Kenya is among three African countries that have been earmarked for the next expansion phase of Swiss-owned Movenpick Hotels & Resorts into the continent. The global brand, which already owns 23 properties and cruise ships mostly in the North and Western part of the continent, plans to open three up-scale hotels in Nairobi, Abidjan and Abuja by 2019.

The expansion will see the opening of the Movenpick Hotel & Residences in Nairobi in mid-2016.

The 223-room hotel will join a market that has seen other global franchises like Villa Rosa and Best Western set up establishments to compete with Kenyan-owned hotels.