Duet Africa Hotels targets expansions in Nigeria, others  

Duet Group announced it is partnering with Bouygues Batiment International, a subsidiary of the Bouygues Construction Group, to develop hotels in Nigeria as well as other destinations in sub-Saharan Africa.

Duet Africa Hotels will be a vertically integrated hotel investment, development and asset-management company. It plans to develop, design, build, own, operate and exit a portfolio of internationally branded midscale and upscale business hotels in sub-Saharan Africa, targeting countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya and Uganda. The focus will be on greenfield developments or significant refurbishments in standalone or mixed-use buildings.

Jean-Marc Grosfort, the former chief development officer, Middle East and Africa, for Marriott International, will be Duet Africa Hotels’ non-executive chairman.

“We are excited about establishing this unique venture to tap a clear growth opportunity in the hotel sector in sub-Saharan Africa that is supported by strong trade and consumer trends,” said Henry Gabay, co-founder and CEO, Duet Group. “One of the biggest challenges to the hotel sector in Africa is the ability to build on time and budget. Working with Bouygues Batiment International is the perfect solution to these challenges.”