Investments & Funding

IHG continues to maintain a strong development pipeline, with around 2,276 hotels and 338,000 rooms set to open soon, further strengthening its global presence.

Gaurav Pande, executive vice president and business head of Popeyes India, said the brand is focusing on younger consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials, by offering an innovative menu and bold flavors.

This funding will facilitate the construction of a new hotel in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, representing Kasada’s fifth property in the city and the first internationally branded hotel to be established in the Angré district.

The fundraising round was spearheaded by First Circle Capital, a leading early-stage fintech investor focused on Africa, with additional support from TLCom Capital, Enza Capital, Incisive Ventures, Evergreen, and other notable backers.

The project launched on August 7, 2025, during a high-profile event at the Conrad Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, giving potential investors and homebuyers an exclusive first look.

Apollo S3, a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management and former owner of Qdoba until its 2022 sale to Butterfly, led the latest fundraising round.

The project plans to introduce a luxury Anantara hotel and 128 branded residences, with the goal of redefining premium hospitality standards in the Northern Emirates.

Lotteria, operated by Lotte GRS, an affiliate of the Lotte Group, is strategically expanding into Southeast Asia, tapping into the region’s rising demand for Korean-style quick-service dining.

The development offers a refined and varied selection of living options—including townhouses, high-end apartments, branded residences, and a luxury hotel—crafted to deliver a holistic, integrated beachside lifestyle with the added exclusivity of a private beach.

Developed in collaboration with Al-Wathba Hospitality Company through a usufruct agreement signed in February, the project is intended to elevate Salalah’s status as a leading tourism destination in the region.