The Rezidor Hotel Group, in a bid to further strengthen its presence in Africa, has announced 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 scheduled to open in 2012.

“These signings bring our portfolio in Africa to a solid business featuring more than 30 hotels with 7,500 rooms in operation and under development, and secure our position as one of the leading hotel operators on the continent,” comments Kurt Ritter, President and CEO of Rezidor.

Andrew McLachlan, Rezidor's Vice President Business Development Africa and Indian Ocean Islands adds: “Nigeria’s plan for economic expansion based on the tourism sector and foreign direct investment in its extractive industries (oil, gas and mining) has created a gap between supply and demand in the hospitality industry.

"Investors possessing the required financial and management capabilities are expected to take full advantage of this opportunity to accommodate travelers to and within Nigeria. Rezidor has aligned itself with Nigerian promoters, and our companies 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 both be located at prime sites in the Maitama district, which is also home to various embassies and international companies.

The first class and full service Radisson Blu will offer 200 rooms, a restaurant and several bars (including a cigar bar), a ballroom, and a spa. The mid-market Park Inn will comprise 125 rooms, a restaurant, meeting rooms, and leisure facilities including a rooftop pool. Abuja was built mostly in the 1980s and is considered Africa’s first master-planned city. It replaced Lagos as the capital in 1991 and is one of the most prosperous areas on the continent.

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos will be located on the Atlantic Ocean on Victoria Island, one of the city’s most modern commercial areas where banks, petroleum companies and groups like IBM and Hewlett Packard have offices. Besides 250 rooms which will all offer sea views, the property will comprise two restaurants, meeting facilities, and leisure areas including a spa and pool.

Rezidor has identified Africa as one of the main business development areas for the future. “The region has a considerable, untapped economic potential and is lacking internationally branded hotels in many capital cities”, says Kurt Ritter.