Africa’s Hotel Development has Reached Unprecedented Levels. Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, and other hotel groups are racing to plant their flags on the continent’s most rapidly-growing markets.
There are currently 577 hotel construction projects totaling 105,000 rooms. According to A, this represents a 13.3% growth from the previous year. report The following is a list of the most recent and relevant articles. W Hospitality GroupA Nigerian-based consulting firm. This is a record pipeline according to the consultancy.
“Africa is a continent with a lot of potential, untapped beauty, wildlife and resources,” Carlos KhneisserVice President of Development for Hilton Skift reports that the Middle East and Africa is a hot spot for travelers.
Egypt is the biggest market
North Africa saw a jump of 23% in projects from one year to the next.
Egypt continues to be the continent’s most developed market with 143 hotel projects in development. record 15.7 million tourists in 2024 The levels of the pandemic were higher than before.
Egypt’s Tourism Minister recently described Egypt as “extremely challengedThe hotel room shortages.
Hilton, Marriott International. Radisson In Egypt, all companies are adopting a dual-approach that balances resort development on the Red Sea and a renewed focus of Greater Cairo’s city market.
Khneisser said Hilton will roll out lifestyle and All-inclusive concepts to both segments in order to meet changing demand. It has opened 14 hotels, and 40 more are in the pipeline.
Radisson invests in assets with mixed-use and resort properties.
Marriott, which operates 18 hotels and has 24 more planned in Egypt, is also expanding its presence.
“We are well-distributed, both from city hotel and resorts,” stated Jerome Briet, chief development officer for EMEA [Europe, Middle East, and Africa] Marriott. Red Sea and North Coast has seen significant development, while downtown Cairo is undergoing a redevelopment that includes projects such as Autograph Collection at Tahrir Square.
Briet noted that Cairo remained a hub of importance for the company. It’s a well-balanced, and probably one of the more developed economies in Africa.
Morocco’s Pre FIFA Boom
Morocco is a country that has similar stories. In 2024 17.4 million tourists visited MoroccoA 20% increase year-over-year. Tourism now accounts for over 7% GDP.
Hilton now averages five to six signings a year there, including Waldorf Astoria Rabat Salé and Canopy by Hilton Tangier Bay. Marriott is expanding the Moxy brand and Autograph Collection with 10 new hotels.
Today, we [Radisson] “We have 15 hotels and are looking to double our presence in 2030,” said Ramsay Rankoussi, vice president of development for Africa & Turkiye at Radisson.
Morocco will co-host FIFA World Cup 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal.
Briet said that an event such as the FIFA World Cup can also transform the future of tourism in the country and boost its visibility on a global scale.
Sub-Saharan Africa – Growth with Caution
Sub-Saharan Africa’s pipeline of hotel projects has grown to over 55,000 bedrooms across 347 different projects in 2025. That’s a 6 percent increase since 2024.
West Africa, particularly Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, is drawing international interest.
Khneisser stated that “We are seeing good momentum in West Africa like Senegal Ghana Angola and we have recently signed a Hilton hotel in Niger.”
Marriott is expanding in Nigeria’s fastest-growing cities. It positions its Protea as a midscale hotel for local travellers.
Briet stated that the country has been developing its own tourism market. He said that in order to capture that market we must ensure that our brands have a local relevance. “We are seeing growth, for instance, with our Protea design, which is a truly African brand.”
Radisson Hotel Group is expanding its footprint on the subcontinent, with an emphasis on market diversification.
Rankoussi revealed that the group is now active in over 30 African nations, including recent expansions to Guinea and Tanzania. He stated that the company is aiming to enter at least one market per year.
The company’s strategy for development focuses on secondary towns with high business travel where it can quickly enter through conversions.
The lack of consistency in terms of infrastructure, currency risks, and political instability across the region forces brands to be selective. Hotel groups claim that where fundamentals are aligned, the return can justify risk.
“It is about finding the right partners, and being able move when the conditions are right,” said Rankoussi.
Financial and Delivery Constraints
Even in markets that are strong, it is still difficult to convert plans into hotels. Egypt only opened 3 of the planned 12 hotels in 2024. Morocco opened 10 out of 20. 59 new hotel chains opened across Africa during last year.
Rankoussi said that hotel developers in some African markets may face capital costs as high as 25%. Due to the high upfront costs, projects must generate much higher revenue than they do in Europe in order to justify their investment. The executives should carefully evaluate the viability of projects and eliminate those that will not deliver enough returns.
“Sometimes, the issues are regulatory. This is harder for us… It’s not always a financial issue. Sometimes, it’s a simple sourcing problem [for development and construction]Briet: “It depends on the country where the materials are sourced from.”
The progress is improving, as 38% of Africa’s signed projects are now under construction. This compares to 21% one year ago. This is still below pre-pandemic levels.
Khneisser said that West Africa is an excellent example. “We see new governments willing to work together with new investors… because they think hotels, travel and tourism is a force for the good.”
