Other major contributors include Nigeria (7,320 rooms), Ethiopia (5,648), Cape Verde (5,565), Kenya (4,344), and Tunisia (4,336).

Africa is witnessing significant hotel development growth across the continent, according to the latest Hotel Development Pipeline Report for 2024. The report, compiled by Lagos-based W Hospitality Group, reviewed data from 50 international and regional hotel brands. It shows that 577 hotels and resorts are planned or being built, with a total of 104,444 rooms. This represents a 13.3% year-on-year growth in development, outpacing global averages, which remain in single digits.

North Africa leads the continent’s expansion, with a 23% annual increase in hotel projects compared to sub-Saharan Africa’s 6%. Over the past five years, growth averaged 12% annually in North Africa, 4% in sub-Saharan Africa, and 7% overall. Egypt remains the dominant country, with 143 hotels and 33,926 rooms under development—nearly four times Morocco’s 8,579 rooms.

Other major contributors include Nigeria (7,320 rooms), Ethiopia (5,648), Cape Verde (5,565), Kenya (4,344), and Tunisia (4,336). Also on the list are South Africa (4,076 rooms), Tanzania (3,432), and Ghana (3,125), with 42 of 54 African countries seeing deals signed. However, while Egypt leads in number of projects, fewer than half of its planned rooms are currently under construction.

In contrast, over 72% of Morocco’s rooms are being actively built, suggesting better project momentum in that market. Among the top 10 countries, Ethiopia has the highest rate of rooms under construction, followed by Morocco and Ghana. Meanwhile, countries like Nigeria, Cape Verde, and Tanzania are seeing slow progress, with some sites stalled for years.

A deeper look reveals Cairo as the hottest city for development, with 17,757 rooms planned across 70 hotel projects. The second location, Sharm El Sheikh, has just 4,231 rooms planned across under 10 properties—a distant second. Other cities in focus include Lagos (3,709 rooms), Boa Vista (3,650), Addis Ababa (3,369), and Casablanca (2,939). They are joined by Accra (2,652 rooms), Abuja (2,570), Zanzibar (2,523), and Dakar (2,334) on the growing list.

Marriott International is the leading brand driving hotel development growth across Africa, with 165 hotels and 29,639 rooms. Hilton follows closely with 93 hotels and 17,040 rooms, then Accor (73 hotels, 15,013 rooms), and IHG (40 hotels, 7,951 rooms). Radisson Hotel Group, TUI Hotels & Resorts, The Ascott, Wyndham, Kerten, and Barceló Hotels & Resorts also feature prominently.

Interestingly, Hilton added more rooms to its pipeline than Marriott in 2024, with higher percentage growth. Barceló Hotels & Resorts recorded the highest growth rate, more than doubling its room count to 2,193.

Three major trends are shaping the market. First, actual hotel openings increased from 21% in 2023 to 38% in 2024. While this is below the 75% achieved in 2019, it shows recovery from COVID-19’s negative impact on hospitality. Second, resorts are growing faster than city hotels, both in number and size—210 rooms on average compared to 170 in cities. Almost half of the hotels opened in the last year were resorts, highlighting a growing interest in leisure tourism. Third, more hotel chains are shifting to franchise models, with 108 franchise projects making up 19% of developments.

This shift is supported by experienced white-label operators like Aleph and Valor Hospitality, and some African-owned firms. In Nigeria and Kenya, local operators are increasing confidence in meeting international brand standards. The full report will be unpacked at FHS Africa, holding June 17–19 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Managing Director of the Bench, Matthew Weihs, noted that the data signals Africa’s growing tourism and economic strength.” The growth in hotel development across Africa is a testament to the continent’s economic and tourism potential. Furthermore, the commitment from the international hotel chains makes it clear that global players see Africa as a strategic opportunity.”

Managing Director of W Hospitality Group, Trevor Ward, said that 125 hotel deals with 21,000 rooms were signed in 2024 alone. “Despite the various trials that the continent faces, the fact that hotel chains signed 125 new deals last year, with 21,000 rooms, is evidence that opportunities for further development abound. According to the Global Cities Institute, by the year 2100, 10 of the world’s 16 largest cities will be in Africa, with all but one of them (Cairo) in sub-Saharan Africa. So, one might say that development activity in Africa has barely scratched the surface.”