Minor Hotels is set to launch a luxury holiday development in the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar alongside resort chain Anantara. The Bangkok-headquartered hotel owner and operator announced its intention to build the 181-key Anantara Zanzibar Resort on 5 March, with a scheduled launch date in 2027.
Africa has established itself as the second-fastest-growing tourism market in recent years, with additional developments including Moroccan tourism company Risma executing a duo of deals with French hospitality group Accor in August 2023, capitalising on the appetite for holiday resorts on the continent.
Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier said in a statement: “We look forward to these new properties joining our Anantara portfolio on the continent in Mozambique, Zambia and Tunisia. Working in collaboration with Infinity Group we believe this is an excellent opportunity to grow our hospitality footprint in Zanzibar”.
Minor Hotels currently holds a portfolio of over 540 hotels in 56 countries. The company was selected by Dubai-headquartered Infinity Group to develop the resort along with Anantara, with the Zanzibar hotel set to make an addition to Infinity Group’s growing Africa portfolio.
Infinity Group was advised on the venture by lawyers from ALN (formerly Africa Legal Network), with United Arab Emirates partners Atiq Anjarwalla, and Devvrat Periwal and Ian Gaitta, along with associate Ayeshah Faisal Alam. The ALN Kenya team was comprised of partners Karim Anjarwalla, Nicole Gichuhi and Ian Gaitta, advocate Vanessa Gathoni Mungai and lawyer Quinter Otieno.
Periwal said in a statement: “This venture not only underscores the growing confidence in Africa’s hospitality sector but also exemplifies the robust relationship between Africa and the Middle East in terms of investment and collaboration.” He added: “As Africa continues to emerge as a key destination for investment, partnerships like these pave the way for mutually beneficial economic growth and development.”
