The Kigali Marriott opened in 2016 . Marriott International also plans a
Sheraton in that city .
RWANDA AND UGANDA :
ENTERING THE MAINSTREAM
BY PROJECT STAGE , Q1 2018 VS . Q1 2017
TOP FRANCHISE COMPANIES , BY PROJECT : |
Marriott International |
61 |
Hilton |
38 |
AccorHotels |
26 |
Radisson Hotel Group |
16 |
Foreign money is heading to Africa . AccorHotels ’ investment arm and Qatar ’ s Katara Hospitality in July announced the creation of a US $ 1 billion investment fund for Sub-Saharan countries . Two possible recipients ? Rwanda and Uganda .
Mike Collini , vice president development , sub-Saharan Africa for Hilton , says the company will debut its first properties there this year . It has committed to invest US $ 50 million in Africa in the next five years — that includes “ 100 conversion opportunities , managed and franchised , with 15,000 to 20,000 rooms ,” he says .
Hilton employs off-site modular construction with custom public areas and utilities adjoined to factory-finished guest rooms . “ It ’ s quick , efficient and very costeffective ,” Collini says .
Rwanda is “ a great example how a country can reposition itself within a short period of time after years of turmoil ,” says Alex Kyriakidis , Marriott International ’ s president and managing director , Middle East and Africa , pointing to increased air capacity , better connectivity , ease of visa regulations and better infrastructure .
A Sheraton is under development in Kigali , following the 2016 opening of the brand ’ s first Rwandan hotel , the Kigali Marriott . Its fourth Ugandan property , a Protea , is set for Kampala . With over 60 hotels under development in Africa , Marriott plans to add over 13,000 rooms to reach over 200 hotels and more than 37,000 rooms across operating and pipeline hotels in the next five years .
Africa is “ core to our strategy ,” says Kyriakidis . But he says the slow pace of
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