A strategic partnership with Rani Investment LLC will see Thai behemoth Minor Hotel Group (MHG) expand its Anantara brand into Africa.
The two organisations have formed a joint venture company for ownership of Indigo Bay Resort & Spa in Mozambique. Located on Bazaruto Island 30km off the east coast, Indigo Bay is a five star 44-villa resort, and will be re-branded to Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa later this year and managed by Minor Hotel Group.
This new addition to MHG’s portfolio takes the number of properties in operation to 94 and adds a new country of operation, taking the total to thirteen.
The new strategic partnership will explore more opportunities in Mozambique, including in the capital Maputo, and in the East Africa market to further strengthen MHG’s presence on the continent. These properties will be a mix of new-build and re-brand and will be flagged with MHG’s international hotel brands, including Anantara, the recently launched brand AVANI and the serviced apartment Oaks brand that is aggressively expanding into Asia and the Middle East.
Dubai-based Rani Investment is the investment arm of Aujan Group Holding with more than US$300 million of dedicated investments in the Middle East and Africa. Rani Investment is the largest private hospitality owner-operator in Mozambique, having first established its presence in 1999 under the Rani Resorts name.