Africa’s Hotel Industry Now Adapts To New Traveler Demands: Marriott Moves Into Safaris, Sun International Revamps Timeshares

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Karim Cheltout, Marriott’s Senior Vice President of Lodging Development for nan Middle East & Africa, said that this alteration speaks to a alteration of mindset by nan company. “It is nary longer astir hotels and rooms, but that is astir increasing a portfolio that resonates pinch nan traveler of today,” he said. Matt Preston 45 ©John Wright As a result, Marriott now has a twelve signed safari lodges pinch respective much nether building passim Africa.

The lodges are not only luxurious places to stay, but are besides designed to springiness guests a greater appreciation of nan environment. Marriott understands that guests are looking for much than conscionable posh furnishings, they want rooms that bespeak their environmentalist priorities. “It’s sewage to beryllium astir nan biology connections to landscapes which are very fragile,” Cheltout said, successful a reference to nan ecological elements of nan safari lodges.

Through its expanding safari lodges portfolio, Marriott hopes to connection travelers much immersive and sustainable journeys. Marriott’s finance successful moving pinch indigenous African edifice owners is cardinal to this approach, pinch these partnerships expected to shape portion of Marriott’s description crossed nan continent.

Sun International Adapts Timeshare to Market Needs

Sun International has not only been focusing connected safaris – it has besides made strategical changes to nan timeshare exemplary that has been cardinal to its offering since 1996. Sun International COO Graham Wood said nan group has shifted its attraction from nan aged accepted evergreen timeshare exemplary which was becoming little charismatic to a caller elastic structure.

The institution plans to adhd 183 much units, expanding its timeshare inventory moreover more. That elasticity has besides brought much ft postulation to its resorts, which thief support added services for illustration nutrient and beverage establishments, play courses and convention facilities.

Renovating Iconic Hotels successful Africa

Changes are not confined to caller hotels and developments successful Africa. Existing marque properties are getting awesome facelifts successful bid to stay competitory successful nan changing edifice climate. Sun International’s celebrated Table Bay Hotel successful Cape Town, for example, is presently undergoing refurbishments to go nan InterContinental Table Bay by nan extremity of 2025.

The $55.8 cardinal refurbishment will relaunch nan edifice arsenic 1 of nan Africa’s upscale hotels. These modern features will beryllium respectful to nan hotel’s iconic position wrong nan Cape Town metropolis skyline, adding luxury to nan hotel’s storied section customs.

Whats Next/Hospitality/ The adjacent section for hospitality successful Africa

It is evident that nan edifice manufacture passim Africa is undergoing alteration – hotels are evolving successful consequence to nan changing needs of today’s travelers. From Marriott’s pivot toward safari lodges to Sun International’s refreshed timeshare strategy and TUI’s consequence to nan “bush and beach” trend, these hoteliers are repositioning their attack to seizure an assemblage looking for much bespoke and authentic recreation offerings.

The luxury hospitality assemblage successful Africa is poised for continued description , pinch world and home travellers becoming ever much keen to acquisition destinations beyond tried-and-tested edifice offerings. The continent’s beauty, assortment of cultures, and agelong history are each cardinal attributes pinch which edifice companies are moving to build upon arsenic they grow and evolve.

As tourism successful Africa continues to grow, nan early of hospitality connected nan continent looks upbeat. While edifice companies further create their models and designs and create new, unsocial experiences for travelers, we tin expect to spot progressively exclusive, eco-conscious and uncommon accommodation options blossoming crossed Africa successful nan coming years.

Conclusion: Africa’s Evolving Hospitality Landscape

In consequence to changing traveler preferences, nan African edifice manufacture is coming up pinch innovative approaches to safari stays, timeshare models and immersive vacation experiences, pinch nan likes of Marriott, Sun International and TUI Group starring nan way. And pinch these companies zeroed successful connected what today’s travelers crave luxury, sustainability, and a profound relationship to quality and culture, nan early of African hospitality seems poised to beryllium moreover brighter.