TTW Africa Day 2025 presents Marriott's expansion with the new Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara in São Paulo

An executive who connects worlds, Larissa Loureiro, Global Luxury Account Director at Marriott International, is tasked with connecting Latin America's leading travel agencies with the chain's eight luxury brands, including Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari, JW Marriott, and W Hotels. At TTW Africa Day 2025, held at the Matarazzo Complex in São Paulo, Loureiro brought to Brazil the freshness of an announcement that repositions Africa on the global map of high-end tourism.

"I don't represent Marriott's 30+ brands, but only the Luxury Group, made up of eight brands that together have more than 500 hotels in 70 countries," explained Loureiro.

Africa on the luxury radar

Marriott only began investing significantly in Africa in 2023, with the opening of the JW Maasai Mara, the group's first luxury property in the region. The expansion gained momentum in August of this year with the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara, which Loureiro introduced during the event.

"We're super excited to be here at Africa Day, representing what is perhaps the newest hotel at the event, which opened on August 15th. It's a super-luxury hotel, located in an exclusive reserve, with just 20 tents measuring 150 square meters each, built from elevated timber, something unique in Africa," Loureiro noted.

Luxury in details and experiences

The Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara translates the concept of exclusivity beyond the lodging. "Each room has a butler and an exclusive safari vehicle. Additionally, there's a partnership with Canon that allows guests to use professional cameras during their tours, complemented by a photo studio within the hotel," said Loureiro.

Matthew Ngoka, director of sales at the Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara, added details about the structure: "There are 20 tents, including one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and even a presidential suite. The difference is the space, unmatched throughout the Mara and Serengeti region."

The experience is completed by the cuisine. "We have five restaurants—from The Nest to Upeo—that offer everything from dinners under the stars to encounters with Maasai dancers and cultural stories around the campfire," explained Ngoka.

How to get to the Maasai Mara

Part of the enchantment begins on the journey. According to Ngoka, the route includes an international flight to Nairobi, arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a 20-minute land connection to Wilson Airport, and from there, a 45-minute domestic flight to the Maasai Mara.

"From the airstrip, guests follow roads that are already part of the safari, with stops and surprises along the way. There are two arrival options: Serena Airstrip, 30 minutes from the hotel, or Kikorok, which is between 45 minutes and an hour away," the executive explained.

Global growth of the luxury portfolio

While investments in Africa are still recent, Marriott has a robust pipeline globally. "Today, we have 536 luxury hotels, and over the next five years, we will open another 249. This is exponential growth, and Africa will certainly continue to receive new properties. The next will be another JW, scheduled for July 2026," stated Loureiro.

The importance of TTW Africa Day

The event, organized by TTW Group, founded by Eduardo Gaz, brought together strategic players in international tourism in São Paulo. For Loureiro, the first edition of Africa Day was more than just a showcase: "Being here means introducing the Latin American market to a continent that is now occupying a central position on the global luxury tourism map."

Report and photo: Mary de Aquino.