Already having established itself as one of the largest and most prolific hotel groups on the African continent, the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is set to rapidly expand its African portfolio with eight new openings scheduled between 2012 and 2013. Apart from the recently opened Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore, two of the most anticipated additions to Carlson Rezidor's African portfolio are the new Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Tete and the Radisson Blu Hotel Maputo in fast-growing Mozambique. "We are very excited about the soon-to-be-launched Mozambique properties. The destination presents an exotic and truly African experience as well boasting one of the most breathtaking environments on earth and we believe both the new hotels embrace the country's unique ambiance," says Carlson Rezidor Regional Director Sub-Saharan Africa, Han Oldenburger.

To be launched in June 2012, the Park Inn by Radisson Tete Hotel will present business and leisure travelers with the first hotel of its kind in the area, offering a fresh contemporary design and luxury facilities previously not available. With the recent strong growth in business, agriculture and mining in the area there is strong demand for new accommodation in Tete. In this respect the Park Inn by Radisson Tete Hotel has been developed to provide support and recreational facilities to cater for the captive market in the residential complex and the lack of other facilities in the area.

"Tourism in most African countries is a major driver for the economy and Carlson Rezidor has identified the need and potential for a global hotel brand to be present in a number of key locations, further contributing to the growth of tourism and infrastructure development. It's an exciting time and we hope these new properties will attract more international visitors and investors to the continent," adds Mr Oldenburger. Other African additions to the Carlson Rezidor portfolio will include the Radisson Blu Hotel Lusaka (Zambia), Okoume Palace Libreville Hotel (Gabon), Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Abeokuta (Nigeria), Radisson Blu Hotel Kigali (Rwanda), Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, Freetown (Sierra Leone) and the Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park (South Africa) - IOL