IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed franchise agreements with Msafiri Ltd to rebrand three properties across Tanzania and Kenya in order to join its portfolio of brands, expanding its African presence.

Across each site, IHG and the new owners will elevate the guest experience by completing renovations and enhancements, incorporating brand hallmarks and standards.

Remodelling trio

The trio, Holiday Inn Nairobi Two Rivers Mall and The Fairview Nairobi in Kenya and Crowne Plaza Dar es Salaam in Tanzania will remain open while the upgrades take place.

Holiday Inn Nairobi Two Rivers Mall is within the Kenyan capital’s 100-acre Two Rivers Mall & Entertainment complex. Featuring 171 rooms, the hotel offers modern facilities, meetings rooms, a gym, a swimming pool and an all-day dining terrace.

Sensitive refurbishment

The Fairview Hotel, located in Upper Hill Nairobi, was converted from a 1920s manor house in 1932 and has been an established destination for decades. The property will be undergoing a sensitive refurbishment before operating under one of IHG’s boutique brands. In addition to offering an upscale hospitality experience, the Fairview’s restaurant and bars will be further enhanced during the refresh.

The new ownership’s investment at Fairview is anticipated to have a positive social, environmental and economic impact. Following the refurbishment, the team also hopes to achieve a material reduction in the property’s energy consumption.

Tanzanian site

Completing the trio, Crowne Plaza Dar es Salaam is anticipated to receive demand from business and leisure travellers visiting Tanzania’s commercial centre.

The property offers 148 bedrooms, an all-day dining restaurant, a bar, meeting rooms, a modern gym and a swimming pool.

Returning demand

Haitham Mattar, MD, India, Middle East and Africa at IHG commented: “Africa’s hospitality and tourism industry has weathered the disruption of the past two years, with a rising number of inbound travellers highlighting how much potential the region has. Our expansion across Kenya and Tanzania is testament to how IHG Hotels & Resorts is encouraging this potential and meeting the returning demand quickly. We are delighted to have these properties join the IHG family and are excited to offer our guests the exceptional hospitality that we are known for.

“An ownership that includes Actis and Westmont Hospitality is an important partnership to IHG. We are pleased to grow together in the region and to bring exceptional properties and hospitality to guests visiting these two important gateway cities.”

Tremendous potential

A representative on behalf of the hotels’ ownership said: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with IHG and expand our portfolio together into new markets and different brands. Africa has tremendous MICE, business and leisure growth potential. Franchising with IHG at a time when travellers are increasingly purchasing branded offers on the continent also makes sense. These three hotels that are joining the IHG platform are very well located and will offer guests a great place to stay. We expect all three properties to benefit from the strength and scale of IHG’s global systems, technology and strong loyalty programme.”

Funke Okubadejo, director real estate, Actis added: “We are excited to establish a relationship with IHG, through our joint venture with Westmont Hospitality and this continues our track record of investing in exciting real estate opportunities across key locations in Africa.”

Africa overall

IHG currently operates 28 hotels across five brands in Africa, including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and voco, with a further 22 hotels in the development pipeline due to open within the next three to five years.

These include several Egyptian projects such as the 157-key Holiday Inn New Assiut Asayla arriving in Q1 2024; followed by Voco Giza Pyramids in Al Haram, bringing 230 rooms online in Q1 2026; which will be joined in the same year by the 300-key InterContinental Cairo New Capital.

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