Marriot plans Protea Hotel for Serowe
Mbongeni Mguni | Wednesday June 14, 2023 13:45
Marriott International currently operates nearly 140 properties in 20 African countries, but in Botswana is best known for the Protea Hotel by Marriott Gaborone Masa Square, a landmark in the capital.
In a statement yesterday, Marriot International said an agreement had been signed for the Serowe project’s development.
“Slated to open in 2026, the hotel is anticipated to feature 155 guestrooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, fitness centre, swimming pool and multiple meeting rooms,” Marriot International representatives said. “Protea by Marriott Serowe will be situated near the Khama Rhino Sanctuary in Serowe, between Gaborone and Orapa, one of the world’s largest diamond-producing mines.”
The planned hotel is one of five deal signings in Africa under the Protea Hotels by Marriott brand, announced this week. Other hotels are planned for Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Nigeria, the latter scheduled to have two new establishments.
“Protea Hotels by Marriott has a long-established legacy in Africa, and we are excited to further strengthen the brand’s footprint in the continent with these five signings,” said Karim Cheltout, Regional Vice President – Development, Africa and All-Inclusive, EMEA at Marriott International. “While we continue to see demand for new build opportunities, the brand is seeing an uptick in conversion projects where developers are looking to rebrand their existing property into a Protea Hotel.”
For Serowe, the planned hotel is a breath of fresh air for a village whose development has been overshadowed by neighbouring Palapye and where major private sector works have been few and far between.