About

Alliance & Expertise

Hotel Partners Africa is an alliance of three leading hospitality consultancies, with considerable expertise throughout Africa: W Hospitality Group, Hotel Spec and Leisure Property Services; between them, they have:

  • Won Ai Tourism Investment Advisor of the Year in 2008 and 2011
  • Produced several reports on the prospects for hospitality investment in Africa
  • Arranged finance for dozens of hospitality projects
  • Advised on every aspect of hotel design, development and operation
  • Advised on every aspect of hotel ownership for a wide range of property owners
  • Valued and sold numerous hotels
  • Satisfied clients including Auspex Properties, Barclays, Beneficial
  • Life, Crowne Plaza, DEG, Kingdom Hotel Investments, Hilton, HSBC, IDC, IFC, InterContinental, Marriott, NAMA, Old Mutual, Park Plaza, Premier Inn, Opulent, Carlson Rezidor, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sonarwa IG, Starwood and Standard Life, amongst many others
  • Provided top level management and other human capital to many organisations in sub-Saharan Africa.

Collaboration

This collaboration was a natural evolution of the founding partners, Mark Martinovic, Trevor Ward and David Harper, working together for many years, and the requirement of existing and future clients for a complete turn-key solution. In 2014 the founding partners decided to include human capital in the services provided, bringing Elevation Personnel into the fold, and by signing an agreement with CVT International Consultancy,  established a representative office in Addis Ababa.

In the complex world of hotel development and management, where a client’s specific needs must be balanced with all the processes and requirements to satisfy funders, manage risk, oversee cost efficient and fit-for-purpose construction, contract negotiation with operators, asset management, valuations, sales and acquisitions, Africa has conspicuously lacked a professional and integrated complete-solutions provider with integrity, experience and a proven track record to provide a seamless service throughout the lifecycle of a hotel project.

In creating this one-stop shop, Hotel Partners Africa has established a highly proactive team to build long-standing relationships with major players, particularly branded chains, developers, fund managers and property owners.

Partner Portfolio

Mark Martinovic, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Design & Construction, has been involved in the development of over 84 hotels across Africa. Prior to this, he grew up in a hotel, has a degree in Hotel Management and managed hotels in Africa and the UK for 16 years. Mark is a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, Professional Member of Foodservice Consultants Society International and a member of Project Management South Africa.

Email: Mark.Martinovic@HotelPartnersAfrica.com

Trevor Ward, Head of Consultancy Services, is the leading authority on hotel development in Africa, with over 20 years’ experience of hotel development on the continent. He has advised on over 1,000 prospective schemes on the continent. He is a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants and a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.

Email: Trevor.Ward@HotelPartnersAfrica.com

David Harper, Head of Property Services, has over 20 years’ experience in the property industry and has been instrumental in over USD30 billion of hotel transactions. David is a Fellow of the RICS (the highest rank possible as a chartered surveyor). He is the author of “Hotel Valuation for Investors”, the best-selling book providing comprehensive advice on all aspects of hotel ownership. In addition he published a second, more comprehensive book “Hotels & Resorts; The Investor’s Guide”, and provides advice to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on how hotel valuations should be carried out.

Email: David.Harper@HotelPartnersAfrica.com

Mehret Ghebreyesus – Managing Director, Ethiopia brings over 18 years of management experience in the telecom sector and since 2001, has been consulting in hotel and housing development, telecom, broadcasting, information technology, infrastructure, and oil and gas sectors among others. She has a solid record of successful development ventures throughout the African continent and has developed a strategy to focus on the fast growing hospitality, real estate and energy sectors.

Email:  Mehret.Ghebreyesus@HotelPartnersAfrica.com