*Pictured are Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of AccorHotels, and Adrian Gardiner, Founder and Chairman of the Mantis Group, at the announcement of the new partnership.
AccorHotels today announced a strategic partnership with South Africa-based Mantis Group, acquiring a 50% stake in the Mantis group.
The Mantis Group is a collection of award winning, privately owned, managed and branded five star properties and lodges located across all seven continents. From boutique hotels, eco lodges, game reserves and luxury houseboats to adventure tourism as well as a bespoke tour operating division, the agreement reinforces AccorHotels as a leader in curated one-of-a-kind experiences.
OceanaThis strategic partnership is accompanied by the launch of Community Conservation Fund Africa (CCFA), a non-profit organization (NGO) which aims to amplify both Groups’ commitment towards preventing the accelerating decline of Africa’s wildlife and bringing together three internationally renowned conservation organizations – Wilderness Foundation, Tusk Trust and African Parks.
Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO, AccorHotels said: “Mantis is a pioneer in customized one-of-a-kind travel services in some of the most imaginative hotels across the world. With this strategic partnership, we are reinforcing the Group’s footprint in Africa and we have access to a brand with strong roots and heritage, recognised for its commitment to preserve the environment and its prestigious credentials in the hospitality space.”
Founder and Chairman of the Mantis Group, Adrian Gardiner, commented: “AccorHotels is one of the fastest growing hotel and travel operators worldwide. This agreement presents an attractive proposition for the Mantis Group to utilize AccorHotels’ robust distribution channels and world-wide reach to further develop the hospitality concepts and sustainability projects we have worked so tirelessly to grow. We are excited to embark upon this new chapter alongside AccorHotels where we will act as ambassadors for the development of both our Groups’ portfolios and offerings.”
Draycott HotelThe Mantis Group’s diverse hospitality offerings include 28 managed properties and a network of branded hotels and residences. Properties include boutique villas and hotels, such as Mantis St Helena on the St Helena Island and the Draycott Hotel in London; lodges, such as the Founders Lodge in the Eastern Cape; as well as a number of luxury houseboats operated under the Zambezi Queen Collection brand.
Mantis strives to conserve the biodiversity of the landscapes that host its properties and share the ecotourism benefits with local communities via job creation. Education, also a core value of the Mantis Group, is exemplified in “Worldwide Experience”, which offers international students the opportunity to take up conservation placements throughout Southern Africa. The Group has a partnership with Stenden University, a hotel management institution in South Africa that educates students in hospitality and disaster management and also offers practical experience via internships at Mantis properties and is the only institution in the world that offers a course in Conservation and Lodge Management at a private game reserve.
Zambezi Queen Collection
