American hotelier Marriott, plans to invest $1.5 billion to open about 5,000 rooms in Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and other African countries by 2015, according to a report by CP-AFRICA.

Marriott’s president and MD, Middle East and Africa, Alex Kyriakidis announced at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum held in Nairobi Kenya, which the hospitality brand plans to sign a deal by the end of 2012 to open a hotel in Kenya by 2015.

Kenya, east Africa’s fastest growing economy, is developing infrastructures to meet growing demand as its middle class rises and business travellers and tourists migrate to the country. According to reports, the Kenyan immigration in 2011 recorded a 15 percent increase in international visitors to 1.26 million, accounting for almost 80 percent of total bookings in the country’s capital.

Kenya’s main airport, the biggest in east Africa, is being expanded to double its capacity to over 4 million passengers.

Alex while commenting on the on-going project noted that the investment in the airport’s infrastructure is necessary to economic development.

Marriot will also be expanding operations to fast growing African economies such as Nigeria, to cash in on the skyrocketing number of business travellers.

Reports reveal, intercontinental hotelier Hilton, which has presence in Kenya’s coast, also disclosed plans to renovate and rebrand in the country, open two new hotels in Nairobi, and enter into the Congolese and Rwandan market.

Rezidor too will open two hotels in Nairobi by 2014.