Sun International has placed its bets on Central and South America, while selling off a major stake in its Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia hotels. 
The group has entered into a partnership with Minor International (MINT), a hospitality group based in the Asia Pacific region, that will see MINT take ownership of eight of Sun International’s hotels in Southern Africa to the cost of R679,5m. 
Sun International has disposed of 50% of its interests in Zambia and 80% of its interests in Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and Swaziland. The agreement does not affect Sun International’s properties in South Africa. 
Sun International’s strategy going forward is to focus on casino operations and opportunities, including Latin America and Asia, while MINT will handle the hospitality side of things. 
“The proposed transaction with MINT enables Sun International to remain invested in the African assets but with responsibility for the casino component only, as well as to partner with MINT in other African opportunities that have a casino element. In addition, MINT will commit its pro rata share of new capital expenditure to realise the revenue potential of the African assets, giving Sun International more room to consider capital investment opportunities elsewhere,” Michael Farr, Sun International’s Group GM of Corporate Brand and Communications, told Tourism Update. 
“Starting with the existing African assets involved, it is the intention of the alliance to explore other hotel and gaming opportunities, in particular those that may arise in Africa and Asia, where MINT would manage the hotel component and Sun International would manage the casino component.” 
The properties include the Royal Livingstone and Zambezi Sun, in Zambia; Gaborone Sun Botswana in Botswana; Kalahari Sands in Namibia; Lesotho Sun and Maseru Sun in Lesotho; and Swaziland’s Royal Swazi and Ezulwini Sun. These, with the exception of the Royal Livingstone, will be rebranded as either Anantara or AVANI.
Meanwhile, Sun International is putting its money on Latin America. “We have our very successful operation in Chile, Monticello Grand Casino. We are opening in Panama in the next few weeks – Ocean Club Casino – in partnership with Trump – and we have just been granted a licence to operate in Cartagena, Colombia,” Farr says.
The proposed transaction fits with MINT’s expansion plans in Africa, where MINT currently owns eight luxury game lodges and resorts in Kenya and Tanzania under the Elewana Collection, and five hotel projects in Mozambique – late last year, the Minor Hotel Group announced its partnership with Rani Resorts. The two companies formed a joint venture company for five of Rani’s Mozambican resorts, which are being re-branded.
“Over the past few years, MINT has strategically expanded its hospitality business into many regions, and Africa is one of the continents that MINT saw substantial growth potential and has put its focus on. MINT is excited by this latest acquisition which will augment its growth strategy in Africa and will further introduce our Anantara and AVANI brands in the region,” says William Heinecke, chairman and group CEO of MINT.
The only African property outside of South Africa owned by Sun International and not part of the proposed transaction is the Federal Palace in Lagos, Nigeria, in which Sun International and MINT are in discussion regarding a possible investment by MINT.
MINT is a hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of 110 hotels and serviced suites under the Anantara, AVANI, Oaks, Per AQUUM, Elewana, Four Seasons, St. Regis, Marriott, Radisson Blu and Minor International brands in Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Maldives, Vietnam, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique.