July has seen local developer, Avoca, in partnership with, Radisson Hotel Group, announce the release date to the market of the hotly anticipated Radisson Serviced Apartments Umhlanga development. The 183-room extended-stay development, due to officially launch to the public on 15 August 2026, marks the first-ever internationally branded serviced apartment offering by Radisson Hotel Group in the country that is choosing KwaZulu-Natal as their province of choice.
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Planned to open in 2029, this development marks another significant vote of confidence in KwaZulu-Natal’s growing tourism and investment economy while responding to one of the fastest-growing segments in global hospitality. Umhlanga Ridge will be home to Radisson Serviced Apartments Umhlanga, one of Durban’s leading commercial and lifestyle precincts that is considered prime location.
Africa’s Hospitality Boom Creates New Investment Opportunities
According to Avoca Developments’ director, Chris Horn, the development introduces an internationally recognised extended-stay product designed to meet evolving traveller preferences while strengthening the province’s position as an increasingly attractive destination for hospitality investment.
The announcement 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 comprising of more than 123,000 rooms under development. This represents the largest hotel pipeline ever recorded for Africa. UN Tourism also reports that Africa welcomed approximately 81 million international visitors during 2025, making it the world’s fastest-growing tourism region.
Daniel Trappler, Senior Director Development Sub-Saharen Africa, Radisson Hotel Group, that hospitality investment across Southern and Eastern Africa is increasingly being driven by local institutional investors; particularly pension funds seeking long-term, stable returns through internationally branded hospitality assets.
KwaZulu-Natal a Leading Hospitality Destination
KwaZulu-Natal is becoming one of South Africa’s most attractive hospitality investment markets. Continued investment in infrastructure, improved connectivity through King Shaka International Airport, and sustained commercial growth across Durban and Umhlanga are strengthening the province’s appeal to both business and leisure travellers.
The province’s growing appeal is also reflected in major international tourism investments, including the recently opened Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari Resort, which 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 while expanding the province’s accommodation offering across multiple traveller segments.
Horn as the developer behind the project explains their decision to partner with Radisson Hotel Group, saying, “This is the epitome of a lifestyle investment where your apartment is taken care of by the Radisson Hotel Group and 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. 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”.
The Global Rise of Serviced Apartments
It’s no surprise that this latest Umhlanga development is leaning into one of the biggest shifts taking place within global hospitality. Serviced apartments have become one of the industry’s fastest-growing accommodation categories as travellers increasingly seek 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; 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, we see extended-stay accommodation becoming an increasingly important driver of hospitality growth across Africa, and KwaZulu-Natal is well positioned to benefit from that shift,” says Trappler.
Why Umhlanga?
Radisson Hotel Group’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. We’ve seen the demand for serviced apartments in Cape Town and the Western Cape, and it’s been huge. The advantage that KZN has is prices are lower and the market is still relatively under-developed. 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,” adds Trappler.
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 says the appeal of investing in the off-plan development extends well beyond its prime location, just five minutes from the beach in the heart of 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.
“Radisson Rewards gives members access to exclusive member rates, discounts on food and beverages at participating hotels, priority check-in and check-out at selected properties, the opportunity to earn and redeem points on eligible stays, and the ability to 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,” concludes Horn.
As global travel continues to evolve, Radisson Serviced Apartments Umhlanga represents more than just another new development going to market. It reflects KwaZulu-Natal’s growing appeal as a destination capable of attracting international brands, institutional investment and a new generation of travellers seeking flexible, high-quality accommodation that are bound to reap.
To register your interest ahead of the launch on 15 August 2026 for the initial 40 apartments being sold from R1.75 million for a studio apartment in Phase 1, visit www.radissonapartments.co.za
