Newmark Hotels, Reserves and Lodges is expanding into Africa with the establishment of the group’s first office outside South Africa and the creation of the Kaufela Collection in Zambia.

The new office is located in Lusaka and will focus on COMESA countries in Africa, such as Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zanzibar.

“The Lusaka office is mandated to develop new territories for Newmark, under either the Kaufela Collection or the Newmark brand depending upon the standard or size of the property,” says Newmark’s Director for Africa Dr Hans Heuer.

The Kaufela Collection has already signed three independent lodges (100 rooms) and plans to add another 400 rooms by the end of the year. Newmark is currently taking on a new property in Zanzibar and a further 170-room business hotel in Lusaka.

Newmark CEO, Neil Markovitz, says that the group’s offering will not be compromised: “We turn down more properties than we take on - we’re very specific about the product portfolio.”

The group was established in 2007 and attributes much of its success to the fact that the brands in its portfolio retain their individuality.