Sheraton Addis

Sheraton Addis is a luxury hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, situated between the National Palace and Menelik Palace. Although its name contains Sheraton, the property is not operated as a standard member of the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts chain. It has been associated with The Luxury Collection since opening and is part of Marriott International's luxury-hotel portfolio following Marriott's acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The hotel was developed by MIDROC Ethiopia and designed by architect Kosek Ivo. Construction was promoted by businessman Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi as an investment intended to create employment and enhance Ethiopia's international image. The project reportedly cost more than $200 million and required the relocation of more than 500 families. Sheraton Addis opened on 28 February 1998 and subsequently became one of Ethiopia's most prominent hotels. The property has 293 rooms and a collection of villas. Its facilities include more than 1,500 square metres of function space distributed across 11 conference rooms, with capacity for events of up to approximately 1,500 people. The hotel also offers several restaurants and lounges, including Italian, French, Indian and international dining options, together with poolside service and multiple bars. Recreation facilities have included the Aqva Club health and leisure complex, outdoor swimming pools, sauna, massage and Jacuzzi facilities, as well as the Simba Club children's play area. The Gaslight nightclub is another notable feature. Sheraton Addis has positioned itself as a diplomatic, political and business venue in the Ethiopian capital. It has hosted Pan-African and African Union-related summits, major receptions and New Year's Eve events. International performers and public figures reported to have visited or stayed at the hotel include Beyoncé, Ludacris, the Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna, Akon, Tony Blair, Rita Marley, Princess Anne, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. These associations have supported the hotel's role as a high-profile meeting place for government, business and international visitors. The property has also been connected with ambitious expansion plans. MIDROC acquired approximately 42 hectares across Addis Ababa's Kirkos and Arada districts for a broader development involving retail, a mosque and thousands of apartments. Progress was constrained by the cost and complexity of relocating more than 3,000 households. In 2010, MIDROC reportedly provided funds to the municipality to assist the relocation process. Separate plans described a new hotel wing with extended-stay apartments, villas and bungalows, alongside a large health and recreation centre featuring tennis courts, swimming facilities, restaurants and sports pitches. The reported status of these projects varied, and the available reference material does not establish their complete delivery. In 2018, press reports suggested that the property might be renamed Marriott Addis after Marriott's acquisition of Starwood. Hotel management subsequently denied that a name change was planned. Sheraton Addis therefore remains a distinctive property whose identity combines a legacy Sheraton name with Luxury Collection positioning and Marriott ownership at the group level.

Sheraton Addis was developed in Addis Ababa by MIDROC Ethiopia and designed by architect Kosek Ivo. Its development was closely associated with Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi, who presented the project as an investment in Ethiopia's employment base and international reputation. Construction reportedly exceeded $200 million in cost and involved the relocation of more than 500 families. The hotel opened on 28 February 1998. From its opening, the property occupied an unusual position within the global hotel landscape. It carried the Sheraton name but was associated with the luxury-oriented collection that originated within Starwood rather than operating as a conventional Sheraton Hotels and Resorts property. The Luxury Collection designation reflected the hotel's upscale character and its role as an individual landmark property. After Marriott International acquired Starwood, the hotel became part of Marriott's wider corporate portfolio while retaining its established property identity. The hotel grew into one of Addis Ababa's most prominent hospitality venues. Its location between the National Palace and Menelik Palace gave it particular importance for state, diplomatic and international business gatherings. It hosted Pan-African and African Union-related events, large receptions and entertainment programmes. The property also became known for receiving international political figures, celebrities and touring musicians, reinforcing its profile beyond the Ethiopian hotel market. Its physical offering includes 293 rooms, villas, extensive meeting space, restaurants, bars, a nightclub and leisure facilities. The conference operation comprises 11 rooms and more than 1,500 square metres of function space, with reported capacity for events of up to 1,500 attendees. The Aqva Club added swimming, sauna, massage and Jacuzzi facilities, while the Simba Club served younger guests. The hotel also installed a water-treatment system using ultraviolet sterilisation and maintained backup generators in response to local infrastructure conditions. The property faced labour tensions in 2010 and 2011. A union formed among employees and challenged the distribution of service charges, arguing that a larger share should go to workers. The dispute threatened a shutdown or major disruption but was settled before the stated deadline. The episode illustrated the operational pressures surrounding a large luxury hotel in Ethiopia, even though the available reference does not describe a resulting closure. MIDROC also pursued substantial expansion around the hotel. A proposed 42-hectare development in the Kirkos and Arada districts was intended to combine retail, religious, residential and hospitality uses, including thousands of apartments. The project was slowed by the difficulty of funding the relocation of more than 3,000 households. In 2010, MIDROC reportedly paid 151 million birr to the municipality to help accelerate the process. A separate plan called for a nine-storey hotel wing with extended-stay accommodation, villas and bungalows, plus a 31,400-square-metre health centre with sports, swimming, dining and recreation facilities. The source material indicates progress on parts of the health-centre project by 2013 but does not confirm the final completion of all proposed components. In 2018, a newspaper report stated that the hotel might be renamed Marriott Addis after the Starwood acquisition. Management denied the proposed change. The property consequently continued to use the Sheraton Addis name while remaining associated with The Luxury Collection and Marriott International.

• 2018

  Proposed Marriott renaming denied

  [1]Sheraton Addisen.wikipedia.org

  Management rejected reports that the property would be renamed Marriott Addis.

• 2011

  Labour dispute resolved

  [1]Sheraton Addisen.wikipedia.org

  A dispute concerning employee participation in service-charge proceeds was settled before a threatened closure deadline.

• 2010

  Municipal relocation funding provided

  [1]Sheraton Addisen.wikipedia.org

  MIDROC reportedly provided 151 million birr to assist the municipality with relocation connected to the wider development plan.

• 2004

  Large-scale expansion land acquired

  [1]Sheraton Addisen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel group acquired approximately 42 hectares in Addis Ababa's Kirkos and Arada districts for a proposed mixed-use expansion.

• 1998

  Hotel opens in Addis Ababa

  [1]Sheraton Addisen.wikipedia.org

  Sheraton Addis opened on 28 February after development by MIDROC Ethiopia.

A landmark, high-end Addis Ababa hotel focused on luxury accommodation, diplomatic and corporate events, international visitors and leisure hospitality.

• Luxury accommodation · 1998

  Guest rooms

  The core accommodation product comprises 293 hotel rooms positioned for luxury, diplomatic, business and international leisure travellers visiting Addis Ababa.

• Luxury accommodation · 1998

  Villas

  The property includes villa accommodation in addition to its principal hotel rooms, extending the range of lodging formats available to long-stay, VIP and privacy-focused guests.

• Hospitality services · 1998

  Meetings and events

  Sheraton Addis provides more than 1,500 square metres of function space across 11 conference rooms. The facilities are designed for diplomatic gatherings, business meetings, receptions, conferences and large social events, with reported capacity of approximately 1,500 people.

• Food and beverage · 1998

  Dining and nightlife

  The hotel has offered Italian, French, Indian and international dining, together with poolside service, bars and lounges. The Gaslight nightclub adds an entertainment component to the property's hospitality proposition.

• Health and leisure · 1998

  Aqva Club

  The Aqva Club has included outdoor pools, sauna, massage and Jacuzzi facilities, with the Simba Club children's playground located within the broader leisure complex. Proposed expansion plans also contemplated more extensive sports and health amenities.

• 2018

  Retain the Sheraton Addis name after reported Marriott renaming proposalStrategy

  Background

  After Marriott International acquired Starwood Hotels & Resorts, a report stated that the property might be renamed Marriott Addis.

  Action taken

  Hotel management denied that a name change was planned, preserving the established Sheraton Addis identity.

  Aftermath

  The hotel continued to be described as a Luxury Collection property within Marriott's portfolio rather than being publicly repositioned under the Marriott Addis name.

  Source

• 2004

  Pursue a large mixed-use expansionStrategy

  Background

  The hotel group sought to broaden the surrounding development with retail, residential, religious and hospitality uses across approximately 42 hectares.

  Action taken

  Land was acquired and a development programme was proposed, while relocation and municipal financing issues delayed implementation.

  Aftermath

  The reference material reports that land clearance had occurred by 2013, but it does not establish completion of the full mixed-use project.

  Source

• 2018

  Reported proposal to rename Sheraton Addis as Marriott Addis denied[1]Sheraton Addisen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Following Marriott International's acquisition of Starwood, a report suggested that the property would be renamed Marriott Addis. Hotel management later rejected the report and indicated that the existing name would remain.

• 2013

  Sheraton Addis expansion plans remain constrained by relocation and financing challenges[1]Sheraton Addisen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Plans involving a wider mixed-use development and a new hotel wing with an associated health and recreation centre faced delays linked to relocating households and securing project funding. Reference material reported that land clearance had occurred for parts of the wider project, while construction status varied by component.

• 2011

  Labour dispute over service-charge distribution threatens hotel closure[1]Sheraton Addisen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A labour dispute that began after the formation of a hotel union in late 2010 concerned how service charges were distributed. Employees argued that management should not participate in the proceeds and sought a higher worker share. The dispute threatened closure or expansion-related disruption but was resolved before a 15 February deadline.

1. 1Sheraton Addisen.wikipedia.org