Staff Writer | Business Insights Africa Magazine | Page 167

Thursday, April 9, 2026

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EDITOR PICKS

The Diar Group in partnership with Staroot Real Estate, is pleased to announce a proposed collaboration to develop and operate Diani Residences by CityBlue, a landmark mixed-use residential and hospitality development in Diani Beach. The announcement will be unveiled at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa (www.FutureHospitality.com) taking place in Nairobi on 1 April 2026. Set on approximately five acres, the project is envisioned as a flagship lifestyle destination comprising between 400 and 500 contemporary residential units. The development will feature a thoughtfully curated mix of one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, designed to meet the evolving needs of both investors and end-users seeking high-quality coastal living experiences. The project will be branded under the Residences by CityBlue platform, leveraging the extensive experience of CityBlue in managing hospitality-led residential developments across Africa. Known for its operational excellence and performance-driven approach, Diani Residences by CityBlue is expected to be the benchmark for integrated living within Kenya’s coastal real estate market. The development will include multiple swimming pools, a fully equipped fitness centre, spa facilities, conferences and meeting spaces, children’s recreational areas, paddle courts, and curated food and beverage experiences. A signature restaurant concept will anchor the culinary offering, supported by flexible dining spaces designed to accommodate both casual and private dining experiences. Speaking on the proposed partnership, Jameel Verjee, Founder & CEO of CityBlue Hotels noted: “Diani continues to emerge as one of East Africa’s most attractive coastal destinations. This project represents an exciting opportunity to create a vibrant, hospitality-led residential community that delivers long-term value for investors while enhancing the destination’s global appeal.”

CityBlue Hotels Announces Launch of Diani Beach Residences by CityBlue

April 9, 2026

CityBlue Hotels, one of Africa’s fastest-growing hotel groups, has selected UK-based platform Inntelo AI to deploy AI-native concierge agents across its portfolio, marking a significant step in the group’s strategy to lead the next phase of hospitality innovation across the continent. The announcement will be unveiled at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa (www.FutureHospitality.com) taking place in Nairobi on 31 March 2026. The rollout represents one of the first scaled implementations of AI-native concierge agents in African hospitality, positioning CityBlue Hotels at the forefront of AI-driven transformation in the sector. Operating across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and expected to open soon in Ghana, Uganda and Zambia, with additional strategic tie-ups in South Africa and Mozambique, CityBlue Hotels’ partnership with Inntelo AI comes amid continued growth in Africa’s tourism sector, supported by rising intra-African travel and increasing global demand for new destinations. As part of its broader digital strategy, CityBlue Hotels will deploy Inntelo AI’s platform to embed AI directly into hotel operations. The AI-native system coordinates guest interactions and service workflows in real time, enabling faster response times, improved task prioritisation, and consistent service delivery at scale, while allowing teams to focus on high-value, in-person guest engagement. The partnership also includes the development of educational programmes to advance skills, innovation, and AI adoption across Africa’s hospitality industry. Jameel Verjee, said: “CityBlue has always been focused on where our markets are going. As we scale, AI-native operations become essential to delivering consistency, speed, and quality across multiple geographies. “This partnership allows us to embed AI at the core of how we operate—supporting our teams in real time, reducing friction, and elevating the guest experience across every property. Just as importantly, we are shaping how AI is applied within an African context.” Asif Alidina, added: “CityBlue Hotels is exactly the kind of operator that defines where the industry is heading. Their focus on AI-native operations and scalable systems makes them a natural partner. “Together, we are deploying technology that is purpose-built for hospitality—combining conversational and agentic AI to support teams, enhance guest experiences, and set a new standard for modern hotel operations in Africa.”

Africa’s fastest-growing hotel group CityBlue Hotels selects Inntelo AI to deploy...

April 8, 2026

Mauritian listed business group ER Group (https://ERGroup.mu) has established a regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, and created a regional fund with equity partners to expand investment and partnerships across East Africa. The Group, created in 2025 through the merger of Mauritian business flagships ENL and Rogers, marks a new step in its regionalisation strategy by strengthening its presence in one of Africa’s most dynamic economic regions. Regional expansion is one of the pillars of ER Group’s ten-year strategy, set out earlier this year. In line with this roadmap, the Group, which is present in 17 territories worldwide, is accelerating its expansion in Africa through a measured approach focused on sectors it knows well. The priority is to grow in industries and countries the Group already operates, working with trusted partners to expand sustainably. Through this approach, ER Group aims to increase the contribution of international activities from around 15% of revenue today to 30% over the coming decade. East Africa has been identified as a priority region within this strategy, with Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Rwanda, and Uganda forming the first phase of expansion. To back this ambition, ER Group has created, together with equity partners, a regional fund of MUR 1 billion to accompany the expansion of its subsidiaries across Africa. The fund is designated to providing capital for growth, supporting selective investments and providing additional capacity to pursue opportunities in markets and sectors where the Group has established expertise. On the ground, ER Group has appointed Rasmus Bentzen as its regional representative in Nairobi. Bringing over a decade of experience in private equity and regional investment across East Africa, he will anchor the Group’s regional expansion agenda by identifying investment opportunities, developing strategic partnerships and supporting growth of its subsidiaries in Africa. Gilbert Espitalier-Noël, Group Chief Executive Officer of ER Group, said: “Regionalisation is a central part of our long-term strategy. We focus on markets where our businesses already have operational expertise and where partnerships can support sustainable growth. Establishing a regional office in Nairobi strengthens our ability to identify opportunities and support the expansion of our subsidiaries across East Africa.” As it accelerates its regional ambition, ER Group, one of Mauritius’s most profitable and diversified business groups, continues to combine strong financial performance with dedicated investment, giving it the capacity to support its expansion with discipline and long-term perspective. For the first half of FY26, the Group, listed on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius and included in its Sustainability index (SEMSI), reported: Revenue of MUR 23.2 billion ($492.7 million) EBITDA of MUR 6.4 billion ($135.9 million) Profit after tax of MUR 2.6 billion ($55.2 million) Operating margin of 26% Expected EBITDA FY26: MUR 12 billion ($254.8 million) The Nairobi presence, combined with the creation of dedicated regional investment capacity, marks the start of a more active phase of expansion for ER Group, building on its existing footprint and financial capacity to deepen partnerships and pursue opportunities across East Africa and the Indian Ocean region.

ER Group chooses Nairobi to accelerate East African partnerships and investment

April 8, 2026

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