LAGOS, Nigeria - When it comes to hotel development across Africa, Egypt and Marriott are the two phenomena to watch. This insight comes from this year’s African Hotel Chain Development Pipeline report, widely acknowledged as the industry’s most authoritative source, documenting and analysing the number of hotels being planned and built across the continent.

The survey, conducted by Lagos-based W Hospitality Group, in association with the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), is based on responses from 45 global and regional (African) hotel chains, reporting on a pipeline of hotel development activity totalling around 84,400 rooms in 482 hotels, in 42 of Africa’s 54 countries.

North Africa continues to dominate the pipeline, with Egypt far ahead. It alone numbers 21% of the hotels and 30% of the rooms being planned or built on the entire continent. West Africa’s share of the total is slightly down this year, despite having the largest number of countries. After several years of slumber, Central Africa is increasing its share, particularly in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The top ten countries represent 68% of hotels in the survey, and 74% of the rooms.

— Source: The Bench— Source: The Bench
— Source: The Bench

Egypt not only leads the country table, with almost 25,000 rooms in 103 hotels, but is streaking ahead of the pack, with more than three times the number of rooms being developed in second-placed Nigeria, and four times Morocco and Ethiopia.

— Source: The Bench— Source: The Bench
— Source: The Bench

Despite its clear leadership in the absolute pipeline numbers, Egypt has the lowest percentage of rooms onsite due to its relatively “young” pipeline. Of the total 103 projects, half were signed in 2020 and later, and that’s nearly 60% of the rooms. In contrast, Morocco and Algeria have some of the highest ratios of rooms under construction on the continent. After Egypt, Nigeria has quite a low percentage onsite, and, of the 22 hotels that have started construction there, eight of them, with about half of the “onsite” rooms, have stalled (often due to a lack of funds) and the sites are closed. 

On a city basis, Greater Cairo has by far the largest share, 12% of the entire pipeline, followed by Sharm El Sheikh and Addis Ababa.

— Source: The Bench— Source: The Bench
— Source: The Bench

As in previous years, three international hotel chains, the USA’s Marriott International and Hilton, plus France-based Accor, top the table, with Marriott pulling firmly ahead in 2023.

— Source: The Bench— Source: The Bench
— Source: The Bench

Radisson has been opening hotels at a faster pace than any other operator, with some hotels opening the same year they are signed – four in Morocco in 2021, and one in Tunisia in 2022. Marriott are projecting a massive number of openings in 2023, more than opened in total for all the chains in 2022, and Accor are projecting a catch-up with eight times their 2022 performance.

Kerten Hospitality (a newcomer to the survey this year) and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts have all their pipeline on site, but Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel chain, with the largest number of rooms and the largest African development pipeline, have three times the number of rooms onsite of those two hotel chains put together. Hilton is in second place for onsite rooms, after Marriott International.

— Source: The Bench— Source: The Bench
— Source: The Bench

Of the total 84,427 rooms in the pipeline, over 37,500 rooms (about 45%) are expected by the hotel chains to open in 2023 and 2024. After a positive performance in 2019 (75% opened), the actualisation of hotel deals (the proportion that opened, versus what the chains expected to open) has been 30 per cent or less in the last three years – severely down for obvious reasons. The headwinds that developers have faced are mostly abating, although it can still be a challenge to open on time.

— Source: The Bench— Source: The Bench
— Source: The Bench

There are several reasons why new hotel development in Egypt is so strong, including the low value of the Egyptian pound, its unparalleled tourism assets, its proximity to major source markets and good infrastructure. One of the drivers of Marriott’s strong performance is a growing trend towards franchising in Africa, and Marriott’s relative strength in franchising with 30 brands in its portfolio. Franchising appeals to owners and investors as they retain more control of their properties; and they are now able to work with proven white-label operators in Africa to run them. Trevor Ward, Managing Director, W Hospitality Group
The high expectations for 2023 and 2024 openings don’t just make a really good news story; they bode very well for AHIF, as there will be an optimistic atmosphere at the conference, which is likely to encourage participants to seek new deals and further investment opportunities. Matthew Weihs, Managing Director of The Bench, which organises AHIF

Matthew and Trevor discuss the findings in more depth in a podcast, which can be found here. An update to the pipeline development survey, along with in-depth insights, will be presented by Trevor Ward at AHIF, which takes place at the Radisson Nairobi Upper Hill from 12th – 14th June. The event is the most influential gathering of hospitality executives in Africa, connecting business leaders and fuelling investment in tourism projects, infrastructure, and hotel development across the continent.

To download the full report, please click here.

About W Hospitality Group

The W Hospitality Group, a member of Hotel Partners Africa, specialises in the provision of advisory services to the hotel, tourism and leisure industries, providing a full range of services to clients who have investments in the sector, or who are looking to enter them through development, acquisition or other means. In sub-Saharan Africa W Hospitality Group is regarded as the market leader due to the market and financial expertise of its staff, its worldwide knowledge, and its commitment to its clients. In Africa, W Hospitality Group has to date worked in 40 countries on the continent, from its Lagos and Addis Ababa offices. www.W-HospitalityGroup.com

About the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF)

AHIF is the premier hotel investment conference in Africa, attracting many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers. It is organised by The Bench (www.TheBench.com), which has a long track record of delivering multiple premium hotel investment conferences and forums across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The Bench’s mission is enabling prosperity by facilitating growth, networking, and thought leadership in the hospitality industry worldwide. www.TheBench.com.

Sponsors of AHIF are Host Partners: Westmont Hospitality Group and Actis; Platinum Sponsor: Radisson Hotel Group; Gold Sponsors: Accor, Aleph Hospitality, Best Western Hotel Group, CHIC, CityBlue Hotels, Colliers International, Equate, Hansgrohe, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Insignia, IT Hospitality, Louvre Hotels Group, Marriott International, Toggle Hospitality and Rove Hotels; Silver Sponsor: HVS and Exhibitor: Bureau Veritas.

About The Bench

The Bench has built a legacy as a global curator of opportunity, designing transformative forums and summits that empower the hospitality and travel industries to connect, innovate, and thrive. With over two decades of expertise, The Bench creates platforms that go beyond transactions to inspire collaboration and drive meaningful change.

Each event brings together government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel associations, leading hospitality brands, hotel owners and investors, airlines, destination developers, and more. From flagship gatherings like FHS World (formerly AHIC) and FHS Saudi Arabia, to the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) and AviaDev, The Bench creates events where ideas spark, relationships deepen, and investments take flight.

The Bench thrives on fostering dynamic and forward-looking dialogues, uniting industry pioneers to address challenges, seize opportunities, and co-create the future. Each event is crafted to deliver more than just connections - it's about transforming ideas into action and building a better tomorrow.

Discover more at thebench.com.

About FHS Saudi Arabia

Dates: 14-16 April 2025

Location: Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sponsors: Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh and Al Khozama Investment as Host Sponsors; Taiba Investments as Founding Partner; Al Rajhi Bank, NEOM, Red Sea Group, Saudi Icon, Saudi Hospitality Company (PIF), Amsa Hospitality, TDF, The Ascott as Strategic Partners; Accor, Rotana, ClubMed, Radisson Hotel Group as Headline Sponsors; Aleph Hospitality, ARC-IDC, Ark People Solutions, AtkinsRealis, Compass Project Consulting, Domus Managed Housing, Golden Tulip MENA / Louvre Hotels Group, IHCL, Knight Frank, Melia Hotels, Minor Hotels, Quo, Rove and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as Sponsors; Shaza Hotels, Time Hotels, Valor Hospitality and WhiteWater as Exhibitors.