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Africa’s Hospitality Boom: Global Hotel Giants Bet Big on the Continent’s Tourism Revival

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A standout announcement came from African Hotel Development, parent company of the ONOMO hotel brand. The group revealed the transfer of management for 26 hotels across 15 African countries to Dubai-based Aleph Hospitality. This portfolio—spanning 3,400 rooms in markets such as South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Côte d’Ivoire—includes five hotels still under construction. The deal marks Africa’s largest-ever transition from a managed to a franchised hotel portfolio.

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Africa’s hospitality industry is undergoing a major transformation, driven by a surge in investment from global hotel chains and regional players aiming to expand their footprint across the continent. This momentum was evident at the Future Hospitality Summit in Cape Town this week, where leading industry stakeholders announced strategic alliances and ambitious development plans that reflect renewed confidence in Africa’s tourism infrastructure.

A standout announcement came from African Hotel Development, parent company of the ONOMO hotel brand. The group revealed the transfer of management for 26 hotels across 15 African countries to Dubai-based Aleph Hospitality. This portfolio—spanning 3,400 rooms in markets such as South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Côte d’Ivoire—includes five hotels still under construction. The deal marks Africa’s largest-ever transition from a managed to a franchised hotel portfolio.

Effective 1 September, Aleph Hospitality will take over operations, advancing its goal of managing 50 properties by the end of 2025. To support this expansion, Aleph will open four regional offices in Cape Town, Nairobi, Casablanca, and Abidjan, further embedding its decentralised management model. “We’re not into remote-control management. We believe in being on the ground and delivering the operational support these properties need,” said Neil George, Partner and Executive Director at Aleph Hospitality.

Julien Renaud, CEO of African Hotel Development, emphasised the group’s strategic focus on separating operational management from ownership and brand growth. “We have bold plans to double our portfolio in the next five years, and Aleph is essential to delivering the guest experience as we scale.”

Other global brands are making similarly bold moves. Hilton announced plans to triple its footprint in Africa, aiming to grow to more than 160 properties. This includes entering Angola with three new hotels totalling over 700 rooms by 2028, along with re-entries into Tanzania and fresh signings in Nigeria, Ghana, and Ethiopia, especially targeting the North African market.

Marriott International is also expanding aggressively, with plans to open over 50 new hotels and add more than 9,000 rooms across Africa by 2027. New market entries include Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and Mauritania. Marriott’s strategy also targets growth in high-demand countries like Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania, and Nigeria.

“We’re responding to a transformation of Africa’s tourism sector, powered by forward-looking government policies, infrastructure investments, and increasing regional and international connectivity,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Marriott.

Meanwhile, Valor Hospitality Partners is entering West Africa with two new hotels in Nigeria and Senegal under franchise agreements with IHG Hotels & Resorts. Representing a combined investment of over R540 million, these properties bring Valor’s African portfolio to 15 and underscore its commitment to delivering integrated hospitality management in emerging markets. “This marks an exciting frontier for fully integrated management solutions in Africa,” said Michael Pownall, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Valor.

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Together, these developments underscore a significant shift in Africa’s tourism and hospitality landscape. With global brands aligning their strategies to Africa’s economic growth and rising travel demand, the continent is rapidly becoming a focal point for international hotel investment and development.