Hyatt Hotels expansion in Africa has hotel industry abuzz

For the past week I have read daily stories about Hyatt Hotels plans to expand from six to 11 hotels in Africa over the next three years. Park Hyatt Zanzibar is planning for a January 2014 opening in Tanzania to coincide with Zanzibar Revolution Day. Hyatt Regency Arusha, also in Tanzania, will open in 2016.

Africa is my weakest link in geographical info, so I looked up these places.

[click image to enlarge]

Google Maps – East Africa.

Tanzania is south of Kenya on Africa’s eastern coast. Zanzibar are the islands off the coast with a long history of settlement, spices, slavery and colonialism.

Google Maps – Zanzibar off coast of Tanzania.

The Park Hyatt Zanzibar will have 72 guest rooms and is located in the historic part of Zanzibar City known as Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site cited as the only functioning ancient city of East Africa. The hotel will have direct access to the beach.

Stone Town also known as Mji Mkongwe (Swahili for “old town”) is the old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania, as opposed to Ng’ambo (Swahili for ‘the other side’). It is located on the western coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Former capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate, and flourishing centre of the spice trade as well as the slave trade in the 19th century, it retained its importance as the main city of Zanzibar during the period of the British protectorate. When Tanganyika and Zanzibar joined each other to form the United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar kept a semi-autonomous status, with Stone Town as its local government seat.

Stone Town is a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying the Swahili culture, with a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. For this reason, the town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

Due to its heritage, Stone Town is also a major visitor attraction in Tanzania, and a large part of its economy depends on tourism-related activities.

Wikipedia – Stone Town, Zanzibar

Hyatt Regency Arusha

Arusha is on the main road from Nairobi to Tanzania. Looks like Hyatt is setting up a great adventure and wildlife safari route for visiting Tanzania and Kenya National Parks. Arusha National Park is located within a few miles outside of Arusha city and serves as the gateway for Kilimanjaro mountain climbing routes.

[click image to enlarge]

Google Maps – Arusha, Tanzania and nearby National Parks.

Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania, the capital of the Arusha Region, with a projected population of 1,288,088, including 516,000 for the Arusha District (2007 census). The city of Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa’s most famous landscapes and national parks. Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, Arusha has a temperate climate. The city is close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro and The Arusha National Park on Mount Meru. – Wikipedia Arusha, Tanzania.

Hyatt Regency Arusha will have 144 rooms and be located on a 29-acre site in central Arusha. The city of Arusha is also known for its East Africa inter-governmental agencies.

Tanzania surpassed one million international visitors in 2012 spurring demand for more hotels. Hyatt Hotels already has one hotel open in Tanzania at Dar es Salaam and the planned openings will bring three Hyatt hotels to the country.

Three more Hyatt brand hotels planned in Africa

Hyatt has also recently announced three other hotels for Africa with Park Hyatt Marrakech, Morocco opening in 2014 with 131 rooms and suites and 44 villas.

Hyatt Place Taghazout, outside Agadir, is part of a planned Atlantic coast golf resort development in Morocco. The Hyatt Place will have 150 rooms and is expected to open in late 2014.

Google Maps – Morocco.

Hyatt Dakar in Senegal will open in 2016 with 140 rooms in the center of the business district near the office buildings for major international organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF.

Google Maps – Dakar, Senegal and West Africa.

There are currently six Hyatt-branded hotels in Africa, including:

— Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh Resort, Egypt
— Hyatt Regency Taba Heights, Egypt
— Hyatt Regency Casablanca, Morocco
— Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilamanjaro, Tanzania
— Hyatt Regency Johannesburg, South Africa
— Hyatt Regency Oubaai Golf Resort and Spa, South Africa

Hyatt has also recently announced three other hotels for Africa with Park Hyatt Marrakech, Morocco opening in 2014 with 131 rooms and suites and 44 villas.

Hyatt Place Taghazout, outside Agadir is part of a planned Atlantic coast golf resort development in Morocco. The Hyatt Place will have 150 rooms and is expected to open in late 2014. Hyatt Dakar in Senegal.