Radisson Hotel Group ended 2023 on a strong note in the Middle East and Africa and strengthened its position in the markets by signing 22 properties, which added more than 3,800 rooms to its regional portfolio.
The past year was a successful one for the hotel group, with Radisson more than 30,000 keys to its overall global portfolio of 10 brands. This was the company’s new record and was achieved through new hotel openings as well as property signings.
Radisson has expanded its business by around 50% since it launched its transformation strategy in 2018. Currently, the group’s global portfolio includes more than 1,320 hotels in operation and under development in over 90 countries.
Radisson is expecting this year to be a landmark one and is aiming for 14 new openings across the Middle East and Africa. This reflects the surge in demand for premium accommodation in these markets.
EXPANSION IN AFRICA
With eight hotel signings in 2023, Radisson added more than 1,600 rooms across Africa. With this pace of progress, the group is well on its way to achieving its target of 150 properties in the region in the next five years, up from its existing number of 100 hotels.
The new hotel signings include Radisson’s entry into newer markets, like Gambia (with Radisson Blu Beach Resort & Spa, Banjul) and Benin City in Nigeria (Radisson Hotel Benin City).
In Nigeria, Radisson expanded to 12 hotels and more than 1,700 rooms and has strengthened its position with the signings of Radisson Collection Hotel & Conference Center, Abuja, Radisson Blu Hotel, Abuja CBD and Radisson RED Lagos VI.
“We have an exciting year ahead with five hotel openings in Africa, reinforcing our market leader stance in our key countries such as Egypt, Morocco and South Africa but also maintaining the fastest growth across the continent in tangible openings. Building on the momentum of the Radisson Collection Resort, Marsa Alam Port Phoenice signing, introducing the Radisson Collection brand in the country with an exceptional resort, we will also open the first standalone serviced apartments in Egypt with Radisson Residences Cairo Heliopolis within the coming months,” said Ramsay Rankoussi, vice president, business development for Africa and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group.
Radisson will be adding to its Morocco portfolio this year, with the opening of Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier in Q2, which will mark the debut of the Radisson brand.
Following the opening its first safari hotel in Africa, Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit, Radisson will be opening its 12th property in South Africa with the opening of Radisson Hotel Middelburg later this year.
Radisson will be pursuing East Africa this year, with Kenya and Tanzania identified as the group’s market priorities, Rankoussi said, adding that the group will building on expanding its resort portfolio across Africa.
In the past three years, Radisson has opened 20 hotels in the continent, setting a record for the group in terms of realization of its pipeline into openings and has resulted in a 15% annual growth in Africa.
FOCUS ON THE MIDDLE EAST
Radisson has opened more than 1,000 keys over the past 12 months in the Middle East and is slated to open 2,000 rooms this year. The group is aiming to have 150 properties operational or under development in the region by 2030.
In the final quarter of 2023, Radisson unveiled several new properties in Oman — Muscat Levatio Suites, a member of Radisson Individuals and Radisson Hotel Muscat Panorama and opened the inaugural Radisson Individuals in Saudi Arabia with the opening of Vivid Jeddah, A Radisson Individuals hotel. Radisson has also signed Park Inn by Radisson Resort Bimmah and Radisson Serviced Apartments Salalah.
In 2023, Radisson opened the 178-key Radisson Blu Hotel, Amman Galleria Mall in Jordan and signed Radisson Hotel & Residences Erbil, in Iraq’s Erbil, which saw Radisson foraying into a new market.
Radisson signed four hotels and serviced apartments in Islamabad, Pakistan, with the first opening scheduled for 2025.
In Q1 2024, the group will be expanding its presence in Makkah with the openings of Park Inn by Radisson Makkah Thaker West and Park Inn by Radisson Makkah Thakher East.
Radisson is also on track to open Radisson Hotel Jeddah Tahlia Street and Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Apartments Kuwait this year.
“Our ambitions remain strong as we continue our robust expansion efforts in the region, focusing particularly on resorts as well as serviced apartments. We continue to penetrate new markets as we have seen in Erbil and Amman while we strengthen our position with strategic owners in established cities such as Jeddah, Riyadh, Kuwait, Makkah and Muscat, to name a few,” said Elie Milky, vice president business development, Middle East, Greece, Cyprus, and Pakistan at Radisson Hotel Group. “Our value proposition to our existing and new owners continues to improve with a comprehensive brand offering and a pragmatic conversions approach to drive openings.”