THE African hospitality industry
has seen a major shake-up
with ONOMO Hotels acquiring
a 60,1% controlling stake in
BON Hotels, consolidating
the market and positioning
the new BON-ONOMO Group
as the fourth largest midscale hospitality group on the
continent.
From a brand perspective,
there will be no change.
Guy Stehlik remains the ceo
of BON Hotels and Cedric
Guilleminot the ceo of
ONOMO Hotels. Together the
BON-ONOMO Group will have
8 000 hotel rooms in the next
three years, with a footprint
spanning 15 African countries,
says Cedric.
“ONOMO evolves from
a hotel owner to offering
management services,
with BON significantly
increasing its footprint on the
continent. BON Hotels has
specifically taken advantage
of the business tourism
opportunities that Africa’s
high-growth indices offer, which
has led to a strong presence
in Nigeria, Southern Africa,
Ghana, Namibia and Ethiopia.
On the other hand, ONOMO
dominates Francophone
Africa, in particular the hotel
markets of Morocco; and the
company has now moved
into Mozambique, Rwanda,
Tanzania, Kenya and South
Africa, too. Combining our
current hotel holdings provides
us with a powerful presence
across the continent, which
positions us as a significant
player in Africa’s tourism
industry,” says Guy.
He adds that steady growth
is better than exponential
growth. “Africa is littered
with hotel groups who failed
dismally, trying to grow too
quickly.” BON Hotels will
expand in the following
markets:
Nigeria: Already operating
12 hotels in Nigeria, BON
plans to open another 28
hotels and residences in the
short term. Hotels in Kano,
Ibadan, Warri, Asaba and
Port Harcourt will open within
the next four months.
Ethiopia: Government
incentives, international
conferences and regional
bases for non-profit
organisations, embassies
and aid agencies have led to
an explosion of hotel growth
in Addis Ababa. BON Hotels
will open three hotels here
in 2020 and is aggressively
investigating other
opportunities in Ethiopia and
neighbouring Eritrea.
“We will be in a far stronger
position to leverage buying
power with suppliers,
negotiate wholesale deals
with corporates and travel
consortiums and offer a wider
footprint of BON and ONOMO
properties throughout Africa,”
says Guy.
“Some of the best economic
growth across the world is
happening in Africa, whereas
the previously attractive
regions, such as Europe, are
not growing much at all.
“In addition, Africa has
perhaps more tourist sites and
experiences than anywhere
else in the world, and much
more development of these
can be done. The potential
is big and we anticipate
significant revenues coming
from these in the future.
Business travel is already
significant and, as more
business rolls out on the
continent, the hotel industry
will benefit,” he says.
