SOUTH AFRICA – AC Hotels, Marriott International’s European-inspired lifestyle brand owned by Marriott International has opened its first Middle East and Africa hotel in Cape Town, South Africa.

The 188-room facility was developed and owned by the Amdec Group and is located within walking distance from the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

It has four flexible meeting rooms and a boardroom with a total of 250 square meters of event space.

The hotel has a unique design with ‘green’ and sustainability initiatives including a desalination plant, sensor lighting to save power, heat pumps to supply hot water and biodegradable straws and packaging.

“The opening of this hotel reinforces our commitment to driving growth for our lifestyle brands in South Africa in response to a continued demand from discerning travellers seeking hotels with style and functional design, while also providing unique and authentic experiences,” said Alex Kyriakidis, Marriott International president and managing director for Middle East and Africa.

AC Hotels boasts of contemporary amenities such as accommodation, dining, corporate programs, meeting and conference rooms, and facilities for weddings, serving business and leisure travellers.

The brand, owned by Marriott operates a chain of hotels in Austria, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Poland, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and North America.

Protea Hotels by Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Autograph Collection, Westin and Sheraton are some of the other brands Marriott has in South Africa.

“We are proud to pave the way for Marriott International’s growth plans in South Africa,” said James Wilson, Amdec Group CEO.

“The Yacht Club mixed-use development, where the AC Hotels by Marriott is situated, is the second property in our portfolio of iconic precincts to welcome Marriott, with Melrose Arch in Johannesburg being the first and Harbour Arch in Cape Town to follow.”

The hotel houses the signature AC Lounge, a creative hotspot by day and social hub by night that serves local craft and as well as expertly made signature beverages.

The hotel also features AC Kitchen, AC Market where customers can enjoy Spanish and other delicacies.

Other features include the AC Library as well as a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment.

In a move to strengthen its footprint and venture into new markets, Marriott International said it plans to increase its Africa hotels by 50% by 2023 including a consideration to enter Mozambique.

It opened its first property in Kenya last year with Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Hurlingham.