Earlier this year the group announced plans to expand its African portfolio with three Radisson Blu hotels and resorts — in Zambia, Angola and Tunisia — bringing the total number of hotels under development or in operation on the continent to 30.

The three new hotels in Nigeria — the Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos (250 rooms), the Radisson Blu Hotel Abuja (200 rooms) and the Park Inn Abuja (125 rooms) — are all to open in 2012.

“These signings bring our portfolio in the emerging African market to a solid business level, featuring more than 30 hotels with 7500 rooms in operation and under development. They secure our position as one of the leading hotel operators” in Africa, Rezidor president & CEO Kurt Ritter said.

“Nigeria’s plan for economic expansion, based on the tourism sector and foreign direct investment in its extractive industries oil, gas and mining, had created a gap between supply and demand in the hospitality industry,” said Andrew McLachlan, Rezidor’s vice-president of business development for Africa and Indian Oceans Islands.

He said investors possessing the required financial and management capabilities were expected to take full advantage of the opportunity to accommodate travellers to and within Nigeria.

“We and our Nigerian promoters share a common vision that will make the Radisson Blu hotels in Lagos and Abuja the hotels of choice in the first class category and the Park Inn the hotel of choice in the mid-market category in Nigeria in the future.”

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Abuja and the Park Inn, Abuja, will be located in the Maitama district, home to various embassies and international companies. The first- class and full service Radisson Blu is expected to offer, a restaurant, several bars (including a cigar bar), a ballroom and a spa.

The Park Inn will have 125 spacious rooms, a restaurant, meeting rooms, and leisure facilities including a rooftop pool.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos will be located on Victoria Island on the Atlantic Ocean, one of the city’s most modern commercial areas and base for companies and groups such as IBM and Hewlett-Packard.

Rezidor has identified Africa as a key business development area for the future. “The region has a considerable, untapped economic potential and lacks internationally branded hotels in many capital cities,” McLachlan said.