Marriott International yesterday announced its plans for the construction of three new hotel properties in Cape Town, this comes on the back of becoming the largest hotel group in the world two weeks ago. The group is also expanding further into Africa with signings of properties in Nairobi and Mauritius.

CEO of Marriott, Arne Sorenson made the announcement at the Melrose Arch Development Site where the first two Marriott-branded properties in South Africa will be built. Last year, Marriott announced the construction of the Johannesburg Marriott Hotel Melrose Arch and the Marriott Executive Apartments Johannesburg Melrose Arch. These properties are expected to open in 2018.

The AC Hotel Cape Town will be located at the Yacht Club in the Roggebaai precinct, the gateway to Cape Town’s waterfront, while the 200-room Cape Town Marriott Hotel Foreshore and the 150-room Residence Inn by Marriott Cape Town Foreshore will be located at the Harbour Arch. The Cape Town deals are in partnership with the Amdec Group.

The Sheraton brand will introduce the Sheraton Mauritius St Felix Resort and The Residences at the St Felix Resort. The resort, a part of a mixed-use development with a retail mall and residences, is scheduled to open in early 2020 with 152 guest rooms and suites and 37 apartments and villas.

In Kenya, Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi, Hurlingham, will be close to the city centre and surrounding business areas. The 96-room hotel, a conversion from an existing hotel, is expected to open in 2017.

Alex Kyriakidis, President and MD, Middle East and Africa for Marriott International, says: “The developments in both Cape Town and Johannesburg confirm the country’s importance to the international travel market – for both the business and leisure traveller.  From the perspective of tourism, the addition of three hotels in Cape Town, catering for different market segments among both international and domestic visitors, will strengthen the position of the city as one of the world’s top destinations.”