Protea Hotels

Protea Hotels is a South African hotel and leisure company headquartered in Cape Town. As of January 2014, it is the largest hotel company on the continent, with over 126 owned and managed properties in 10 African countries.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

The hotel group is also present in Kenya.^[4][5] The Takoradi Protea Hotel is scheduled for opening during the fist half of 2014, in Takoradi, Ghana.^[6]

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:^[7]

Protea Hospitality Corporation

Also referred to as Protea Hospitality Holdings. This 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

Plan One is 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

This is a subsidiary of Plan One. It specializes in the sourcing, supplying and installation of hotel furniture, fittings and equipment.

Brands

The hotel group offers three brands of hotels:^[8]

• 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, pending regulatory approval, is expected to be concluded during the first quarter of 2014.^[9]

See also

• Marriott Hotels

References

External links

• Protea Hotels - Official Site