Marriott International has entered the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the first time with the opening of two hotels in the capital Kinshasa, expanding its footprint in Central Africa.
The launch of Protea Hotel by Marriott Kinshasa and Four Points by Sheraton Kinshasa marks the group’s debut in the country, Marriott said, as it targets rising demand for internationally branded accommodation in the fast-growing мегacity of about 17 million people.
Both properties are operated by SARV Management LLC and are located in central Kinshasa, the country’s political, economic and commercial hub.
The 88-room Protea Hotel by Marriott Kinshasa is situated near the Congo River in one of the city’s most upmarket districts, close to government offices and corporate headquarters. Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, restaurant, lobby bar and a 56-square-metre conference room, aimed largely at business travellers and official delegations.
Four Points by Sheraton Kinshasa, located in the city’s business district, offers 134 rooms, a rooftop outdoor swimming pool, restaurants and bars, and four meeting rooms with a combined events space of about 230 square metres.
Marriott said the dual opening reflects its strategy of expanding in key African capitals, where demand for modern hotels catering to business, diplomatic and regional travel continues to grow.
The group operates several brands across Africa, with Protea Hotel by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton positioned in the midscale and upscale segments.
Marriott’s operations in Africa
Marriott International has steadily expanded its footprint across Africa over the past decade, positioning the continent as a key long-term growth market amid rising business travel, urbanisation and infrastructure investment.
Marriott entered Africa in 2014 through the acquisition of South Africa-based Protea Hospitality Group, a move that instantly gave it scale across sub-Saharan Africa. That deal added more than 100 Protea-branded hotels and laid the foundation for the company’s rapid regional expansion.
Today, Marriott operates hundreds of hotels across more than 20 African countries, with its strongest presence in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco and Ethiopia. Its portfolio spans luxury, upscale and midscale brands, including Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Sheraton, Marriott Hotels, Protea, Four Points by Sheraton and Courtyard.
In West Africa, Marriott has focused on commercial hubs such as Lagos, Accra and Abidjan, targeting corporate travel linked to energy, finance and telecommunications. In East Africa, the group has expanded in Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Kigali, benefitting from diplomatic activity, aviation growth and conference tourism.
North Africa remains another strategic pillar, with Egypt and Morocco hosting several luxury and resort properties catering to tourism and international events. Meanwhile, Central Africa has seen slower development due to political and infrastructure challenges, making the Kinshasa openings a notable step in Marriott’s regional diversification.
Marriott’s Africa strategy relies heavily on partnerships with local owners and operators, limiting capital exposure while allowing faster market entry. The group has repeatedly cited Africa’s young population, expanding middle class and improving air connectivity as key drivers of future demand.
Despite challenges such as currency volatility, security concerns and regulatory uncertainty in some markets, Marriott has said Africa remains under-hotelled relative to its population and economic potential, offering long-term growth opportunities for international hospitality brands.
The debut in the Democratic Republic of the Congo underscores Marriott’s push into frontier markets, as global hotel groups increasingly compete to establish early positions in Africa’s emerging capitals.
