Protea Hotels by Marriott

Protea Hotels by Marriott is a South African hotel and leisure company headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa. As of January 2014, it was the largest hotel company on the continent, with over 126 owned and managed properties in 10 African countries.^[1] As of November 2017, that number has been reduced to nearly 100 properties in eight countries.^[2] The company was named for the flowering plant Protea, which is unique to South Africa, and its logo features a representation of the flower.

Locations

The company owns, manages or franchises three, four and five star properties in ten African countries. The majority of its properties are located in South Africa, where the company was founded and where it maintains its headquarters. Other countries of operation include Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia.

In Uganda the company manages three properties, including the Kampala Protea Hotel, located in the upscale neighborhood of Kololo, in the country's capital Kampala; the Entebbe Protea Hotel, adjacent to Entebbe International Airport and the Mbale Protea Hotel, located in the Eastern Ugandan city of Mbale, in the foothills of Mount Elgon. A fourth property, the Hoima Protea Hotel is currently under development in the Western Ugandan town of Hoima, in the oil-rich Albertine Graben.^[3] The 25-room Kigali Protea Hotel is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2014, making Rwanda, the 10th country where the company has operations.^[4]

The hotel group is also present in Kenya.^[5][6] The Takoradi Protea Hotel is scheduled for opening during the first half of 2014, in Takoradi, Ghana.^[7]

History

The company was founded in 1984 by Otto Stehlik and six business associates. At that time, the founders held 40% of the stock, the remaining 60% being held by Bankrop, now part of Barclays Africa Group. 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:^[8]

• Protea Hospitality Corporation – also referred to as Protea Hospitality Holdings, it is the holding company. The stock ownership comprises: 40% Black Economic Empowerment Partners, 30% Investec Bank and 30% Protea Hotels Group Management
• Protea Hotels– this entity is responsible for the management and marketing activities of the hotels. This is done on the basis of a management or marketing agreement, a joint venture or an association.
• Protea Properties – this division is responsible for properties owned or leased by Protea Hospitality Corporation. These units have a management agreement with Protea Hotels.
• Plan One – 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.
• Procurement International – a subsidiary of Plan One. It specializes in the sourcing, supplying and installation of hotel furniture, fittings and equipment.

Brands

The group operates three brands of hotels:^[9]

• Protea Hotels - Mid Market Brand
• Protea Hotel Fire & Ice - Upper Full Service Brand
• African Pride Hotels - Luxury Brand

Recent developments

In November 2013, Protea Hospitality Holdings, the holding company of Protea Hotels, signed a letter of intent, to be acquired by Marriott International, the parent company of Marriott Hotels. The acquisition was approved by regulatory agencies in the relevant nations, and concluded during the first quarter of 2014.^[10] All hotels controlled by PHH have since been rebranded as Protea Hotels by Marriott, but retaining the historic protea-flower logo.

See also

• Marriott Hotels

References

External links

• Official website