Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) announced today that it has signed agreements with Prime Hospitality S.A. to manage its first two hotels in the Central African nation of Gabon: an upscale, 250-room Marriott Hotels & Resorts branded hotel and a 40-unit Marriott Executive Apartments extended stay hotel in Libreville.  The Libreville Marriott Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments, expected to open in 2015, will be located on a prime waterfront site in Libreville’s central business district.  The hotels will be in close proximity to the Presidential Palace, US Embassy, French Embassy, international airport and sea port.

“These two hotels represent a major development in our aggressive growth plans for sub-Saharan Africa, where opportunity is great,” said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, the Middle East and Africa division of Marriott International, Inc. “Marriott’s market entry strategy continues to lead with its full-service brands – in this case our flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts, and our upscale apartment-hotel brand, Marriott Executive Apartments

“Libreville and the country of Gabon will be very proud of these Marriott hotels, which will set a new standard of international hospitality here and provide much-needed quality rooms and meeting space,” said Mr. Ghaby Kodeih, founder of Prime Hospitality and chief executive officer of Benin-based Groupe Kodeih.  “In working with the Marriott team, I have had the pleasure of experiencing Marriott’s legendary “Spirit to Serve, and I look forward to bringing this experience to Gabon.”

Libreville Marriott Hotel
Marriott Hotels & Resorts is Marriott International’s flagship hotel brand designed to inspire performance, by offering services and amenities that encourage guests to function at their peak and meet their personal goals while traveling for business or leisure.  The 250-room Libreville Marriott will offer its signature Marriott Hotels & Resorts lobby with a day-to-night bar and various zones for relaxing, snacking and socializing; 225 rooms and 25 suites; three restaurant outlets (including a casual restaurant, a specialty restaurant and pool grille); and a sports bar.  Recreational facilities will include a health and leisure club, tennis courts, private beach and outdoor pool.  The hotel will offer 10,979 square feet of meeting space with a ballroom, individual meeting rooms and a boardroom.

Marriott Executive Apartments Libreville
Designed for extended stay travelers, the 40-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Libreville will offer the convenience of a five-star, full-service hotel with the space, ambience and privacy of residential living.  It will offer 20 one-bedroom, 10 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom apartments — each with a fully equipped kitchen, contemporary furnishings, state of the art connectivity, flat screen television, a washer-dryer and on-site storage.

In addition to all the shared public and meeting space of the Marriott Hotel, residents of the Marriott Executive Apartments will also have their own gym and pool and their own Resident’s Lounge, with different zones for television viewing, reading, Internet corner and self-service food and beverage area for light snacks.