Marriott brand debuts in SA

MARRIOTT International
will open its first
branded hotel
and conference centre in
Johannesburg’s Melrose Arch
precinct, opposite the Protea
Hotel Fire & Ice.
Alex Kyriakidis, president
and md of Marriott
International’s MEA region,
told TNW that the new
development would comprise
150 hotel rooms, 200
long-stay apartments and a
conference centre catering
for groups of up to 500
people.
Marriott Hotel Melrose
Arch and Marriott Executive
Apartments will be developed
by the Amdec Group, which
also developed the Melrose
Arch precinct. Construction is
expected to begin soon and
the hotel will open its doors
in 2018.
The new development
would broaden the appeal of
the precinct, while the new
conference centre would fill
a gap in its offering, Alex
said. The apartments will be
serviced and guests at the
apartments will have the full
use of the hotel’s facilities.
The development would
bring much-needed MICE
business as well as long-stay
guests, said Alex, and added
that the group saw a need in
Africa for branded long-stay
accommodation for corporate
travellers.
“Serviced apartments give
guests the opportunity of
having a home away from
home.” He added that the
apartments had a living room
and kitchen and also offered
the security that came with a
known brand.
Alex also hinted that the
group was keen to develop
further hotels in South
Africa.