The Marriott Hotel Group is capitalising on strong recovery across Sub-Saharan Africa – evident in 2024 delivering pre-pandemic occupancy levels in key markets and five new hotel openings. Looking ahead, the group plans to open 13 new properties in 2025, which will bolster its regional presence.

Dorcas Dlamini Mbele, Marriott Area Director: Sales and Distribution for Sub Saharan Africa, said Marriott – which has 109 hotels across 17 countries and 15 brands in the region – saw strong recovery in 2024.

“In some parts of the continent, we’ve seen our hotels getting back to pre-pandemic levels, which is really encouraging. Coupled with that, we also opened five hotels throughout the year.”

Among these openings was the JW Marriott in Nairobi, which joined the Kenyan luxury segment hot on the heels of the JW Marriott Masai Mara opening in 2023.

“We believe this brand will do well in Sub-Saharan Africa and in the luxury market”.

In July, the group also opened the 200+-room Protea Hotel Pretoria Hatfield in South Africa – the group’s biggest region in Sub-Saharan Africa largely because of its Protea portfolio.

Dlamini Mbele said the group is also tapping into the “passion points” of South African guests, which inspired the partnership between Marriott and Orlando Pirates. This partnership saw the introduction of Orlando Pirates-themed rooms at the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice by Marriott Melrose Arch. And, while she could not say which hotel would be next, Dlamini Mbele said Cape Town could expect to see club-inspired rooms in the new year.

Looking ahead to 2025, the group intends to open 13 new properties across Sub-Saharan Africa. These will include Morea House, part of its Autograph Collection in Camps Bay. This property will feature 90 rooms and dining experiences. The iconic Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West is also set to reopen under the Tribute Portfolio banner.

Dlamini Mbele said the hotel is well-loved and well-known and the group is looking to attract the conference, inbound and domestic leisure markets.

Both of these properties are expected to open in the second quarter of 2025. Marriott is also entering new markets in the region with the scheduled opening, in the first half of the year, of the Delta Hotel by Marriott in Madagascar. The group will also make its entry into Cape Verde with a 128-room Four Points by Sheraton property.

In East Africa, a luxury safari product will be launched in Tanzania’s Ngorogoro and Marriott Hotel and Marriott Apartments will make their brand debut in Kampala, Uganda, in the third quarter.