The number of branded hotels in the African market is set to increase. According to a report from W Hospitality Group, Carlson Rezidor’s Radisson Blu brand has the most hotels in the pipeline (22 units), Hilton has 16 units, and Marriott has 11 units in the pipeline. Historically in Africa, financial and security constraints have often meant that projects in development are halted before they come to life. Despite this, there are clear intentions from major brands to enter new regions across Africa.
In this briefing hospitality industry executives discuss the hospitality market in Africa:
A special Market Report on Central Africa from Horwath HTL also states that, ‘more diversified global brands plan to enter the market’. According to the report 2,900 rooms are in the pipeline in Central Africa. This report also found that there has been an increase in business travel in this region.
Radisson Blu’s latest development is a hotel in N’Djamena, Chad. It will have 171 rooms, a health club, and conference facilities, and is due to open later this year.
Last month Hilton Worldwide announced an agreement to open its first hotel in Swaziland. The new hotel will be a Hilton Garden Inn and will be located in Mbabane. It will have 130 rooms and a dedicated event space.
Marriott International has plans to increase its presence in Africa. By 2020 it aims to have 150 properties with 19,000 rooms across 17 markets.
Current projections from the IMF’s World Economic Outlook say that GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa will be 4.4 this year, and in Nigeria will be 1.5. This indicates a slow-down in growth.
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Video clips produced by yBC for the Hospitality Channel, including interview from industry conferences such as the IHIF conference as well as specific Hospitality Channel shoots.
