Top international hotel group opening high-end apartments in a South African coastal hotspot
The Radisson Hotel Group is launching South Africa’s first internationally branded Radisson Serviced Apartments in Umhlanga, with the first 40 apartments going on sale from R1.75 million.
On 23 July, local developer Avoca, in partnership with Radisson Hotel Group, announced that the 183-room extended-stay development will launch to the public on 15 August 2026.
This marks Radisson Hotel Group’s first-ever internationally branded serviced apartment offering in South Africa. It is located in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.
Planned to open in 2029, this development is another significant vote of confidence in the province’s growing tourism and investment economy.
For the Radisson Group, this choice of location is a direct response to one of the fastest-growing segments in global hospitality.
Radisson Serviced Apartments Umhlanga will be located in Umhlanga Ridge, one of Durban’s leading commercial and lifestyle precincts.
According to Avoca Developments’ director, Chris Horn, the development introduces an internationally recognised extended-stay product.
It has been designed to meet evolving traveller preferences while strengthening the province’s position as an increasingly attractive destination for hospitality investment.
The announcement from Radisson and Avoca comes as Africa’s hospitality industry reaches record levels of development.
According to the latest hotel pipeline figures, the continent has 675 hotels and resorts under development, comprising 123,000 rooms. This is the largest hotel pipeline ever recorded for Africa.
UN Tourism also reported that Africa welcomed 81 million international visitors during 2025, making it the world’s fastest-growing tourism region.
Radisson Sub-Saharan Africa’s Senior Director of Development, Daniel Trappler, said hospitality investment across Southern and Eastern Africa is increasingly being driven by local institutional investors.
In particular, investment has been expanded by pension funds seeking long-term, stable returns through internationally branded hospitality assets.
KwaZulu-Natal becomes a leading hospitality destination
KwaZulu-Natal is becoming one of South Africa’s most attractive hospitality investment markets, with local developments strengthening the province’s appeal to both business and leisure travellers.
It has seen continued investment in infrastructure, improved connectivity through King Shaka International Airport, and sustained commercial growth across Durban and Umhlanga.
The province’s growing appeal is also reflected in major international tourism investments, including the recently opened Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari Resort.
This highly anticipated resort development has introduced the globally recognised leisure brand to South Africa for the first time.
Together, these developments demonstrate growing international confidence in KwaZulu-Natal’s long-term tourism potential and expand the province’s accommodation offerings across multiple traveller segments.
Horn, the developer behind the project, explained that the Radisson development is the epitome of a lifestyle investment, with the hotel group managing the apartments.
“You get the added benefit of utilising a unit of the same size and standard for any 30 days in a year, while the other 11 months are rented out,” he said.
“Couple this ‘fuss-free’ investment opportunity with an expected average yield of 12.7% by year 5, and it really is a no-brainer for investors”.
Serviced apartments, such as Radisson Serviced Apartments in Umhlanga, have become one of the industry’s fastest-growing accommodation categories
Travellers are increasingly seeking the flexibility of residential-style living combined with the convenience of professionally managed hotel services.
Growth has been driven by hybrid working, project-based employment, digital nomadism, international business travel, and the rise of “bleisure” travel, where business and leisure are combined into a single trip.
“Serviced apartments are no longer a niche accommodation product,” Trappler said. “They have become an essential component of a modern hospitality portfolio.”
“Today’s travellers want the space, flexibility and comfort of a home combined with the consistency, security and service standards of an internationally recognised hotel brand.”
As travel patterns continue to evolve, he said, they see extended-stay accommodation becoming an increasingly important driver of hospitality growth across Africa.
Why Radisson chose Umhlanga
According to Trappler, KwaZulu-Natal is well-positioned to benefit from the shift towards serviced hospitality developments.
The Radisson’s decision to establish its first branded serviced apartments in KwaZulu-Natal reflects Umhlanga Ridge’s continued evolution into one of South Africa’s leading mixed-use business and lifestyle precincts.
The area combines premium commercial office space, residential developments, retail, healthcare, and leisure amenities, while offering convenient access to King Shaka International Airport.
“KwaZulu-Natal has all the ingredients of a high-growth hospitality market, from strong domestic demand and increasing international interest to significant tourism investment and an evolving business landscape,” he said.
Trappler said the Radisson has seen a significant demand for serviced apartments in Cape Town and the Western Cape. The advantage KwaZulu-Natal offers is lower prices and a still-relatively underdeveloped market.
“We believe the introduction of internationally branded serviced apartments is a natural next step in the province’s hospitality evolution, and we are excited to be leading that change,” he said.
The Radisson Serviced Apartments combine the convenience of contemporary apartment living with the premium services of an internationally recognised hotel brand.
Residents will enjoy access to concierge services, housekeeping, on-site restaurants, a rooftop bar, conference, and meeting facilities, all managed to the global standards of Radisson Hotel Group.
Horn said the appeal of investing in the off-plan development extends well beyond its prime location, just five minutes from the beach in Umhlanga and within walking distance of the Gateway Theatre of Shopping.
Purchasers will also enjoy access to the Radisson Rewards loyalty programme, unlocking a range of exclusive travel and lifestyle benefits across Radisson Hotel Group’s global portfolio.
He explained that Radisson Rewards gives members access to exclusive member rates, discounts on food and beverages at participating hotels, and priority check-in and check-out at selected properties.
Members can earn and redeem points on eligible stays and unlock even more benefits as they progress through the programme’s Premium and VIP tiers.
“Combined with ownership in one of South Africa’s first Radisson Serviced Apartments, it creates a lifestyle proposition that extends far beyond the property itself and offers value wherever our owners travel,” he said.
Radisson Serviced Apartments in Umhlanga
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