Protea Hotels Now Bookable at Marriott.com

Travelers to the Middle East and Africa can now make hotel reservations at 116 Protea Hospitality Group hotels via Marriott.com, Marriott International announced last week.

Marriott acquired Protea — a South Africa-based hotelier with three brands: Protea Hotels, African Pride Hotels and Protea Hotel Fire & Ice!— in April. The acquisition, which nearly doubles the company’s presence in the Middle East and Africa, makes Marriott the largest hotelier in Africa.

“Marriott International’s pioneering strategic move into Africa is set against a backdrop of burgeoning economic growth throughout the continent, with the World Bank expecting in excess of 5 percent growth in sub-Saharan Africa through 2015,” Marriott explained in a press release.

Prior to acquiring Protea, Marriott already was operating 10 hotels across the African continent; Protea adds another 116 properties, bringing the company’s total Middle Eastern and African presence to 162 properties in 18 countries.

“I am delighted that just a few weeks after the acquisition of Protea Hotels our valued guests have access to the portfolio of hotel options continent-wide and globally across our entire range of brands,” said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director of Marriott International Middle East and Africa. “Clearly this has been an unprecedented growth phase for our regional business but this is only given context and meaning when we can connect our guests with the experience. This is happening now and it heralds the start of a completely new chapter in the history of Marriott International.”