Latest news with #RamsayRankoussi
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Radisson's Ramsay Rankoussi on hotel growth trends and Africa's rising cities
Africa's hospitality sector is accelerating its post-pandemic recovery, with secondary cities and adaptive conversions emerging as key drivers of hotel growth. Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President of Development for Africa and Turkey, Radisson Hotel Group. During the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa, held from 17 to 19 June at The Westin Cape Town, Bizcommunity caught up with Ramsay Rankoussi, vice president of development for Africa and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group. He shared insights into the group's evolving Africa strategy, investor appetite, and the importance of credible local partnerships in unlocking regional potential. How would you describe investor sentiment around Africa's hospitality sector in 2025, and where are you seeing the strongest pockets of growth? I think it's important to define Africa not as one market but as 54 countries, each with its own opportunity and potential. For us, priority markets include South Africa, where we currently have 15 hotels and aim to nearly double that in the next five years. Morocco is also showing strong potential, driven by its Vision 2030, major events like the World Cup, and infrastructure reforms. Egypt continues to grow steadily, and Nigeria benefits from macroeconomic factors linked to oil and gas, driving business demand. The key fundamentals for investment remain infrastructure and accessibility — countries that can attract both international and regional/domestic demand post-Covid. Once these factors are in place, it becomes a question of construction costs, cost of capital, access to financing, and facilitating investment through licensing, permits, and streamlined bureaucracy. We're seeing growing interest in secondary and emerging cities across the continent. How is Radisson positioning itself in these markets, and what makes them attractive investment destinations? Secondary cities are growing economic and industrial zones, with lower land barriers and costs compared to prime locations. For example, in South Africa's Middleburg, an economic zone is developing, and we plan to open a hotel there this year. These areas offer untapped demand, lower development costs, and potentially better yields. Since many of these cities currently lack hotels, there is a clear opportunity to capture new markets at lower investment levels. Conversions have become a bigger part of many groups' growth strategies. How is Radisson leveraging property conversions in Africa, and what benefits do they offer owners and local economies? With the challenges we face around cost of capital, inflation, funding delays, and material shortages, we've mitigated risk by focusing on conversions — taking existing or nearly completed properties and rebranding them. This approach lowers the risk of non-completion and allows quicker market entry. Last year, we opened nearly 1,000 rooms across Africa through conversions. For investors, conversions reduce risk while offering brand benefits. For Radisson, it mitigates delays caused by financing or cost pressures. We still do new builds with strategic partners, but conversions remain a priority to reduce execution risk. Partnerships remain critical when operating across Africa's diverse markets. What qualities do you look for in local partners, and how does this contribute to long-term success? In every country, we operate with a local partner who understands the real estate side, often institutional investors or high-net-worth individuals. Radisson provides brand management and operational expertise, while the partner facilitates development by managing permits, building codes, funding, and construction relationships. Success depends on a shared vision — creating employment during and after construction, and delivering benefits for owners, employees, and the local community. That long-term partnership approach is what ensures both economic impact and operational success in these markets. Workforce development and local empowerment are often overlooked in discussions about hotel expansion. How is Radisson investing in skills development and inclusive hiring as part of its growth strategy? We're proud that across Africa, 99.9% of our employees are locals. We take this responsibility seriously and fast-track local talent into executive and general manager roles as part of our diversity efforts. Temporary expatriates may come in where talent gaps exist, but only to mentor and groom local staff. Talent creation requires both private and public investment. Radisson offers training through its academy and career pathways, but many countries still lack the necessary institutions and facilities for the hospitality sector; this remains a challenge. Finally, what excites you most about the future of African hospitality over the next five years? The continent is vast, young, dynamic, and growing rapidly. Economies and domestic demand continue to expand alongside improving connectivity and infrastructure. While Africa has been underrepresented on the global map due to limited airline connectivity and infrastructure, that is changing. Local and regional players are now promoting Africa worldwide, highlighting its diversity of business, convention, and leisure offerings — from coastal resorts to urban hotels. The cultural diversity across countries is a beauty of the continent. Most importantly, the young talent emerging today will be the future leaders of African hospitality.
Zawya
15-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Radisson Hotel Group leads hospitality growth in Africa with the most hotel openings
Radisson Hotel Group ( continues to solidify its leadership in Africa's hospitality landscape, with its top ranking in W Hospitality Group's ( 2024 'From Pipeline to Reality' report for achieving the most hotel openings across the continent within the year. Building on this momentum during the first quarter of 2025, Radisson Hotel Group announces its market entry into the Democratic Republic of Congo with two landmark signings, while further strengthening its presence in Central Africa with the signing of Radisson Blu Hotel&Apartments, Yaoundé in Cameroon. With 11 hotel signings and 7 openings over the last 15 months totaling over 2,000 signed and 1,500 opened rooms, 1,000 through conversions, the Group has strengthened its position as the leading hotel company in Africa, with a diverse portfolio of 100 hotels across more than 30 countries. This growth reflects the Group's focused expansion strategy, strong local partnerships, and continued success in delivering high-impact conversions. 'In line with our global achievements, over the last 15 months, we have achieved remarkable growth across Africa. We expanded into new markets like Tanzania, Conakry, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, further cementing our position as the most diverse hotel company across the continent in terms of country presence,' said Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President, Development, Africa and Turkiye, Radisson Hotel Group. 'Our pipeline remained the most active in the industry, driving sustained momentum and once again highlighting the quality of our partners and a clear strategy. Once again, we are proud to see our group leading the rankings in Africa. We celebrate these successes and look forward to unlocking continued economic value across the continent.' Expanding the Footprint: New Market Entries and Key Openings Radisson Hotel Group proudly announces its entry into the Democratic Republic of Congo with the signing of two landmark properties: Radisson Blu Hotel, Kinshasa and Radisson Hotel Lubumbashi, further strengthening the Group's presence in Central Africa. Radisson Blu Hotel, Kinshasa – Opening late 2026 Strategically located on Boulevard Colonel Tshatshi in the Gombe district, Kinshasa's prime residential and business area, this upper-upscale hotel will feature 110 elegantly designed rooms, including standard rooms, suites, and a Presidential Suite. Guests can enjoy a variety of dining options, including a Lobby Bar, All-Day Dining Restaurant, and Pool Bar. The hotel's wellness facilities will include a gym, massage rooms, and an outdoor swimming pool with a pool terrace. Its modern meeting and event spaces will feature an event hall and pre-function area, ideal for both corporate and social gatherings. The hotel is conveniently situated 32 km from N'djili International Airport, 10 km from N'Dolo Airport, and 6 km from the Gare Centrale train station. Radisson Hotel Lubumbashi – Opening mid-2027 Located on Revolution Road Avenue in Lubumbashi, the second-largest city in the DRC, this upscale hotel will offer 97 stylish guest rooms, including standard rooms, junior suites, and a Presidential Suite. Culinary offerings will include a Lobby Bar, All-Day Dining Restaurant, and a Rooftop Bar&Grill with panoramic city views. The hotel's meetings and events facilities will comprise three flexible meeting rooms and a dedicated pre-function area. Guests will also have access to a well-equipped gym and a swimming pool. The hotel enjoys a prime location near Kipopo Lake, surrounded by luxury residences and notable landmarks such as Lubumbashi Golf Club and La Plage, and is just 12 km from Luano International Airport. In Guinea, the Group marked a significant milestone with the opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Conakry ( just three months after signing. This contemporary beachfront property, located in the city's vibrant Kipé neighborhood, features 282 stylish rooms, suites, and apartments with sweeping ocean views and convenient access to the city's key business and leisure hubs. Further strengthening its Indian Ocean portfolio, Radisson Hotel Group signed and opened Crystals Beach Resort Belle Mare, a member of Radisson Individuals ( Located on the east coast of Mauritius, the resort features 234 spacious accommodations, family-friendly amenities, and breathtaking lagoon views, making it a sought-after destination for travelers of all types. 'We've had a successful track record over the past 15 months with our focus on conversions, including Crystals Beach Resort Belle Mare, Radisson Blu Hotel, Conakry, and Radisson Blu Hotel&Convention Center, Tunis ( fantastic hotels that have further elevated our portfolio in Africa,' added Rankoussi. Strengthening Strategic Markets and Future Pipeline In Cameroon, Radisson Hotel Group continues to strengthen its presence with the signing of Radisson Blu Hotel&Apartments, Yaoundé. Scheduled to open by the end of 2026, this 150-room property will be ideally located in the heart of the capital's central business district, just a 30-minute drive from Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport. The hotel will feature a vibrant selection of dining venues, including a Lobby Bar, All-Day Dining Restaurant, and a Specialty Restaurant. With 1,350 m² of flexible meetings and events space, as well as premium wellness facilities, including a spa, gym, and a rooftop pool with an expansive pool deck, the hotel is set to become a landmark destination in the city. This signing also reinforces the Group's continued pursuit of growth opportunities across Cameroon, including in the key market of Douala. Meanwhile, Radisson Hotel Group is also deepening its commitment to key markets across the continent: Morocco: Targeting 30 hotels by 2030, building on an already robust development pipeline. South Africa: Aiming for 25 hotels by 2030, doubling its current footprint. Nigeria: Continuing its growth momentum with multiple developments, alongside strengthening the Group's West Africa presence with its entry into DRC. 'While geographical diversification remains a priority for us, we also see a clear opportunity to consolidate our presence across key markets such as Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa, each with at least one opening scheduled in 2025. Our results reinforce our brand strength and ability to adapt and grow across diverse markets. We remain committed to expanding our footprint while delivering world-class hospitality experiences across Africa,' concluded Rankoussi. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Radisson Hotel Group. Media Contacts: Saadiyah Hendricks Area Director PR&Social Media, MEA&MED Business Development Contacts: Ramsay Rankoussi Vice President, Development, Africa&Turkey Connect with Radisson Hotels on: LinkedIn: Instagram: X: Facebook: YouTube: TikTok: Radisson Hotel Group: Radisson Hotel Group is a rapidly expanding international hotel group, operating in EMEA and APAC with over 1,520 hotels in operation and under development in +100 countries. The Group's overarching brand promise is Every Moment Matters with a signature Yes I Can! service ethos. The Radisson family of brands portfolio includes Radisson Collection, art'otel, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inn&Suites by Radisson, and Prize by Radisson brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels. Radisson Rewards ( is Radisson Hotel Group's loyalty program, which delivers an elevated experience that makes Every Moment Matter, counting more than 20 million members. As the most streamlined program in the sector, members enjoy exceptional advantages and can access their benefits from day one across a wide range of hotels in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. Radisson Meetings ( provides tailored solutions for any event or meeting, including hybrid solutions placing guests and their needs at the heart of its offer. Radisson Meetings is built around three strong service commitments: Personal, Professional and Memorable, while delivering on the brilliant basics and being uniquely Carbon Compensated. At Radisson Hotel Group we care for people, communities and planet ( and aim to be Net Zero by 2050 based on the approved Science Based Targets. With unique solutions such as carbon compensated Radisson Meetings, we make sustainable hotel stays easy. To facilitate sustainable travel choices, all our hotels are becoming verified on Hotel Sustainability Basics. The health and safety of guests and team members remain a top priority for Radisson Hotel Group. All properties across the Group's portfolio are subject to health and safety requirements, ensuring we always care for our guests and team members. For more information, visit our corporate website (
