Banyan Group buys majority stake in Newmark Hotels, adding 26 African properties
What's the deal? Singapore-listed Banyan GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (SGX: B58) is acquiring a majority stake in Cape Town-based Newmark Hotels & ReservesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, adding 26 hotels, lodges and reserves across seven African countries. The deal, announced on September 17, 2026, uses a phased ownership structure that leads to full ownership over time. Terms were not disclosed.
What each side brings: Banyan Group is a global hospitality group. Newmark manages properties across Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, and will join as a collection brand, keeping its name, teams, and local operations.
What's the endgame? The addition lifts Banyan Group's portfolio to nearly 130 hotels, resorts and reserves, more than 30 branded residences, and over 140 spas and galleries across 14 brands in 28 countries. Because Newmark is a management company, the deal reinforces Banyan Group's lower-capital, brand-led growth model.
Why now? Africa received 81 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, up 8% year on year — the strongest growth of any global region, according to UN Tourism. The WTTC expects the region's travel and tourism economy to grow a further 5.4% in 2026.
What could go wrong? The phased structure implies future capital outlays over time, though funding details were not provided. The deal also raises Banyan Group's exposure to frontier markets such as Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe, where currency, political, and regulatory risks apply.
The signal: The acquisition shows hospitality groups chasing Africa's tourism momentum through asset-light management platforms rather than owning property — buying local expertise and brands while leaving operations, led by founder and chief executive officer Neil Markovitz, intact to cut integration risk.
Read more: minichart.com.sg
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