Africa's Hotel Development Pipeline Hits Record Highs With 577 Projects Underway

A new report from the W Hospitality Group reveals an unprecedented surge in the hotel development pipeline across Africa , providing a beacon of hope for the continent's tourism and hospitality sectors.

The 2024 Hotel Development Pipeline Report indicates a total of 577 hotels and resorts are under development, offering a staggering 104,444 roomsan impressive 13.3 increase from the previous year. This significant growth stands in stark contrast to the single-digit increases seen in global hotel pipelines.

The report, compiled with data from 50 international and regional hotel chains, also highlights a remarkable expansion in North Africa, which has experienced a 23 year-on-year increase in hotel development compared to a 6 increase in sub-Saharan Africa.

Over the past five years, the pipeline has grown at an annualised rate of 12 in North Africa and 4 in sub-Saharan Africa, illustrating a burgeoning interest in hospitality investments across the continent.

Leading the charge is Egypt, which dominates the hotel market with 143 hotels and 33,926 planned rooms. This astounding figure is almost four times the number of rooms in Morocco, the second-largest player, with 8,579 rooms across 58 hotels.