Regional overview: Africa’s hotel pipeline looks healthy with 281 projects [Construction Report]

Guests can enjoy stunning views from the Melia White Sands Hotel. (Picture: Property Wealth)

According to TOPHOTELPROJECTS database, Africa’s hotel market is set to grow by over 60,000 rooms in the coming years.

Africa’s hotel pipeline looks promising with 281 hotels and 62,322 new rooms due to hit the market in the coming years.

We find out more about where hotels will be opening and which properties to look out for.

Busy years lie ahead

2020 was supposed to be a busy year for the African hotel sector. 91 properties with 16,955 rooms were planned to launch. However, the recent spread of the coronavirus on the continent have likely thrown some of these plans off course. As of now, hotels and investors can only wait and see, hoping their projects will go live sooner rather than later.

For 2021, another 68 hotels with 14,775 rooms are slated to open. This number will likely increase as properties delayed due to the pandemic will spill over into 2021.

52 hotels with 11,247 rooms are planned for 2022 while 2023 looks quieter with 18 openings bringing 6,496 rooms. For 2024 and beyond, another 52 hotels with 12,849 rooms are on the books.

Across Africa’s new properties, 4- and 5-star hotel openings are quite balanced. 139 of the new hotels will be in the 4-star segment, while 142 will aim for 5 stars.

Top 10 national hotel markets in Africa

Egypt, one of the continent’s most popular tourist destinations, will see 54 properties with 16,378 rooms open. Morocco follows in second place with 33 new hotels and 7,911 rooms. Nigeria completes the top three with 26 launches and 5,944 rooms.

Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa are next in line with 22, 18 and 16 hotels respectively. Algeria, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal close out the Top 10 with 12, 11, 9 and 6 openings each.

Top 10 fastest-growing urban hotel markets in Africa

With Egypt heading up the country leaderboard, it is unsurprising that Cairo has made it to the top of the list of Africa’s fastest-growing urban hotel markets. The city is slated to see 15 hotels with 4,621 rooms open soon. Addis Ababa comes in second with 13 hotels and 2,629 rooms and Nairobi follows with 12 properties and 2,560 rooms.

Abuja and Abidjan will both see 9 hotels opening while Algiers will get 8 new properties. Marrakech, Lagos and Rabat each have 7 properties in their pipeline. Hurghada closes out the Top 10 with 5 openings.

Top 10 hotel brands expanding in Africa

Hilton Hotels & Resorts shares first place with Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts as both companies are planning to open 19 properties with 4,907 and 4,061 rooms around Africa. Marriott Hotels & Resorts comes in third with 11 properties and 2,635 rooms.

Movenpick Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Hotels & Resorts will both launch 10 hotels. Movenpick takes the lead in terms of room count though, with 2,786 rooms while Radisson gets 1,271 rooms.

Park Inn by Radisson will see 9 hotels open, followed by Four Points by Sheraton and Novotel with 8 launches each. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Garden Inn will open 7 properties each.

Notable hotel projects across Africa

The largest property currently in the pipeline for Africa is the 2,500-room Marina Resort Chbika slated to open in Q2, 2023. This project has been master-planned to include multiple hotels, 1,851 apartments and villas, a town center, a marina with berths for 100 boats, a sports centre, a spa, a medical centre, and a golf course. Without question, the resort will be the biggest thing to ever hit the village of Chbika, which is located along the Atlantic coast in a remote part of southwestern Morocco, near the town of Tan-Tan.

The Melia White Sands Hotel & Spa will boast 835 rooms and is planned for Q3, 2020. The hotel complex will be split into family and adult-only sections, ensuring all guests enjoy the highest quality of service tailored to their needs. Family-oriented facilities include two separate children’s pools, a baby pool and an adventure playground as well as a kid’s club. A wet bar and poolside restaurant will serve up first-class refreshments throughout the day and several fine dining restaurants will offer an exceptional choice of culinary treats.

In Nairobi, the new 365-room JW Marriott will open towards the end of 2020. This 5-star project will be part of a complex, including a high-rise office building and an up-scale business apartment building with a high-street shopping experience.