French group AccorHotels announced, in a press release dated 3rd July, having signed an exclusive partnership with Angolan group AAA Activos Lda for the management of 50 hotels, till 2017, representing over 6200 rooms, from the budget segment to luxury class.

This contract was signed during the French president visit to Angola.

"This historic and unprecedented establishment of a hotel group in Angola, made possible by our partnership with AAA Activos Lda speaks clearly of the high ambition of AccorHotels in Africa, a continent where tourism is in rapid growth" explained Sebastien Bazin, CEO of AccorHotels. He added " the commitment of the group in Angola, with a population of 25 million of which 40% active in the labour market, implies the training of 3,000 locally sourced employees. This transfer of our knowledge and expertise will reach a broad range of hospitality jobs, from waitering to management positions".

During the next two years, the 50 hotels will be built in strategic locations throughout the country, such as in Luanda the capital and the 17 regional capitals: 6 hotels in in 2015, 22 in 2016 and 22 in 2017. The hotels on offer will incorporate all ranges from the luxurious to the budget including everything in between. 27 hotels will be managed under the economic brand of Ibis Styles, 22 under the middle range brand Mercure and 1 hotel will be dedicated to the luxury brand Sofitel.

Carlos Manuel de Sao Vicente, founder and owner of the AAA group  (Angola, Agora e Amanhã/ Angola, today and tomorrow) stressed that this partnership with AccorHotels is a unique alliance in the Angolan hospitality sector which also aims to provide for a growing international demand through a network covering the whole country. " We entered into a partnership with AccorHotels on the management of hotels, the training of Angolan workers and the implementation of hospitality services complying with international standards and combining the French spirit with Angolan traditions", Mr de Sao Vicente declared.

"We are positive that Angola  a key role in the African hospitality and tourism market. Angola has the means to become a major tourist destination, and our 50 hotels will help stimulate both local and international tourism", he added.

The Angolan group AAA is a key player in the oil and investment insurance sector. AccorHotels is the hospitality leader in terms of number of rooms in Africa. The group whose Africa and Indian Ocean  headquarters are located in Casablanca has a presence of over 10,000 personnel, 94 hotels, in 18 countries on the continent spanning from northern to southern Africa. In 2014, AccorHotels signed 12 new contracts in Africa, translating into approximately 2,000 additional rooms. In total, the group plans to open more than 30 new hotels in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020.