Singapore and South Africa Hospitality Ties Deepen as Banyan Group Takes Majority Stake in Newmark

Singapore and South Africa hospitality ties are deepening as Banyan Group takes a majority stake in Cape Town-headquartered Newmark Hotels & Reserves, giving the Singapore-based hospitality company a significantly larger African network while connecting Newmark with Banyan Group’s international sales, distribution and development capabilities. The transaction brings 26 hotels, lodges and reserves across seven African countries into Banyan Group’s wider portfolio. Newmark will continue operating under its existing name and leadership, while gaining access to a larger global commercial network that could introduce its African properties to travellers and partners across Asia and other international markets.

Banyan Group Makes a Major Move Into African Hospitality

Banyan Group’s expansion in Africa has taken a significant step forward with its investment in Newmark Hotels & Reserves.

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Banyan Tree Holdings Limited, entered into a share purchase and subscription agreement on 17 September 2026.

The transaction will be implemented in two stages.

Under the first tranche, Banyan Group will secure an initial majority interest in Newmark. The Singapore Exchange filing indicates that the transaction will ultimately give Banyan Group full ownership after the second stage, subject to the agreed conditions and transaction structure.

The investment gives Banyan immediate access to a well-established African hospitality management platform rather than requiring the group to build an equivalent regional network property by property.

What the Newmark Acquisition Adds to Banyan Group

Newmark was incorporated in South Africa in 2007 and is headquartered in Cape Town.

Its portfolio currently comprises 26 hotels, lodges and reserves with more than 1,300 rooms across seven African countries.

Newmark currently operates across Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

That geographical spread immediately broadens Banyan Group’s African reach.

Namibia Nigeria Uganda and Zimbabwe Join Banyan’s Wider Network

Before the Newmark transaction, Banyan Group already had a presence in Morocco, Mauritius, South Africa and Tanzania.

Its existing African network includes four hotels and four spas.

The group is also preparing to enter West Africa through Dhawa Ouidah in Benin.

Newmark changes the scale of that presence considerably.

The investment extends Banyan Group into Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe while increasing its exposure to South Africa, Tanzania and Mauritius.

The deal also brings a different category of expertise into the group.

Newmark has experience managing safari lodges, reserves and nature-focused properties. This gives Banyan Group a larger platform in African wildlife and experiential tourism.

Newmark Will Keep Its Own Identity

One of the most important aspects of the transaction is what will not change immediately.

Newmark is not being eliminated as a hospitality brand.

Instead, it will join Banyan Group as a collection brand.

Founder and chief executive Neil Markovitz will continue leading Newmark alongside the company’s existing management team.

Garth Musikanth will also continue in his role as Global Chief Finance Officer following completion of the first tranche.

The structure is intended to preserve Newmark’s regional expertise, operating relationships and individual property identities while adding the international capabilities of Banyan Group.

This means travellers should not expect Newmark hotels and lodges simply to be renamed as Banyan Tree properties.

International Distribution Is a Critical Part of the Deal

The transaction is about considerably more than adding hotel numbers.

Newmark specifically identified Banyan Group’s international distribution, commercial and development capabilities as important elements of the partnership.

This can potentially give African properties access to a much wider international hospitality ecosystem.

Key advantages include:

• Wider international sales exposure
• Greater distribution reach
• Access to global hospitality expertise
• New development opportunities
• Stronger connections with international travellers
• Greater visibility across overseas source markets
• Opportunities to develop owner and investment relationships
• Wider commercial support for Newmark properties

Banyan Group has a substantial operating presence in Asia, making the partnership particularly relevant for connecting African tourism products with Asian markets.

However, the official transaction announcement describes a broader international sales and distribution network, rather than promising a specific Asia-only booking-platform integration.

Banyan Group’s Asian Roots Could Help African Tourism Reach New Travellers

Banyan Group has deep roots in Asia.

The group celebrated its 100th resort globally in 2025 with the opening of Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree in Singapore.

Its broader operations span hotels, resorts, residences, spas and other hospitality businesses across numerous international markets. Its 2025 annual report also shows a significant fee-based management business alongside owned hotel assets.

Connecting Newmark to this network creates opportunities for African properties to gain visibility among international customers already familiar with Banyan Group.

This could be especially important as outbound travel from Asian markets continues developing.

Safari tourism, wildlife experiences, nature retreats and high-end experiential travel are areas where Newmark’s African portfolio can complement Banyan Group’s existing hospitality proposition.

Combined Portfolio Approaches 130 Properties

The transaction also changes Banyan Group’s global scale.

With Newmark included, the combined operation will comprise nearly 130 hotels, lodges and reserves.

It will also include more than 30 branded residences and over 140 spas and galleries.

The enlarged network will cover 14 hospitality and residential brands across 28 countries.

That makes the Newmark transaction strategically different from acquiring a single resort.

Banyan is effectively investing in an established hospitality management company with its own portfolio, workforce, operating expertise and development relationships.

Africa Becomes a Bigger Part of Banyan’s Growth Strategy

Banyan Group has explicitly described Africa as a long-term growth market.

The company believes Newmark provides an established management platform that can deepen its presence on the continent.

Newmark’s relationships with property owners are particularly valuable.

Hotel groups increasingly use management agreements and other asset-light structures to expand without owning every property they operate.

Banyan Group has itself been moving towards an asset-light strategy, with management, branding and related fee-based services forming an important part of its business.

Acquiring a hospitality management platform therefore supports a broader strategy built around expanding operating reach rather than simply accumulating hotel real estate.

African Tourism Growth Supports the Timing

The investment also arrives during a period of significant tourism growth across Africa.

Newmark’s official transaction announcement cited 81 million international tourist arrivals to Africa in 2025, representing 8% annual growth.

It also cited expectations from the World Travel & Tourism Council for Africa’s travel and tourism economy to expand further in 2026.

This makes established hotel-management networks increasingly valuable.

Growing international demand can create opportunities not only in established tourism destinations such as South Africa and Mauritius but also in emerging safari, nature and cultural tourism markets.

Safari and Nature Tourism Add Strategic Value

Newmark brings another important capability: specialist African wildlife hospitality.

Its portfolio includes hotels, lodges and reserves rather than being concentrated solely in conventional city or beach hotels.

This gives Banyan Group exposure to experiences that can be difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Safari lodges and nature reserves depend heavily on local knowledge, conservation relationships, guides, logistics and destination expertise.

Buying into an existing management company provides immediate access to those capabilities.

That could help Banyan expand further into experiential travel without needing to build its African operational knowledge entirely from the beginning.

The Transaction Is Not Fully Completed Yet

The terminology surrounding the deal requires care.

Banyan Group has agreed to acquire and subscribe for shares in Newmark through a transaction divided into two tranches.

The first stage is subject to conditions including relevant regulatory approvals.

The second tranche will follow according to the agreed transaction structure.

Therefore, describing Banyan as having already completed an outright 100% acquisition would be premature.

The more accurate description is that Banyan Group has agreed to make an initial majority investment in Newmark, with the remaining interest intended to follow over time.

Conclusion: Singapore and South Africa Hospitality Ties Deepen as Banyan Group Takes Majority Stake in Newmark

Singapore and South Africa hospitality ties are deepening as Banyan Group takes a majority stake in Newmark, creating a substantially larger bridge between an established African hospitality platform and an international hotel group with deep roots across Asia.

The transaction immediately gives Banyan Group access to Newmark’s 26 hotels, lodges and reserves across Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. It also brings more than 1,300 rooms and specialist expertise in safari, wildlife and nature-based hospitality into the wider group.

Newmark, meanwhile, gains access to Banyan Group’s international sales, distribution, development and commercial capabilities while retaining its existing brand, management team and local operating approach.

That balance is central to the strategy. Banyan is not simply replacing Newmark with its own brands. It is investing in a functioning African hospitality platform and connecting that business with a much larger international network.

With the combined portfolio approaching 130 hotels, lodges and reserves across 28 countries, the deal significantly increases Banyan Group’s scale. More importantly, it creates a new channel through which African hospitality experiences can reach travellers across Asia and other international markets.

For Singapore and South Africa, the majority stake therefore represents more than a conventional hotel acquisition. It links Banyan Group’s international commercial reach with Newmark’s established African expertise, creating a broader platform for future hospitality growth across the continent.