The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is set to rapidly expand its African portfolio with eight new openings scheduled between 2012 and 2013.

“Tourism in most African countries is a major driver for the economy and Carlson Rezidor has identified the need and potential for a global hotel brand to be present in a number of key locations, further contributing to the growth of tourism and infrastructure development,” said Regional Director Sub-Saharan Africa, Han Oldenburger.

Two of the most anticipated additions to the group’s African portfolio are the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Tete and the Radisson Blu Hotel Maputo.

According to Oldenburger, the Park Inn by Radisson Tete Hotel will present business and leisure travellers with the first hotel of its kind in the area.

“With the recent strong growth in business, agriculture and mining in the area, there is strong demand for new accommodation in Tete. In this respect the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Tete has been developed to provide support and recreational facilities to cater for the captive market in the residential complex and the lack of other facilities in the area,” he said.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Maputo will be located within easy reach of the city centre and will offer guests a choice of 152 luxurious rooms. Other features will include a well-equipped fitness room, outdoor swimming pool and sun deck, and business centre featuring top-notch conference facilities.

Other African additions to Carlson Rezidor’s portfolio will include the Radisson Blu Hotel Lusaka (Zambia), Okoume Palace Libreville Hotel (Gabon), Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Abeokuta (Nigeria), Radisson Blu Hotel Kigali (Rwanda), Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Freetown (Sierra Leone) and the Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park (South Africa).