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Southern Sun expands in Middle East and Africa
Four years since first opening their doors, Southern Sun’s flagship Middle Eastern properties, Al Manzil and Qamardeen Hotels, have emerged as two of the most popular business hotels in Dubai, paving the way for future growth plans for Africa’s leading hotel operator in the Middle East region.
Both hotels are the only four-star properties to appear in the Top 20 ranking of the Trip Advisor Popularity Index, out of the 377 Dubai hotels listed. The popular travel review website also voted Al Manzil the Best Business Hotel in Dubai, adding the customer vote of confidence to the property’s commercial success, with Al Manzil currently topping its competitor set in terms of RevPAR.
The excellent performance of these two Southern Sun operated hotels has prompted Emaar Hospitality Group to sign a master agreement with Southern Sun Hotels Middle East the opportunity to manage future Emaar four-star deluxe properties. The first property in the pipeline is a new four-star deluxe hotel in Abu Dhabi, due to open in 2012.
Southern Sun’s regional operations are also due to expand with a new four-star deluxe property in Jeddah, the group’s first in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Due to open in December 2012, the new property will comprise 230 rooms and 70 apartments, and extensive meeting facilities including seven meeting rooms that can accommodate between 50-400 people.
On home territory, Southern Sun opened a hotel in Hyde Park in Johannesburg, South Africa followed by the new four-star deluxe property in Fourways, Sandton, Johannesburg which opened in preparation for the 2010 World Cup.
In addition, Southern Sun’s recently opened four-star deluxe property in Lagos, Nigeria, was awarded Best Hotel Facility in Nigeria for 2010 at the inaugural Nigerian Hospitality Excellence Awards, within its first six months of operation. The hotel’s solid performance has secured a second property in Lagos and a 130-room budget hotel in Lusaka, Zambia, adding to its current international portfolio of over 90 properties.
