Hospitality multinational Radisson Hotel Group will build its sixteenth hotel in South Africa – the Radisson Hotel Middelburg, which will open at the end of 2023.

The hotel is part of the group’s expansion plan in South Africa. It also places the group firmly on track to reach its ambition of having 150 hotels in operation and under development across Africa within the next five years, the group said in a statement on August 10.

“South Africa remains a key focus market for us in Africa, and we are thrilled to announce our sixteenth hotel in the country following the opening of Radisson RED Johannesburg Rosebank [during the first week of August]. We are excited to further expand our presence across South Africa at a rapid rate as we continue on the road to recovery following the pandemic,” Radisson Hotel Group Development, Africa and Turkey VP Ramsay Rankoussi said.

“Radisson Hotel Middelburg marks our third Radisson-branded hotel in the country, reinforcing the brand’s presence and its strong potential in South Africa.”

The contemporary, new-build 150-room hotel will be located within walking distance of Middelburg’s major shopping complex, the Middelburg Mall.

Middelburg is located off the N4, giving the town access to many nearby towns and larger cities, such as eMalahleni, Nelspruit, Pretoria and Johannesburg. The town itself is less than two hours from Johannesburg by car, while the hotel itself is located 90 minutes from the OR Tambo International Airport, and slightly more than a two-hour drive from the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, in Nelspruit.

The large convention centre, situated adjacent to the hotel, is currently under construction and on schedule to open concurrently with the hotel. Complementing the convention centre is the hotel’s own 2 300 m² meetings and events area, comprising a pre-function area and banquet hall as well as eight meeting rooms and board rooms.

“Our entry into Middelburg is a testament to Radisson Hotel Group’s development strategy in the country, in which we have identified key secondary and tertiary towns and cities that are displaying strong market dynamics, encouraging the the Group’s growth therein via conversion and new build opportunities,” Radisson Hotel Group sub-Saharan Africa Development senior director Daniel Trappler said.

“Radisson Hotel Middelburg will certainly assist in uplifting the town and support its drive to boost tourism as it is the only internationally branded hotel."