Africa is attracting more hotel investment: Just this week, Minor Hotel Group added three properties in Mozambique to its portfolio. They will be reflagged to MHG’s Anantara and AVANI brands later this year, and will take the total number of MHG properties in operation to 108 and the total number of rooms to more than 13,000.
This investment is part of MHG’s strategy to expand its footprint globally and increase the group’s presence in Mozambique, which represents a continued investment in the long term strategic partnership agreement MHG has with Dubai-based Rani Investment LLC. The two organizations formed a joint venture company in August 2013 for the ownership of Indigo Bay Resort & Spa in Mozambique, which was re-branded to Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa in November.
The three properties are located on the northern coastline of Mozambique, operating as part of the Rani Resorts portfolio. On the mainland, the 185-room Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa will be rebranded to AVANI Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa. Located in the Quirimbas Archipelago, the boutique island properties – Medjumbe Private Island with 13 chalets and Matemo Island, currently with 24 villas – will both be rebranded to Anantara. Matemo Island is currently closed for renovations and the addition of more rooms. All three properties will be rebranded by the end of 2014.
The partnership is also poised to generate new opportunities in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, and in the East Africa market to further strengthen MHG’s presence on the continent. These properties will be a mix of new-builds and rebrands and will be flagged with MHG’s international hotel brands, including the luxury Anantara brand, the upscale AVANI brand and the serviced apartment Oaks brand (which is currently expanding into Asia and the Middle East).
Rani Investment is the investment arm of Aujan Group Holding with more than US$300 million of dedicated investments in the Middle East and Africa. Rani Investment is the largest private hospitality owner-operator in Mozambique, having first established its presence in 1999 under the Rani Resorts name.