HotelOnline announces merger, appoints former Jovago head as Nigeria’s country manager

Savanna Sunrise Ltd. and Hotel Online Sp. z.o.o today announced the completion of their merger and the company will operate under the name HotelOnline henceforth. The company said the merger puts HotelOnline at the forefront of online hospitality solutions industry in Africa, active in DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

In a statement made available to Innovation Village this morning, HotelOnline announced the merger brings together extensive market presence with a unique technological and business solution tailored to the needs of hotels in African markets. The company is also eyeing rapid acquisition of new markets in Africa in the next couple of years.

Ina  related development, and as part of an aggressive expansion strategy into West Africa, the company also announces the opening of a new Lagos office, with Alexandrial Allen, former Head of Sales in Jovago, joining as the Country Manager.

“The offer includes: a ridiculously simple reservations management tool enabling hotels to monetize on online channels; distribution to more than 100 local and global online channels; free hotel website, with booking engine, live chat and online payment solutions as well as 24/7 multilingual customer service,” the company stated.

Håvar Bauck, Executive Chairman of HotelOnline said with the merger process completed, the company has gotten much stronger.

“We are a stronger and more vibrant company than ever, with an amazing team.  We are already making aggressive inroads into the Nigerian market, as we plan for continent-wide expansion over the next 24 months.  Our ambition is inherently global, though. Beyond Africa, there is South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Central Asia and South East Asia,” said Bauck.

“With more than 500 hotels in Nigeria already using HotelOnline platform we have a head start as we enter the biggest market on the African continent.  Nigeria is an important market for us, as we aim to bring thousands of hotels into the era of online marketing, strengthening our partners in their competition with global hotel chains” – said Maciej Prostak, EVP Operations.

Endre Opdal, CEO of HotelOnline is excited as the company turns an important page: “With the merger complete, we are now in a position to focus on growth and aggressive expansion over the next couple of months, before doing a full Series A funding round towards the end of the year”.