AccorHotels announced it has signed an exclusive partnership with AAA Activos LDA to open 50 hotels representing more than 6,200 rooms ranging from luxury to economy between now and 2017.
The hotels will be located in the Angolan capital, Luanda, as well as the nation’s provincial capitals. It is expected that six hotels will open in 2015, 22 in 2016 and 22 in 2017. Twenty-seven hotels will be operated under the economy Ibis Styles brand, 22 under the midscale Mercure brand and one under the luxury Sofitel brand.
AAA began as a specialized risk management financial services provider and has been involved in the co-insurance market in the Angolan oil sector since 2000. The company also operates in petroleum reinsurance and brokerage in the U.K. and Bermuda.
“This historical and unheard of establishment of a hospitality group in Angola, which was made possible through our partnership with AAA Activos LDA, testifies to AccorHotels’ ambition in Africa, where tourism is rapidly evolving,” said Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of AccorHotels. “Angola has 25 million inhabitants, 40% of which are of working age. Therefore, 3,000 employees will be hired locally in a large selection of hospitality jobs, ranging from restaurant service to executive positions. The group commits to train these employees as well as to pass on its values to them.”