Africa’s hotel industry is in the middle of a construction boom over the next two to three years, and the numbers tell a compelling story.
Global chains from Marriott to Hilton are accelerating their push into the continent, betting that rising incomes, stronger air links, and government-backed tourism drives will sustain demand for new rooms between 2025 to 2027 or 2028.
Project data reviewed for 2025 shows that some cities are pulling far ahead. Measured by anticipated hotel rooms signed and under development.
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The pace of development reflects both ambition and risk. While projects are announced with fanfare, delays and financing snags are common, meaning not every room in the pipeline will open on schedule. Yet the concentration of deals in certain cities underlines where investors and hotel operators see long-term opportunity.
For Africa’s largest economies, expanding hotel capacity is more than a play for tourist dollars. It’s about building infrastructure for trade, and regional integration.
Here are the ten African cities with the highest number of luxury hotel projects in 2025 according to the W Hospitality Group report 2025.
No of projects: 21
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, is often described as an economy in its own right — larger than that of many African countries. The city’s hotel pipeline reflects its scale and demand, dominated by Marriott International, which has eight projects totaling more than 1,200 rooms. Accor follows with five hotels in development, while Radisson Hotel Group and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts each have three, and Hilton has two. Several long-anticipated projects, including a Hyatt Regency, Best Western Plus and The Ascott’s Citadines, are expected to finally open in 2025.
I think Owerri, the capital city of Imo State, Nigeria should be included among the cities with the highest number of hotels rooms.in Africa.