In a first of its kind coordinated Regional promotion, Marriott International (http://Marriott.com) has launched a unified and compelling offer at nearly 200 participating Marriott International hotels in 30 countries with a choice of 17 brands across exciting destinations in Middle East and Africa.
City or beach, history or culture, nature or adventure, wild life or relaxation, guests can choose the experience and now enjoy up to 30% off on their hotel stay and make this season a memorable one.
Just months after its unprecedented announcement that members could link their accounts to have their Elite status matched and transfer points between programs, Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), Marriott International is giving its loyal members more reasons to stay loyal and travel more.
All three programs will run the same promotion, giving members more value and more reasons to explore the magic of Middle East and Africa.
“We are excited to launch such a compelling and cohesive offer under the umbrella of our powerful and award winning loyalty programs and we hope this will not only give a much needed impetus to regional travel but will also attract the global traveler into our continent,” said Neal Jones, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International.
“Given our diverse portfolio and bandwidth of brands, we now have a brand and hotel for every traveler looking for an enriching experience and our loyal members continue to get more.”
Guests can book between 1st May and 31st August 2017 for stays between 21st May – 9th September 2017 and enjoy 20% off on the best available rate and a 30% off on food and soft beverages at participating restaurants, bars and lounges.
What is more, Loyalty Program members enjoy 30% off on the best available rate and a voucher for a 30% off on their next stay, valid for stay between 10th September - 31st December 2017.
For Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards members, this promotion is applicable at participating JW Marriott®, Renaissance® Hotels, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Marriott® Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Protea Hotels®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, and The Ritz-Carlton®, Log on to http://Deals.Marriott.com/moretravels for a full list of participating hotels including terms and conditions and book your stay.
For SPG members, this promotion is available at participating Aloft, W Hotels, Four Points® by Sheraton, Le Méridien, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis® Hotels & Resorts, and Westin® Hotels & Resorts that participate in the SPG program. For a full list of participating hotels and terms and conditions, log on to www.SPG.com/moretravels and book your stay.
Thanks to the recent acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, members of Marriott International’s innovative and award-winning loyalty programs who have linked their accounts have more destinations to discover in the region. F
or SPG members, these include the Kruger National Park in South Africa, and for Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards members, it includes destinations like Mauritius.
Already, members of the programs can link their accounts at www.Members.Marriott.com to access unparalleled benefits such as instant Elite status matching and unlimited points transfer between accounts.
Marriott International now offers a diverse portfolio of 30 brands in over 120 countries across the globe, giving members access to the best hotels and resorts wherever they want to travel.
In Middle East and Africa alone, the company operates close to 250 hotels in 30 countries.
Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Showing posts with label protea hotels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label protea hotels. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 May 2017
Friday, 27 November 2015
SOUTH AFRICA: Weak Rand Impact Lifts SA Tourism
As a whole it looks like the South African tourism industry is picking up and now is the time for the industry to make full use of the opportunities the weaker rand brings, Danny Bryer, director of sales, marketing and revenue management for Protea Hotels, told Fin24 on Wednesday.
He said so far in 2015 it would seem that the rand devaluation has not brought the direct positive impact for the tourism industry as a whole one would have expected.
This was due to factors like the visa-related issues and the impact of the Ebola scare on bookings for long haul destinations, which are usually done further in advance.
"Therefore, the general pick-up in international tourism due to the weaker rand did not happen to the extent one would have expected," said Bryer.
"We have seen it picking up now, however, and our forecast over the short term until about February and March 2016 looks like the country is getting more tourists."
Apart from the rand value that international tourists can get, the relaxation of the visa restrictions are also bringing a more positive result, in his view.
"If 2016 looks like it would be a stable economic year and if there are fewer strikes in the country, it could be positive for inbound tourism," said Bryer.
He pointed out that the positive trend due to a weaker rand is not in relation to leisure tourists, but also regarding the film industry. This is due to the value for money the film industry can get in Cape Town, for instance, compared to its main competitors Prague and Miami.
Another sector benefiting from the weaker rand is the incentive industry, according to Bryer. It is also now cheaper to host conferences in SA.
"There could be lots of opportunities in 2016 across the whole spectrum of the tourism industry," he said. SA's main feeder markets are still Germany, the UK and the US, with India and China holding big opportunities. The growth in Chinese tourism to SA was, however, negatively impacted by the new visa regulations.
"SA is a brand destination. Look at your specific market - for instance seniors, baby boomers or new age travellers," advised Bryer.
"Understand your target market. Build on the opportunities created for the next three to four months by the combination of the weaker rand, the reduction in visa restrictions and the positive climate."
He said so far in 2015 it would seem that the rand devaluation has not brought the direct positive impact for the tourism industry as a whole one would have expected.
This was due to factors like the visa-related issues and the impact of the Ebola scare on bookings for long haul destinations, which are usually done further in advance.
"Therefore, the general pick-up in international tourism due to the weaker rand did not happen to the extent one would have expected," said Bryer.
"We have seen it picking up now, however, and our forecast over the short term until about February and March 2016 looks like the country is getting more tourists."
Apart from the rand value that international tourists can get, the relaxation of the visa restrictions are also bringing a more positive result, in his view.
"If 2016 looks like it would be a stable economic year and if there are fewer strikes in the country, it could be positive for inbound tourism," said Bryer.
He pointed out that the positive trend due to a weaker rand is not in relation to leisure tourists, but also regarding the film industry. This is due to the value for money the film industry can get in Cape Town, for instance, compared to its main competitors Prague and Miami.
Another sector benefiting from the weaker rand is the incentive industry, according to Bryer. It is also now cheaper to host conferences in SA.
"There could be lots of opportunities in 2016 across the whole spectrum of the tourism industry," he said. SA's main feeder markets are still Germany, the UK and the US, with India and China holding big opportunities. The growth in Chinese tourism to SA was, however, negatively impacted by the new visa regulations.
"SA is a brand destination. Look at your specific market - for instance seniors, baby boomers or new age travellers," advised Bryer.
"Understand your target market. Build on the opportunities created for the next three to four months by the combination of the weaker rand, the reduction in visa restrictions and the positive climate."
Saturday, 21 November 2015
USA: What To Know About Marriott’s Starwood Deal
The announcement that Marriott International will acquire Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide fits Marriott's brand-buying pattern of recent years, as the company grew its footprint by acquiring Gaylord Hotels, Africa’s Protea Hotels and Canada’s Delta Hotels & Resorts.
Those latter three deals were of a similar size and scope ($100 million to $200 million in total consideration, averaging approximately 10 times earnings before taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization), which Marriott President and CEO Arne Sorenson acknowledged during a first-quarter earnings call in May.
“We would love to do more deals if there are more deals in that meet those kinds of parameters,” he said.
Which brought Sorenson to Starwood—more specifically, whether Marriott had any interest in acquiring the chain.
“You can see there are quite profound differences between the deals we’ve done and that hypothetical transaction,” he said.
Not so hypothetical anymore, Marriott announced its intention to acquire Starwood for $12.2 billion, mostly in the form of stock. Here’s what you need to know about the announcement, the timeline of Starwood’s strategic review and what industry insiders think of the deal.
Those latter three deals were of a similar size and scope ($100 million to $200 million in total consideration, averaging approximately 10 times earnings before taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization), which Marriott President and CEO Arne Sorenson acknowledged during a first-quarter earnings call in May.
“We would love to do more deals if there are more deals in that meet those kinds of parameters,” he said.
Which brought Sorenson to Starwood—more specifically, whether Marriott had any interest in acquiring the chain.
“You can see there are quite profound differences between the deals we’ve done and that hypothetical transaction,” he said.
Not so hypothetical anymore, Marriott announced its intention to acquire Starwood for $12.2 billion, mostly in the form of stock. Here’s what you need to know about the announcement, the timeline of Starwood’s strategic review and what industry insiders think of the deal.
Thursday, 5 November 2015
SOUTH AFRICA: Michellene Leo Appointed To Board Of Cape Town Tourism
Following her nomination to the board, she was voted in at the Cape Town Tourism AGM held on October 29th in the Southern Sun hotel.
An 18 year veteran of the hotel and tourism industry, Michellene has previously worked at Protea Hotels and the Taj Resort and Palaces.
Commenting on her appointment she said, “I am delighted to be voted onto the board of Cape Town Tourism and I’m happy to be representing the hotel sector. Tourism is the life blood of Cape Town and Cape Town Tourism is one of the leading tourism bodies in the world. It’s a huge honour for me.
I see my contribution as one where I can contribute to selling and marketing Cape Town as the preferred destination in South Africa throughout the year for South Africans and also to visitors from wider afield in Southern Africa.
We have a beautiful city, but we cannot just rely on that. We have to work hard and smart to set ourselves apart from the competition. I’m excited for what lies ahead, and I’d like to thank everyone for their support.”
Michellene, apart from handling the marketing function for Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, is also an expert in digital and social media. She prides herself in staying in front of the latest trends in tourism and hospitality.
“I see a huge advantage in having Michellene on the board of Cape Town Tourism,” said Debra Sivertsen, General Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront. “She will be the first to highlight the ever shifting trends in visitor attitudes and behaviour. This will be an invaluable aid as our city navigates its way through a sometimes challenging environment.”
The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group promotes Woman in Leadership and Debra is the Champion for the WIL Programme the Sub Sahara and Africa region.
Wednesday, 4 November 2015
SOUTH AFRICA: IATA Welcomes Visa Changes
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) would like to congratulate the government of South Africa for adopting new visa policies that will see the implementation of biometric visa applications on arrival and changes to the unabridged birth certificate policy.
The new recommendations that were presented by the inter-ministerial committee were accepted by Cabinet last week and will be implemented over the next three months to over a year.
David Scowsill, president and CEO of the WTTC, said the organisation is extremely pleased that the South African government has decided to adopt new visa policies that ensure a smoother visa application process for business and leisure travellers that are looking to visit this great destination.
"South Africa is a rich tourism economy, in 2014 our sector contributed 9.4% to the country’s total GDP, which accounts to a total of R357bn, a number which is expected to grow by 3.4% in 2015. We commend the government, specifically Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, for the quick response to address the dropping visitor arrivals figures," said Scowsill.
"The change in the country’s visa policies are necessary for the country to continue to grow its travel and tourism sector and meet its forecast travel and tourism GDP."
He said in order to benefit from the great economic and social benefits of the sector WTTC encourages governments to provide visitors with a safe and smooth passage, which means adopting smarter visa processes, more visa waiver agreements and trusted traveller programmes.
"The announcement by the South African government is an important step in the right direction. However, it is important for the government to ensure these changes are implemented in a timely and appropriate manner and that the government continues to look for ways to improve its visa processes. There is more scope for the government to attract a higher number of visitors through more favourable visa policies,” he cautioned.
In the next three months medical travellers and visitors from countries that have no South African mission can apply for a visa by post rather than having to appear in person at centres to apply for a visa. In this same period the government will also start collecting biometrics at the port of entry.
After three months to a year, South Africa will be expanding the number of visa facilitations centres in key countries while after a year the government will move towards a pre-flight biometrics checking system at international airports.
Furthermore, foreign travellers under 18 no longer have to carry copies of an unabridged birth certificates. South African minors have to continue to bring a certificate when they travel, though the name has changed to a “birth certificate containing parental details” as to avoid confusion.
This certificate can be printed in passports, which means that parents no longer need to carry birth certificates on them. The government will implement these changes within the next three months to a year.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) also welcomed the South African government’s decision to amend some of its visa and immigration requirements.
"We believe this is a positive move in the right direction. We urge the South African government to communicate the changes clearly, expeditiously and effectively to all markets so that there is no confusion. This will require far greater clarity on the dates from which the amendments will become effective," said Raphael Kuuchi, Iata's vice president for Africa.
"It is crucial the changes are implemented quickly, to avoid further lost opportunities for South Africa’s travel and tourism sector, which has already been damaged and will experience a notable downturn in business over the coming high summer season, traditionally the sector's busiest period of the year."
In his view the speedy adoption of the amended requirements will also support the combined marketing campaigns led by airlines and their tourism industry partners which aims to restore consumer confidence in South Africa as a value-for-money destination for business and leisure travel.
"At the end of the day, we all want to live in a safe and secure society and in this respect IATA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with South Africa in combatting child trafficking and other illegally exploitative practices. At the same time, it is imperative, given South Africa’s current socio-economic challenges, that airlines are permitted to safely, securely and efficiently transport people and goods between South Africa and its markets around the world," he said.
"This will promote economic growth, create and sustain jobs, drive skills development and advance genuine and meaningful transformation."
Protea Hotels also said it is thankful that the SA government has taken the concerns of the tourism and hospitality sector so seriously and has decided to look at alternative ways of achieving its goals while, at the same time, not harming the sector.
"We expect to experience greater numbers of bookings from visitors from countries that were hit the hardest, such as China and India. Because the previous regulations required applicants for visas to appear in person, in these geographically vast countries, for many prospective visitors it was extremely difficult to obtain a visa – if the individual did not live close to the place where he/she had to appear in person," said Danny Bryer, director of sales, marketing and revenue management for Protea Hotels.
"Since this requirement has now been dropped, we anticipate that we will see an increase in visitor numbers from these locations."
However, it will take a good few months before this is likely to happen, he cautioned. Government has indicated that the revised requirements will be implemented over the next few months. In addition, the communication and training that will be needed for both embassy officials and for travel agents and others involved in the marketing of our country abroad will also take some time.
"One concern we have is that there may well be other destinations internationally that filled the gap during the period that South Africa lost its attraction as a destination of choice. Recovering from this will require a substantial effort on behalf of our marketing staff and agents around the world," said Bryer.
"Protea Hotels also markets extensively to the South African domestic tourist base to encourage locals to be tourists in their own country."
The new recommendations that were presented by the inter-ministerial committee were accepted by Cabinet last week and will be implemented over the next three months to over a year.
David Scowsill, president and CEO of the WTTC, said the organisation is extremely pleased that the South African government has decided to adopt new visa policies that ensure a smoother visa application process for business and leisure travellers that are looking to visit this great destination.
"South Africa is a rich tourism economy, in 2014 our sector contributed 9.4% to the country’s total GDP, which accounts to a total of R357bn, a number which is expected to grow by 3.4% in 2015. We commend the government, specifically Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom and Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, for the quick response to address the dropping visitor arrivals figures," said Scowsill.
"The change in the country’s visa policies are necessary for the country to continue to grow its travel and tourism sector and meet its forecast travel and tourism GDP."
He said in order to benefit from the great economic and social benefits of the sector WTTC encourages governments to provide visitors with a safe and smooth passage, which means adopting smarter visa processes, more visa waiver agreements and trusted traveller programmes.
"The announcement by the South African government is an important step in the right direction. However, it is important for the government to ensure these changes are implemented in a timely and appropriate manner and that the government continues to look for ways to improve its visa processes. There is more scope for the government to attract a higher number of visitors through more favourable visa policies,” he cautioned.
In the next three months medical travellers and visitors from countries that have no South African mission can apply for a visa by post rather than having to appear in person at centres to apply for a visa. In this same period the government will also start collecting biometrics at the port of entry.
After three months to a year, South Africa will be expanding the number of visa facilitations centres in key countries while after a year the government will move towards a pre-flight biometrics checking system at international airports.
Furthermore, foreign travellers under 18 no longer have to carry copies of an unabridged birth certificates. South African minors have to continue to bring a certificate when they travel, though the name has changed to a “birth certificate containing parental details” as to avoid confusion.
This certificate can be printed in passports, which means that parents no longer need to carry birth certificates on them. The government will implement these changes within the next three months to a year.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) also welcomed the South African government’s decision to amend some of its visa and immigration requirements.
"We believe this is a positive move in the right direction. We urge the South African government to communicate the changes clearly, expeditiously and effectively to all markets so that there is no confusion. This will require far greater clarity on the dates from which the amendments will become effective," said Raphael Kuuchi, Iata's vice president for Africa.
"It is crucial the changes are implemented quickly, to avoid further lost opportunities for South Africa’s travel and tourism sector, which has already been damaged and will experience a notable downturn in business over the coming high summer season, traditionally the sector's busiest period of the year."
In his view the speedy adoption of the amended requirements will also support the combined marketing campaigns led by airlines and their tourism industry partners which aims to restore consumer confidence in South Africa as a value-for-money destination for business and leisure travel.
"At the end of the day, we all want to live in a safe and secure society and in this respect IATA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with South Africa in combatting child trafficking and other illegally exploitative practices. At the same time, it is imperative, given South Africa’s current socio-economic challenges, that airlines are permitted to safely, securely and efficiently transport people and goods between South Africa and its markets around the world," he said.
"This will promote economic growth, create and sustain jobs, drive skills development and advance genuine and meaningful transformation."
Protea Hotels also said it is thankful that the SA government has taken the concerns of the tourism and hospitality sector so seriously and has decided to look at alternative ways of achieving its goals while, at the same time, not harming the sector.
"We expect to experience greater numbers of bookings from visitors from countries that were hit the hardest, such as China and India. Because the previous regulations required applicants for visas to appear in person, in these geographically vast countries, for many prospective visitors it was extremely difficult to obtain a visa – if the individual did not live close to the place where he/she had to appear in person," said Danny Bryer, director of sales, marketing and revenue management for Protea Hotels.
"Since this requirement has now been dropped, we anticipate that we will see an increase in visitor numbers from these locations."
However, it will take a good few months before this is likely to happen, he cautioned. Government has indicated that the revised requirements will be implemented over the next few months. In addition, the communication and training that will be needed for both embassy officials and for travel agents and others involved in the marketing of our country abroad will also take some time.
"One concern we have is that there may well be other destinations internationally that filled the gap during the period that South Africa lost its attraction as a destination of choice. Recovering from this will require a substantial effort on behalf of our marketing staff and agents around the world," said Bryer.
"Protea Hotels also markets extensively to the South African domestic tourist base to encourage locals to be tourists in their own country."
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
NIGERIA: Eko Hotel, Intercontinental, Wheat Baker, Emerge As Best Ranked Hotels in Lagos
Eko Hotel, emerged as the best ranked hotel in Lagos, while Intercontinental and Wheat Baker emerged second and third best ranked hotels respectively.
The survey for the top 100 hotels was done over two months through personal questionaire survey of Hotel managers and secret vote by Travel Journalists in Lagos and online voting.The online voting was done via the largest travel news website in Africa www.atqnews.com. Questionnaires were delivered as newsletters to over 25000 people globally and the votes were collated using the Survey Monkey software. Each voter was asked to rank the top 15 Hotels out of all the leading hotels in Lagos giving reasons for the ranking.
At the end of the survey, the hotels were now arranged according to the number of high ranks they had garnered. Eko hotel had the highest number of number one votes in all the collated votes while other hotels on the top 25 list did well as number 2 and number 3 ranked hotels. Other hotels that did very well in the ranking includes Oriental Hotel, 4 points by Sheraton, Southern Sun hotel, Sheraton Ikeja hotel, Federal Palace hotel, Radisson Blu,Bogobori Hotel Westwood, The Protea hotels and Golden Tulip Festac.
The ranking for these hospitality providers were based on the perceived service rendered, Location, facilities, and capacity of the hotels. The not so popular new players on the Top 25 list include The George in Ikoyi, Genesis Sojourner in Ikeja , Fahrenheit Maison in Victoria Island, Ibis Hotel Toyin street, The Best Western hotels, Welcome centre and Admiralty Hotel Lekki.
The Full results for the Top 100 hotel in Lagos will be published in the next edition of Travellers magazine, and will be carried on www.atqnews.com, It will also be shared on different social media platforms.
Travellers Magazine will be presenting certificates to the Top 100 Hotels at the Hospitality Day on the 24thNovember 2015 at the 11th AKWAABA Travel Market at Eko Hotel.
The presentation of certificate is a mark of Recognition and to encourage the hotels to maintain their standards and also to encourage other hotels not so choosen to up their games in the hospitality business and improve their appeal to the public.
Travellers Magazine started the Top 100 Hotels survey in 2001 and stopped the annual survey in 2006 when the then DG of NTDC Dr.Eborieme set up the national Hotel Classification committee to grade hotels in Nigeria. Because the Publisher of Travellers Mr. Ikechi Uko was co-opted as a member of the committee it suspended it’s annual survey in order not to confuse the public with it’s survey. Considering the new reality and the need to guide travellers and hotel guests aright Travellers decided to reintroduce it’s annual survey . It carried out the survey as part of its social services to travellers in Nigeria.It is the first travel Magazine in West Africa Published since 1996.The journal serves as a one stop shop for airlines, Hotels, Restaurants, Tour operators, Travel Agents, State Tourism Board etc. Travellers’ magazine is set to be the in-house magazine of over 100 hotels in Nigeria and Ghana. Already Guests of Holiday Inn Airport hotel Accra and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel Accra and Southern Sun hotel Lagos will be served copies of Travellers for their Reading comfort.
It is now an inflight magazine for Africa World Airlines that flies between Ghana and Nigeria and also within Ghana. AWA was voted as the best Domestic Airline in Ghana. AWA is the strategic partner to South African Airlines on the Accra/Washington DC route.
AWA is expected to carry all SAA passengers between Nigeria and Ghana. This partnership provides a huge opportunity for visibility. It was the inflight magazine for Virgin Nigeria before it stopped operating.
GHANA: Marriott Opens First Protea Hotel In Takoradi Ghana
“This opening under the Protea Hotels brand reinforces our focus on continuing to grow the footprint of Marriott International and that of Protea Hotels in strategic growth areas within Africa. It brings to 19 the number of Middle Eastern and African countries that Marriott International operates in,” says Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, for Marriott International.
The new hotel, located in the fourth-largest city in Ghana in an oil-rich area of the country, boasts 132 rooms, including 12 two-bedroomed apartments. Catering to both business and leisure travelers, the hotel has a large restaurant, bar and lounge, terrace and an entertainment and pool area, as well as a gym. Conference facilities for a maximum of 150 delegates and Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the hotel are geared to meet the needs of business travelers, a market identified as likely to find the new establishment a welcome addition to the accommodation on offer in the city.
“With its positioning in the moderate and upper moderate tier categories and with properties situated in major primary and secondary business centers and sought-after leisure destinations, Protea Hotels offers accommodation ideal for both business and leisure travelers. The approach we take at Protea Hotels is to offer modern design and consistent amenities with a unique blend of global standards combined with proactive and personal service so every guest feels important and appreciated,” concludes Kyriakidis.
Monday, 21 September 2015
SOUTH AFRICA: Marriott Acuires Two Properties In South Africa
Marriott International continues to expand its footprint across the African continent by announcing the signing of two new properties in South Africa, in partnership with The Amdec Group. Expected to open by February 2018, the 150-room Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch and 200-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg Melrose Arch will be located in the Melrose Arch precinct in Johannesburg. The two properties represent the company’s signature brand, Marriott Hotels, as well as its upscale serviced apartments brand, Marriott Executive Apartments, and will be the first Marriott-branded properties under development in South Africa.
Africa is important to Marriott International’s growth strategy because of its rapid economic growth, growing middle class and youth population, as well as the expansion of international flights onto the continent,” explains Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa for Marriott International. “With over 850 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, there are enormous opportunities there.”
Marriott became the largest hotel operator in Africa following its acquisition of South Africa’s leading hotels group, Protea Hotels, in 2014. Over the next five years, the company expects the Marriott International brands, including the Protea brand, will expand from 10 African countries to 18, involving the development of an additional 38 properties across 7 brands.
James Wilson, CEO of The Amdec Group, owners of the iconic Melrose Arch mixed-use precinct, is excited to be partnering with Marriott International, commenting, “Melrose Arch is a magnificent multi-faceted new urban quarter and the perfect location for Marriott’s first two signature brand properties in South Africa. At Melrose Arch our focus is very much on creating an unforgettable experience with a vibrant atmosphere in a secure environment where people can work, shop, relax and stay. The Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch and Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg Melrose Arch provide contemporary and innovative hospitality that adds to Melrose Arch’s current offering.
He adds, “This partnership builds on our existing valued relationship with Marriott International established through the Protea Hotels Group’s two existing hotels at Melrose Arch, African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel and Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Melrose Arch. We look forward to continuing and deepening our association with Marriott International. We are confident the hotel and executive apartments will become landmarks in South Africa and appeal to travellers from all over the country, the continent and the world.”
Three new Protea Hotels have opened over the past year – the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn and the Protea Hotel Mowbray in South Africa, as well as the Protea Hotel Select Takoradi in Ghana. Further, construction has also begun on a new Protea Hotel in Zambia.
Marriott expects to complete its rollout of Marriott Rewards, the company’s loyalty programme, to its Protea portfolio by the end of 2015. Protea guests will be able to earn and redeem Marriott Reward points across Marriott’s portfolio worldwide. Further, the company expects an increase in travel to South Africa by the more than 50 million Marriott Rewards members from around the world.
The Marriott Executive Apartments brand provides upscale residential living at 5 properties in the Middle East and Africa. Personalized service and the assurance of a Marriott experience allow guests to achieve what they need to in an environment that has all of the comforts of home. Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg Melrose Arch has 200 fully furnished apartments including one, two and three bedrooms providing the space, ambience and privacy of a home away from home.
Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg Melrose Arch has 200 fully furnished apartments including one, two and three bedrooms providing the space, ambience and privacy of a home away from home.
The Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch will also be the first African property to open that reflects the new brand transformation that Marriott Hotels has been experiencing globally since last year. This includes modernizing the brand’s overall appeal, as well as an ongoing innovation involving the Marriott Hotels brand around the world, with re-designed lobbies and public spaces known as ‘Greatrooms’.
The [reimagining] of the brand has also included introduction of mobile check-in and check-out, as well as a mobile chat application, all of which have been deployed for the next generation of travelers who blend work and play, demand style and substance, and technology that enables them to blend work and play. Marriott Hotels has also launched a multi-year campaign called ‘Travel Brilliantly’; all created to amplify the brand’s dedication to the future of travel.
The Marriott Hotels brand currently has 17 hotels in seven countries across the Middle East and Africa, with almost 6,000 rooms. By 2020, the company expects to open a further 18 properties across the region, raising the room count by over 4,000 rooms.
The Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch has 150 rooms, significant conference and event facilities, accommodating up to 500 delegates. Other facilities include a business centre and restaurant, fitness centre and outdoor pool, which can be enjoyed by the Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg Melrose Arch guests.
Friday, 11 September 2015
ZAMBIA: Marriott Brand For Ndola
Work has commenced on the construction of a new Protea Hotel in Zambia, located in the city of Ndola opposite the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium along the important Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway. This hotel will increase the Protea Hotels' presence in Zambia to 8 hotels.
With properties geared to service both the tourist and the business market, Protea Hotels, a proud member of Marriott International, a leading global hotel group, is confident in the potential of the Zambian economy to deliver results. From a tourist perspective, facilities in Livingstone and Chipata open up to iconic sights like the Victoria Falls, and to safari and game-viewing, as well as offering a gateway to neighbouring countries such as Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Described as the Commercial Capital City of Zambia, Ndola is the 3rd largest city in the country. Situated 320km north of Lusaka, Ndola is the gateway to the mineral producing region of the country, including the Zambian Copperbelt, and also serves as the end-point for the oil pipeline from Dar-es-Salaam, providing a refinery for the processing of oil for the country, an all-important part of the Zambian economy.
“This means that business travel to the area is significant and, as such, we see great potential for future business in the area,” explains Mark Satterfield, Chief Operating Officer for Marriott International, Middle East & Africa and Marriott International’s Business Leader for Protea Hotels. “This new hotel development under the Protea Hotels brand reinforces our focus on continuing to grow the footprint of Protea Hotels and Marriott International in strategic growth areas such as Zambia throughout Africa.”
These sentiments are echoed by Mark O’Donnell, Chairman of Union Gold, the company that owns the Protea Hotels in Zambia, who says, “Union Gold Zambia Ltd has every confidence in the long-term growth of the Zambian economy. Our commitment to Protea Hotel Ndola is an indication of this confidence. Protea Hotel Ndola will be the eighth hotel in the Protea Hotels Zambian portfolio and it will make Protea Hotels the largest hospitality brand in the country. The Protea Hotels brand is highly respected in Zambia and is synonymous with a high quality and trusted stay experience combined with warm and genuine service to ensure every guest feels important and appreciated.”
The building will be a 2-floor hotel offering 80 rooms, as well as three conference rooms. Large conferences of up to 100 delegates will be possible in the facilities. In terms of size, this will be the second largest hotel in the city, and it is anticipated that up to 180 jobs will be created through this new initiative.
“The projected date of completion of the construction is Q3 2016,” Satterfield says. “Protea Hotels looks forward to continuing successful business ventures in Zambia.”
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