StayWell Partners Mantis for South Africa Expansion

Australia’s StayWell Hospitality Group (SWHG) has teamed up with South African based hospitality group, Mantis Collection to front the growth of its hotel brands throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

It is a move which will enable StayWell Hospitality Group to establish its Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands at prime properties to be procured by Mantis, in some of sub-Saharan Africa’s key cities.

“We have entered an important joint venture partnership to form a hotel management company that will operate all StayWell-branded properties in sub-Saharan Africa,” said StayWell CEO and managing director, Simon Wan.
“It provides a vital platform for StayWell’s expansion into a region that is accelerating in growth. It is widely recognized that Sub-Saharan Africa is outpacing North Africa in terms of development in the hospitality space which bodes well for the partnership. Using this platform, we will deliver proven hotel management, hospitality service and training skills, and position our new joint venture company to capitalize on lucrative opportunities as the regions hotel market grows and matures.”

StayWell started in 2006 with five hotels and now runs an international portfolio of 34 properties in Australia, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Middle East and the UK.

“Sub-Saharan Africa is where India and China were 20 years ago in terms of development and opportunity; the timing of this joint venture between Mantis and StayWell couldn’t be better,” said the Chairman of Mantis, Adrian Gardiner. “The opportunities are abundant, and with our expertise we’re looking forward to growing the Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands throughout the region – we already have a few propositions in the pipeline.”

The African deal follows StayWell’s recent hotel entry into China and its expansion in India, where it now has eight hotel agreements.

In early 2014, StayWell opened its first Indonesian property, Bali’s new Park Regis Kuta, and it will soon open its first UK hotel, Park Regis Birmingham.