Hotel behemoth Marriott International, which acquired 116 Protea Hotels in Africa in 2014, is taking over Starwood to become the world’s largest hotelier. The deal will add 50 percent more rooms to Marriott’s portfolio, and leave it with 5,500 properties and over 1 million rooms around the world. The transaction is expected to close in the middle of 2016.
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In September, at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced aggressive expansion in Africa and Indian Ocean, increasing its market penetration across the region. The company already had a strong footprint with 34 operating hotels and a robust pipeline of 20 hotels under development. With the expansion of its luxury, upper upscale and mid-market brands, Starwood will grow its portfolio by over 50% in the next five years, with more than 50 hotels operating and nine out of its 10 compelling lifestyle brands flying their flag in the region.
