With the announcement of the acquisition of BON Hotels by ONOMO Hotels, the Nigerian hospitality industry, and that of the continent as a whole, is set for a major shake-up.

The new group will now have a footprint spanning 15 countries with 4 300 rooms and a significant pipeline of 3 000 additional rooms. In addition, the new group now jointly employs around 2 200 people.

This news is significant for Nigeria’s hospitality industry where BON Hotels already has a stronghold with 10 existing hotels and plans to open another 22 hotels and residences over the next three years. The increased hospitality offering by a world-class group will serve to boost the region’s tourism industry and have a positive knock-on effect for the economy.

The partnership seemed a natural fit for the two groups which have both long focused on investing in and uplifting Africa. ONOMO Hotels has successfully dotted the lines between the Francophone and Anglophone markets, while BON Hotels leads in Southern and West African markets.

This deal will bring a greater variety of accommodation options to both business and leisure travellers, meaning the continent is able to offer more and attract further tourism. In addition, members of the BON Hotels BONami loyalty programme will now enjoy benefits at both BON

Hotels and ONOMO Hotels, making the programme more appealing to both domestic and international travellers.

BON Hotel owners are excited about the possibilities that the deal brings, but also the importance of African groups investing in Africa.