. One of the hotels in the pipeline is the Renaissance Landmark Lagos Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

Owned and developed by Landmark Africa Group, Marriott International will manage the 216 room Renaissance Landmark Lagos Hotel, as well as a 44-room Marriott Executive Apartments. Slated to open in 2020, the hotels will be located within the Landmark Village precinct, a premier mixed-use, business, leisure and lifestyle development along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront in Victoria Island, the central business district of Lagos.

The 25-floor hotel will offer a wide range of amenities, including local and international restaurants, spa facilities, a fitness center, and an infinity pool with access to a 100-meter-long boardwalk overlooking a vibrant beach club offering exciting watersports.

According to Kyriakidis, “Africa today makes a very compelling story. We are seeing unprecedented traction for our compelling brands, driving our momentum of growth.

“We have always believed in the potential of Africa and the opportunities the continent has to offer. With economic growth, a rising middle class and rapid urbanization, the demand for travel and high quality lodging is growing, providing us with a significant opportunity to enhance our footprint and play our part in supporting many emerging markets across the continent,” he said.

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