10 African countries ripe for new hotel development

Africa has increasingly become a major key market for hotel expansion in recent years. More developers are taking advantage of the demand for hotel rooms in this region by including Africa in their active pipelines.

This is especially true for hotel group Hilton. It recently set up shop in Africa with its office dedicated to hotel construction in this region. The company is particularly set on growing its presence in the continent, especially in North Africa.

This growing market has its mixture of opportunities and challenges. However, Africa’s new hotel construction pipeline has taken a positive turn toward success in recent years, according to the TOPHOTELPROJECTS database.

The database reports that 336 new hotel construction projects are currently underway throughout many African countries. Once these hotels are completed, they will add 88,524 guestrooms to Africa. The data proves that any brand needs to add African locations in order to ensure the spread of its global presence.

Here are the top 10 African countries for hotel development based on projects currently in construction:

1. Egypt

Egypt has become the leader for new hotel construction projects in Africa. It currently has 53 projects in construction.

2. Morocco

Morocco currently has 50 hotel projects under construction, making it easy to surpass Egypt in the coming months. The fact that Hilton established its new development office in Casablanca may prove the country’s viability in the global hospitality industry.

3. Nigeria

This country’s 34 projects in construction show that interest here is sharply rebounding.

4. Kenya

Kenya has 24 new hotel projects currently underway, bringing it to fourth place.

5. Ethiopia

In fifth comes Ethiopia with 23 hotels under construction.  

6. South Africa

South Africa, with its 16 hotels projects underway, has been one of the best positioned countries for tourism in all of Africa. Its natural beauty has been known to attract outdoor thrill seekers from across the globe.

7. Algeria

This country had 12 new hotels under construction.

8. Cape Verde

Cape Verde is tied with Algeria as it has 12 new hotels underway also.

9. Tanzania

Coming in at number nine, Tanzania has 11 hotel projects under construction.

10. Tunisia

Tunisia, the final country, has 10 hotel projects underway.