Type Hotels Founder Otto Stehlik Parent organization Marriott International | Area served Africa Founded 1984 | |
Native name Protea Hotels by Marriott Industry Hospitality, Hotels, Tourism Headquarters Cape Town, South Africa Number of locations 98 in 8 African Countries Subsidiaries Protea Hospitality Group (Pty) Ltd, Protea Hotel Richards Bay, Protea Hospitality Corporation (Pty) Ltd. | ||
Protea Hotels by Marriott is a leading South African hotel brand headquartered in Cape Town. The brand has more than 10,000 rooms in the African continent. As of April 2016, it is the largest hotel company on the continent, with over 100 managed and franchised properties in 8 African countries.
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Founded in 1984, Protea Hotels by Marriott continues today to grow its portfolio and brands, through investments and upgrades.
The group currently comprises two brands: the mid-up market Protea Hotels by Marriott (including the lifestyle brand Protea Hotels Fire & Ice! by Marriott) brand and the superior deluxe African Pride Hotels.
As of 1 April 2014, the group sold its hotel marketing, management and franchise business to Marriott International. Today Protea Hotels operate as Protea Hotels by Marriott; one of the 19 brands under Marriott International, based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 4,400 properties in 87 countries and territories.
Locations
The company manages or franchises three, four and five star properties in 8 African countries. The majority with over 70 of its properties located within the borders of South Africa, at April 2016. South Africa is where the company was founded and where it maintains its headquarters. Other countries of operation include Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Awards and Accolades
Today the brand continues adding awards and accolades to its name, having been named the winner of 2 World Travel Awards for Best Hotel Group in Africa, winner of 3 Sunday Times Markinor Top Hotel Brand Awards and winner of 7 Sunday Times Generation Next Awards for the Coolest Hotel Group.
In July,2015 the Group was awarded top spot in the Hotels Category in the Ask Afrika 2015/2016 Icon Brands Survey, a significant accolade for South Africa’s leading hospitality group. In June 2016 the brand announced, TripAdvisor, the world’s largest online travel site, recognised a bulk of the Protea Hotels as 2016 Certificate of Excellence Award winners. Also announced, was the accolade of having earned a Travellers’ Choice Award.
Expansion
In 2015 Marriott International chose the Protea Hotel brand for the opening of its first Southern Suburbs hotel in Cape Town. The hotel opened its door as Protea Hotel Mowbray on 1 February 2015. Further to the expansion into Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs was the opening of the 3rd Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! in Pretoria as Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn, which opened in March 2015.
New acquisitions, saw the brand acquire the Hunters Rest Hotel in Magalies Mountains and the Malaga Hotel in Mpumalanga. 2015 saw the opening of the first-ever Protea Hotel in Ghana. Allowing the now parent company, Marriott International’s footprint in Middle East and Africa to extend to 19 countries.
History
Protea Hotels was formed on 1 July 1984, with an initial base of four managed properties which were controlled by Otto Stehlik and his partners. The company was owned 60% by Bankorp and 40% by Stehlik and his partners, who were also directors of the company. At the time of its founding, the company had four properties under management; two in Cape Town, one in Johannesburg and one in KwaZulu Natal South Coast. After multiple changes in ownership, the Protea Hotel Group is organized as follows:
Also referred to as Protea Hospitality Holdings remained the holding company. The stock ownership comprised: 40% Black Economic Empowerment Partners, 30% Investec Bank and 30% Protea Hotels Group Management
This entity was held responsible for the management and marketing activities of the hotels. This was done on the basis of a management or marketing agreement, a joint venture or an association.
This division was responsible for properties owned or leased by Protea Hospitality Corporation. These units maintained a management agreement with Protea Hotels.
On 1 April 2014, Protea Hotels sold its hotel marketing, management and franchise business to Marriott International.
Plan One is responsible for planning, designing, refurbishing and upgrading of hotels. Protea Hospitality Corporation has a shareholding in Plan One. This company specializes in interior planning, design and consultancy.
This is a subsidiary of Plan One. It specializes in the sourcing, supplying and installation of hotel furniture, fittings and equipment.
Brands
The hotel group offers three brands of hotels:
Recent developments
April 2014, saw Marriott International complete their acquisition of Protea Hospitality Group; which enabled them to claim to be the largest hotel company in Africa.
25 November 2015 saw Protea Hotels joining over 4,000 Marriott International Hotels where Marriott Rewards Members can earn and redeem points for global travel.
In new developments, work has commenced on the construction of a new Protea Hotel in Zambia, located in the city of Ndola opposite the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium along the important Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway. This hotel’s completion is due Q3 of 2016 and will increase the Protea Hotels presence in Zambia to 8 hotels.
As of February 2016, Protea Hotels continues to expand with new development in Centurion, having announced plans for the construction of a new hotel with conferencing in the area.
Further African expansion for Protea Hotels was announced in March, 2016 with two additional hotels in Kampala, Uganda.
June 8, 2016 saw Protea Hotels announce plans on continued expansion on the African continent, with news of the first Protea Hotel in Gaberone, Botswana being developed. Botswana is a new region for both Protea Hotels and Marriott International and this development increases sets to increase their African footprint to a total of 9 countries.
On June 14, 2016, Marriott International announced the rebrand of Protea Hotels. The rebranding includes an updated and modernized logo and the “by Marriott” endorsement. The brand is now officially Protea Hotels by Marriott.