ZLLC unites Chichele Presidential, Puku Ridge, Lolebezi and Lolelunga under direct owner management from January 2027, with new US and UK sales representation and an active rewilding program including Zambia's first captive-bred lion reintroduction.
Ongoing geopolitical tensions across the Middle East are having a real commercial impact on hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses worldwide. Uncertainty is now shaping how travellers make decisions — where they go, how far ahead they book, and how confident they feel about travel at all.Airspace restrictions and rising operating costs have dampened visitor demand in some regions, while destinations seen as safer alternatives — particularly in Southern Europe, Asia and the Americas — are picking up displaced demand, especially at the luxury and ultra-luxury end of the market, notoriously oblivious of geopolitical tensions.Investors and developers are also treading more carefully.
Much of the industry conversation has focused on what recent Middle East tensions might take away from travel demand. The more interesting question, from where I sit in Portugal, is where that demand goes instead.In my recent piece on the next European hotel buy cycle, I noted that while top-line demand should remain broadly stable in the short term, it will be increasingly reallocated across destinations.Portugal’s latest tourism statistics show the country entered this recent period of geopolitical tension from a position of sustained strength.
The Lux Collective partners with Cleo Capital Group to launch a five-resort ultra-luxury circuit across Rwanda under the LUX* and SALT brands, with Phase 1 rebranding two properties from mid-2026 and three greenfield resorts opening in 2028.
Valor Hospitality signs two South African properties: a 102-room Tapestry Collection by Hilton in KwaZulu-Natal (2028) and a lifestyle aparthotel in Cape Town (2027), expanding its 100+ hotel African portfolio.
The nine-room property, opening in 2026, marks SLH's first Rwanda location with rates starting at $3,090 per night.
The third-generation room, built by Genberg Underwater Hotels, channels all proceeds to coral reef restoration and community programs in Tanzania's marine conservation area.
Shoreline Group will invest $300 million to develop 10 hotels with 1,200+ rooms across eight Nigerian cities by 2030, creating 1,000 jobs.
The luxury hotel group expands into Africa by acquiring nine high-end safari properties across Tanzania through partnerships with Legendary Expeditions and Chem Chem Safari.
The partnership will launch Sofitel Tangier, renovate existing properties, and create a co-funded training academy ahead of Morocco's 2030 World Cup hosting.
The council will coordinate $400bn in hotel assets to improve investment conditions and unlock hospitality projects across Africa.
Spanish hotel giant will operate five properties through partnership with MHG, starting with 307-room Mahdia resort opening this year.
The community-partnered collection unites six lodges along 20 kilometers of Sand River, with new flagship Khensani River Lodge opening December 2026.
The 37-suite property on a 10-hectare organic farm will open in phases starting Q1 2027, developed with Sazanes Immobilier.
Minor Hotels signs 145-key NH Collection resort on Pemba Island, scheduled to open February 2030, marking the brand's Tanzania debut.
Minor Hotels will bring the NH Collection brand to Ghana for the first time with a 200-key hotel in Accra set to open in 2030.
The expansion launches with three Kenyan properties under Clarion and Ascend brands, part of Choice's broader EMEA growth delivering 17% unit growth in 2025.
The summit will gather hospitality leaders in Nairobi to discuss investment opportunities and development strategies across Sub-Saharan Africa's growing hotel market.
The brand's first African properties include three safari lodges in Zambia and Botswana, managed by African Bush Camps.
The Tourism Investment Forum, hosted by the Government of South Africa, brought together global tourism leaders to explore investment opportunities in South Africa and across the African continent. Highlighting South Africa's vibrant tourism sector, which welcomed nearly 9 million international visitors and 47 million domestic trips last year, contributing over 12% to national GDP, the Forum underscored the country's role as a gateway for regional tourism development.
Tourism Doing Business Investing in Namibia aims to attract potential investors and provides essential insights into the vibrant opportunities within Namibia’s tourism sector. The guidelines showcase Namibia’s unique cultural heritage, robust economy, and supportive business environment, highlighting areas of potential significant growth in the years ahead.