Africa’s hospitality sector is witnessing a significant upswing in hotel construction, with 577 projects comprising 104,444 rooms currently underway as of the first quarter of 2025.
This marks a 13.3% increase compared to the same period last year, according to a new industry report.
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10. Ghana
Ghana ranks tenth in Africa’s hotel development pipeline with 22 projects totalling 3,125 rooms, of which 68.9% are under construction. The majority of these developments are centred in the capital, Accra, where global hotel giants Hilton and Marriott International dominate the market.
Emerging players such as Aleph, Eurostars, Index, and CityBlue are also expanding their footprint, with a Radisson Individuals property currently being built. Ghana’s appeal continues to rise as it becomes a favoured hub for business and tourism.
9. Tanzania
Tanzania takes the ninth spot with 29 hotel projects and 3,432 rooms, although only 37.9% are under active construction. Zanzibar stands out as the primary development zone, with ten resort openings scheduled between 2025 and 2026.
The island is attracting a mix of midscale and luxury brands, including Moxy, Protea, Anantara, Four Seasons, and Ritz-Carlton, positioning it as a growing regional tourism hotspot.
8. South Africa
With 28 hotel developments and 4,076 rooms, South Africa ranks eighth. Of these, 64.3% are already under construction. The country continues to see consistent investment across its major cities, maintaining its position as a key hospitality destination on the continent.
7. Tunisia
Tunisia comes in seventh with 17 hotel projects comprising 4,336 rooms, 66.1% of which are currently being built. Although the overall number of projects is modest, the high construction rate indicates serious commitment to growing the nation’s coastal tourism infrastructure along the Mediterranean.
6. Kenya
Kenya holds sixth place with 26 projects and 4,344 rooms, with 62.8% already under construction. The country continues to attract significant investment in both city and resort areas, spurred by a robust tourism sector.
Many of these hotels are expected to open in the next few years, signalling a strong pipeline and sustained growth in Kenya’s hospitality industry.
5. Cape Verde
Cape Verde ranks fifth with only 16 hotel projects but an impressive 5,565 rooms. Just 37% are under construction. The standout feature is the average size of its resorts—348 rooms—nearly double the African average, with a clear focus on European beachfront tourism.
Boa Vista is the epicentre of activity, home to three of Africa’s ten largest hotel pipeline projects, including Meliá’s enormous 835-room White Sands Resort. The pipeline includes large-scale developments by Hilton, Meliá, TUI, and Marriott. However, only one resort—TUI’s 595-room Magic Life—is expected to open in 2025.
4. Ethiopia
Ethiopia ranks fourth with 33 hotel projects and 5,648 rooms, a staggering 83.8% of which are under construction. Addis Ababa, known as Africa’s diplomatic capital, hosts most of these projects, including 19 properties.
Leading the city’s development are Marriott (six hotels), Accor, Radisson, and The Ascott, each with three properties. Fifteen of the hotels are set to open between 2025 and 2026, potentially placing pressure on occupancy rates if all open as planned.
3. Nigeria
Nigeria is third with 48 hotel projects totalling 7,320 rooms. However, only 39% of these are under construction, indicating slower progress. The country slipped behind Morocco due to fewer new deals in 2024.
Lagos leads the market with eight Marriott hotels (1,228 rooms), followed by Accor, Radisson, Wyndham, and Hilton. Abuja, the capital, has 14 planned projects, mostly from Marriott and Radisson, but nine remain in pre-planning stages. No new openings are expected in 2025.
2. Morocco
Morocco climbed to second place with 58 projects and 8,579 rooms, with 72.4% under construction. The country outpaced Nigeria after securing 13 new deals in 2024 and achieving a 50% opening rate among scheduled projects.
Casablanca holds about one-third of the national pipeline, with 60% of its rooms expected to open by 2026. The city is welcoming several brand firsts, including Accor’s Mama Shelter, Marriott’s Moxy, and Eurostars’ African debut. Five new hotel openings are planned for 2025.
1. Egypt
Egypt leads the continent with 143 projects totalling 33,926 rooms—representing 32.5% of all rooms under development in Africa. Despite this, only three of 12 scheduled hotel openings occurred in 2024. A significant 154 are projected for 2025.
Greater Cairo accounts for 17% of the continent’s total pipeline, led by development in New Cairo. Accor, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG are major players, collectively responsible for 14,630 rooms. Approximately 30% of Cairo’s hotel projects are slated to open by 2026.
In Sharm El Sheikh, Accor controls 96% of rooms across eight developments, with Hilton building the only other hotel in the area.
