Rotana plans hotel complex for Kenya's capital

Expanding its footprint in the African market, Rotana has signed a hotel-management agreement with Mullion Contractors Ltd. to manage a new hotel and collection of hotel-apartments in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Set to open in 2022, the new property will have 200 guestrooms and 100 hotel apartments operating under the Rotana Hotels & Resorts and Arjaan hotel apartments by Rotana brands, respectively.

“Setting foot in Kenyan market with a five-star hotel and hotel apartments is closely aligned with our vision of strengthening Rotana’s presence in Africa and bolstering our global portfolio further,” said Nasser Al-Nowais, chairman of Rotana, in a statement. “We will continue to seek new opportunities to offer Rotana’s branded accommodation on the continent that is increasingly becoming popular among tourists and corporate travelers from around the world.”

“With its promising economic growth projections of around 6 percent, Kenya remains one of Africa’s most buoyant markets and thus offers bright prospects for the hospitality sector,” said Selim El Zyr, vice-chairman, Rotana. “We are optimistic that this strategic step will fuel our ambitious expansion drive in the African continent.”

The agreement for the new hotel comes just after Rotana signed its first property in the Republic of Zambia. That property is scheduled to open in 2021 in the capital city of Lusaka. When opened, the new properties in Kenya and Zambia will join the company’s African portfolio, which includes Al Salam Rotana, Khartoum, Sudan; Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana, Kinshasa, DR Congo; and Grand Rotana Resort & Spa, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

The Kenyan development will bring Rotana’s total inventory in Africa to 2,028. With an eye to capitalizing on the potential of the continent’s burgeoning market for the hospitality sector, Rotana has planned new hotels in Angola, Mauritania, Nigeria and Tanzania that are scheduled to open by 2022.