Article from BTNews 3 FEBRUARY 2020
Africa debut for IHG Voco brand
InterContinental Hotels Group’s upmarket Voco band has secured its first foothold in Africa with the scheduled opening later this year of a 131-room property in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosebank.
The new-build Voco The Bank, Rosebank is being opened in partnership with Valor Hospitality Partners Africa under a Master Development Agreement (MDA) between the partners signed last year.
Under it, the two companies plan to roll out multiple franchise hotels over the next 10 years across IHG’s portfolio of brands in the midmarket, upmarket and luxury segments.
The Rosebank signing is the first under the MDA and adds to IHG’s growing pipeline in the Middle East and Africa while strengthening the growth of the new Voco brand in the region.
Voco is claimed to combine “the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand”. IHG says the brand allows guests to enjoy the upscale experience of an independent hotel “under a name they trust”.
IHG managing director for India, Middle East and Africa Pascal Gauvin said: “Voco has received immense interest from owners and partners and gained tremendous momentum in the EMEAA region, and we are excited to be expanding it further.”
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