Preferred Hotels & Resorts, an independent hotel brand with over 600 properties in more than 80 countries, has announced new developments in Africa, an expanded Legend Collection, and the launch of a Travel Advisor Portal.

“Africa is a key focus as we expand our global presence,” said Saurabh Rai, Executive Vice President for South Asia, Middle East & Africa. “We are investing in partnerships and tools that support independent luxury hotels on the continent.”

In the past year, the brand has added several African properties to its Legend Collection, including:

• Mont Rochelle and Ulusaba (South Africa)

• Mahali Mzuri and Finch Hattons (Kenya)

• Kasbah Tamadot (Morocco)

Other recent additions include The Last Word Madikwe (South Africa), Grand Hotel Djibloho (Equatorial Guinea), and Glee Hotel (Nairobi, Kenya). The African portfolio now includes 25 properties, with planned growth in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and the Garden Route.

Celeste Vogel, Account Director for Africa, said, “This expansion broadens the representation of African hotels within our network.”

Preferred Hotels & Resorts also added staff in 2024 to support regional growth, including Kimon de Zeeuw (Hotel Revenue Optimisation Manager) and Francois Joubert (Senior Sales Manager for Africa and Saudi Arabia).

Updates from African Member Hotels:

• Mahali Mzuri, Kenya (Legend Collection): Reopens June 2025 after a full refurbishment led by Lynne Hunt London, featuring updated interiors with locally sourced materials.

• Erinvale Estate Hotel & Spa, Cape Town, South Africa (L.V.X. Collection): Opened a new wellness spa with treatment rooms, thermal suite, lap pool, yoga studio, gym, and a health-focused restaurant. A wellness retreat will be held August 8–10, 2025.

• Glee Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (L.V.X. Collection): Introduced Executive Chef Luca Pintus and Chef Purshottam Yadav. A new Indian restaurant opens in June 2025.

• The President Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa (Lifestyle Collection): Unveils redesigned interiors featuring a custom textile by local designer Sarah Barnes.

Travel Advisor Platform Launch

Preferred Hotels & Resorts has launched a new Travel Advisor Portal at TA.PreferredHotels.com, offering tools for booking, commission tracking, and accessing exclusive offers. The platform includes sustainability updates, loyalty program resources, and features for Preferred Platinum agents.