Hospitality company Accor has expanded its portfolio in Africa with the opening of a new Sofitel-branded property in Benin.

The new Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa offers 198 rooms, including 14 suites and five duplex suites featuring private pools.

It will also offer five bars and restaurants, which will open progressively between this month and December 2024.

These include Vivo, a restaurant offering Levantine cuisine, Mediterranean restaurant Corniche, French-style gastronomic bistro L’ami, and the Byblos club.

Furthermore, the property offers a 1,000m² spa in alliance with KOS Paris and a convention centre, featuring nine meeting rooms.

The hotel is located close to the Esplanade of the Amazons and the Route des Pêches. It is also five minutes from the Cotonou International Airport.

Sofitel, MGallery, and Emblems CEO Maud Bailly said: “A pioneer of French luxury hospitality for 60 years, Sofitel today embodies refined and committed luxury, blending French elegance with a strong local presence.  

“I am delighted to announce the opening of this first Sofitel in Benin, where I hope each of our guests will discover the magic of the French art de vivre, enriched by Beninese culture. I would like to warmly thank everyone who contributed to the opening of this flagship, which also marks our commitment to expanding on the African continent, a market with immense potential.”   

The opening of Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa forms part of Sofitel’s larger vision for Africa, the population of which is expected to reach more than 2.5 billion by 2050. It is the brand’s 16th hotel on the continent.

In May, Accor opened the Sofitel Shanghai North Bund, a 25-storey property that marks the company’s 700th hotel in Greater China.