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The Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa opens in Benin. The hotel is located near the key points of interest in Cotonou, Benin’s economic hub, including the highly popular tourist spots Esplanade des Amazones and Route des pêches. Benin is renowned as a politically stable nation, with immense cultural heritage and rich traditions. Under its new country brand, A world of splendours, it aims to develop seaside and memorial tourism as a major tourist destination in West Africa.
"A pioneer in French luxury hospitality for 60 years, Sofitel today embodies a refined and committed luxury, blending French elegance with local roots. I am delighted to announce the opening of this first Sofitel in Benin, where I hope each of our guests will experience the magic of the French art of living, enriched by Beninese culture. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to 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", says Maud Bailly, CEO of the Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems brands.
The pinnacle of luxury in Cotonou
Rooms & Suites
Located just 5 minutes from Cotonou international airport in a 29-hectare natural park, a vast green space in the heart of the city, the hotel has 198 rooms with exceptional views of the ocean and the city, including 14 suites and 5 Duplex Suites with a private pool. To bring the French zest that sets the Sofitel brand apart, four bars and restaurants will open over the period from September to December 2024.
Restaurants, Bars & Lounges
- Vivo, a restaurant offering eastern fusion cuisine, opens in September.
- Muse, a bar-coffee lounge featuring a selection of pastries, gourmet snacks, coffees and cocktails, opens in September.
- Corniche, a poolside restaurant serving Mediterranean dishes, opens in September.
- L’Ami, a gourmet bistro with a Beninese twist and menu designed by Michelin-starred chef Georgiana Viou, opens in December 2024.
Wellness
The Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa offers high-end services and facilities: featuring a 1,000 m² spa with 5 treatment rooms, a duo room, and an indoor pool, the hotel promises a wellness experience with exceptional rituals using KOS Paris products, a Parisian brand of high-quality natural cosmetics. The spa has also developed an exceptional Origin Ritual using 100% organic, custom-made products from Benin created in collaboration with the brand Kaël.
Meetings & Events
The hotel is home to a range of facilities designed to meet Benin’s new tourism and economic aspirations to cater for corporate or private events, with nine meeting rooms and event spaces. These include the Les Collines room, with a capacity of up to 400 people, and the Dôme, Cotonou’s only International Conference Centre, which has been tastefully renovated and can accommodate 700 guests. A concierge service and events management team will be on hand to meet guests’ needs. Another of the hotel’s main features is the Pavillon, which will house two cinemas operated by Canal Olympia, a Partouche casino and a unique concept in Cotonou with an Asian fusion restaurant, cocktail bar and nightclub, the Byblos.
A deeply-rooted local presence
The Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa is a seamless blend of French-style luxury and the cultural heritage of Benin, embodying the Cultural Link, one of the brand’s pillars. Captured in its logo, it symbolises two cultures interwoven to create a unique experience. This encounter is expressed in the 150 works of art curated by Benin’s Agency for the Development of Contemporary Art. Pieces are on display in all the public areas and the rooms, essentially transforming the hotel into an art gallery.
Committed luxury
The Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa is also committed to developing its positive impact on the environment and local communities through various initiatives, including the phase-out of single-use plastic, the use of glass bottles specially created by SOBEBRA* , food waste management and solidarity projects implemented to serve local communities.
“I would like to thank our institutional partners for the human and financial investment they have put into this project. Together, we have been able to recruit 90% of our talent from Benin. The quality and attention to detail that our Heartists** have developed will make this hotel a unique location that will also contribute to strengthening the brand internationally and promoting Benin as a prime destination. We are committed to providing our guests in Cotonou and elsewhere with unique and unforgettable experiences” says Juliette Peron, General Manager of the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa.
The Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa opened on sunday, september 1, 2024. Infused with elegance and refinement, the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa promises unique experiences in Benin and the sub-region. For more information, please go to www.sofitel.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
