SINGAPORE and CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Sept. 17, 2026 /CNW/ — Banyan Group (Banyan Tree Holdings Limited
or the “Group– SGX: B58), an independent global hospitality company, today announced a strategic partnership with Newmark Hotels & Reserves (
Newmark”), a Cape Town-headquartered hospitality management company, and the acquisition of a majority stake in Newmark under a phased ownership structure leading to full ownership over time.
Banyan Group Acquisition of Newmark Hotels & Reserves
As part of the partnership, Newmark joins Banyan Group as a collection brand, bringing its managed portfolio of 26 hotels, lodges and reserves across seven countries including Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe, while retaining its existing brand, teams and local operating approach to preserve the deep market knowledge and long-standing relationships that have contributed to its success. With the addition of Newmark Collection, Banyan Group’s portfolio will comprise nearly 130 hotels, resorts and reserves, more than 30 branded residences, and over 140 spas and galleries across 14 hospitality and residential brands in 28 countries. The partnership brings together Newmark’s regional expertise and established hospitality management platform across urban, nature-based and wildlife hospitality with Banyan Group’s international distribution, development and commercial capabilities, supporting Newmark’s continued growth across Africa and greater international reach.
Ho Kwon Ping Statement on Newmark Partnership
We welcome Newmark to Banyan Group with confidence in the strength of the business it has built in Africa and the entrepreneurial spirit that has shaped it,
said Ho Kwon Ping, Founder and Executive Chairman of Banyan Group. We see in Newmark many of the qualities that shaped Banyan Group from the beginning: independence of thought, a long-term view and the conviction to build something distinctive. We look forward to what we can build together across Africa.
Neil Markovitz Statement on Joining Banyan Group
Over nearly two decades, Newmark has built its business through strong teams, trusted owner and partner relationships and a portfolio where each property retains its own identity,
said Neil Markovitz, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Newmark Hotels & Reserves. “Joining Banyan Group gives us greater international reach and access to a wider network of expertise while retaining what has made Newmark successful. It also gives us greater scope to introduce travellers around the world to the destinations and experiences across our portfolio.”
From Cape Town to Africa’s Wild Heart
Newmark was founded in 2007 by Neil Markovitz, whose career in Cape Town hospitality dates to 1990 and includes serving as General Manager of the Victoria & Alfred Hotel. Housed in a converted 1904 warehouse overlooking Cape Town’s harbour and Table Mountain, the hotel was the first to open at the V&A Waterfront and later became one of the first properties in Newmark’s portfolio.
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Today, Newmark’s collection stretches from Cape Town, beneath iconic Table Mountain, and Victoria Falls, two of the world’s most celebrated natural wonders, to some of Africa’s most remarkable landscapes and destinations. Its curated portfolio spans heritage and city hotels, nature and country lodges, island retreats and private game reserves, offering a diverse mix of urban, nature-based, wellbeing and wildlife experiences.
In South Africa’s Waterberg, QWABI Private Game Reserve spans 11,000 hectares within a UNESCO-designated biosphere, combining a Big Five safari experience with the regeneration of land previously used for agriculture. In the Greater Kruger ecosystem, Motswari Private Game Reserve celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, shaped by a long history of conservation. Motswari has been part of the Newmark portfolio since 2013. Further north, Gorilla Heights Lodge sits on the edge of Uganda’s UNESCO-listed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to endangered mountain gorillas. Future Found Sanctuary, set on the slopes of Table Mountain, brings a regenerative wellness dimension through experiences rooted in nature and restoration.
Newmark’s deep regional expertise across urban, nature and wildlife hospitality will expand Banyan Group’s scale and nature-based hospitality platform in one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism regions.