Africa’s hospitality sector is entering a new growth phase, with hotel construction accelerating across the continent as tourism, business travel, and urban development continue to expand.

According to the Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa 2026 report by W Hospitality Group, the continent’s top hotel development markets account for 504 hotel projects with a combined pipeline of 97,878 rooms. Of this total, 54,742 rooms, representing about 56% of the pipeline, are already under construction.

The renewed construction momentum is underpinned by improving travel demand in Africa’s tourism economy.

Africa recorded an 8% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2025 compared with 2024, the strongest growth rate globally, according to UN Tourism.

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The agency’s World Tourism Barometer shows the continent welcomed about 81 million international tourists in 2025.

Investors and global hotel brands are increasingly betting on Africa, from luxury resorts to business hotels.

Nairametrics reported on some of West Africa’s largest hotels, which include major hospitality landmarks like Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Rock City Hotel in Ghana, and Eko Hotels & Suites, which rank among the region’s biggest properties in terms of total room inventory.

Together, these top ten countries account for about 79% of all hotel rooms currently planned or being built in Africa, showing that most hotel investment on the continent is happening in a few fast-growing destinations.

Here are the top 10 African countries leading hotel construction projects by number of pipeline rooms. 

Ghana – 3,942 rooms

 

Ghana rounds out the top ten African hotel development markets with 26 hotel projects totaling 3,942 pipeline rooms. The country has 2,196 rooms, representing about 55.7% of the pipeline, currently under construction.

Most hotel projects are concentrated in Accra, the country’s commercial and tourism hub, as well as emerging destinations such as Takoradi and Kumasi.

Hotels are dominated by local giants Southern Sun, Sun International, and City Lodge Hotel Group, alongside international players like Marriott (via Protea Hotels), Hilton, Accor, and Radisson.

Tourism growth has also supported the expansion of hotel infrastructure, with the country recording 1,288,804 international tourist arrivals in 2024, representing a 12% increase from the previous year, according to official tourism data.

International arrivals are expected to rise by about 3% to 5% in 2025 compared with 2024, based on preliminary estimates from UN Tourism.

South Africa – 4,136 rooms

 

South Africa has 31 hotel projects in its development pipeline totaling 4,136 rooms, with a steady construction progress of 2,778 rooms, representing about 67.2% of the pipeline already on-site.

Hotel development activity is largely concentrated in major tourism and business hubs such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, where international hotel brands continue to expand their presence.

These cities serve as the country’s primary gateways for global travelers and host a mix of luxury resorts, conference hotels, and business-focused hospitality developments.

According to figures released by South Africa’s tourism authorities, the country welcomed about 10.5 million international tourists between January and December 2025, the highest number of arrivals on record and a strong rebound for the industry.

Several factors continue to drive visitor demand around its wildlife safaris, coastal destinations, wine regions, and cultural heritage sites, alongside well-developed transport and hospitality infrastructure.

Tanzania – 4,159 rooms

 

Tanzania, one of Africa’s fastest-growing hospitality markets, has 29 hotel projects totaling 4,159 pipeline rooms. The country also shows one of the strongest execution rates on the list, with 3,222 rooms already under active construction.

Much of the new hotel development is concentrated in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and the northern safari circuit around Arusha, which serve as the country’s main tourism gateways.

These destinations support a mix of beach resorts, safari lodges, and business hotels that cater to both leisure travelers and international investors.

According to official figures from Tanzania’s tourism authorities, the country welcomed about 5.36 million tourists in 2024, breaking its target of attracting 5 million tourists by 2025.

The country’s tourism appeal is largely built around its globally renowned natural attractions, including Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, alongside beach tourism in Zanzibar.

Tunisia – 4,189 rooms

 

Tunisia ranks among Africa’s active hotel development markets with 15 hotel projects totaling 4,189 pipeline rooms. The country maintains a relatively strong pace of construction, with 2,673 rooms already onsite.

Most hotel developments are concentrated in Tunis, Hammamet, Sousse, and the island of Djerba, which serve as Tunisia’s primary tourism gateways. These destinations combine beach resorts and cultural attractions that draw both leisure travelers and international events.

According to figures released by Tunisia’s tourism authorities, the country surpassed 11 million tourists as of December 2025, marking one of the strongest tourism performances in its history.

The biggest hotel chains in Tunisia include local giants like El Mouradi Hotels and Magic Hotels & Resorts, along with international brands such as Iberostar, Radisson Hotel Group, and Vincci Hoteles.

Several factors continue to drive visitor demand, such as Tunisia’s Mediterranean coastline, historic sites such as Carthage, desert tourism in the Sahara, and cultural heritage cities.

Cape Verde– 4,328 rooms 

 

Cape Verde ranks sixth on the list with 17 hotel projects totaling 4,328 pipeline rooms. However, the island nation has a low construction activity among the top markets, with only 374 rooms currently under development

Despite the slower pace of project execution, Cape Verde continues to attract interest from international hospitality investors due to its strong tourism fundamentals.

The country has become one of Africa’s fastest-growing island tourism destinations, with large resort developments typically concentrated on Sal and Boa Vista islands, where most international flights and beachfront resorts are located.

According to the World Bank report, the country’s tourist arrivals grew by 16.5%, recording around 1.18 million tourist arrivals in 2024.

Much of this visitor traffic comes from European markets, particularly the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal, with tourists drawn by the archipelago’s year-round warm climate, beach resorts, and growing reputation as an affordable alternative to Caribbean island destinations.

Large resort developments have played a major role in shaping Cape Verde’s hospitality sector, with hotel groups like RIU Hotels & Resorts, Meliá Hotels International, Hilton, and Barceló Hotel Group catering to international leisure travelers in the country.

Ethiopia – 5,964 rooms

 

Ethiopia ranks fifth among Africa’s largest hotel development markets, with 34 hotel projects representing a pipeline of 5,964 rooms.

About 4,768 rooms are already under construction, giving Ethiopia the highest construction progress rate among the continent’s major hotel markets.

Global operators, including Marriott International, Hilton, Radisson Hotel Group, and Accor, are expanding their presence, while new developments are also being supported by domestic hospitality investments and mixed-use real estate projects.

Much of the hotel development activity is concentrated in Addis Ababa, the country’s capital and diplomatic hub, which hosts the African Union headquarters and numerous international organizations, creating steady demand for business and conference accommodation.

According to city authorities, 699,761 foreign tourists visited Addis Ababa during the first six months of the Ethiopian fiscal year that began on July 8, 2025, marking a 15% increase compared with the same period in the previous year.

Kenya – 6,190 rooms

 

Kenya ranks fourth among Africa’s leading hotel development markets, with 35 hotel projects representing a combined pipeline of 6,190 rooms.

The country stands out for its strong execution momentum, with 4,922 rooms already under construction, giving it one of the highest construction ratios on the continent.

Much of this growth is supported by the expansion of international hotel brands, including Marriott International and IHG Hotels & Resorts, and others, which are strengthening their presence across East Africa.

Hotel development is largely concentrated in Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa, alongside safari tourism gateways near the Maasai Mara and other wildlife reserves.

In 2024, according to June Chepkemei, the CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board, Kenya’s tourism numbers hit a high of 2.5 million arrivals in 2024, with expectations of 3 million international visitors in 2025.

The country’s tourism appeal is anchored on its globally recognised wildlife safaris, national parks such as the Maasai Mara, and beach destinations along the Indian Ocean, which continue to attract visitors from Europe, North America, and emerging markets.

Nigeria – 8,480 rooms

 

Giant of Africa, Nigeria ranks third among Africa’s leading hotel development markets, with 57 hotel projects representing 8,480 pipeline rooms.

However, the country’s execution rate is relatively slower compared with some other markets, with about 3,328 rooms currently under construction. A  significant share of projects remains in the planning or early development stages.

The pipeline is largely driven by expansion from major international hotel brands, including Marriott International, Sheraton, Radisson Hotel Group, amongst others, in the country’s commercial hubs, Lagos and Abuja.

Nigeria recorded 1.2 million international visitors in 2023, with over 1.29 million international visitor arrivals in 2024. Within this, Lagos alone, the primary gateway for international visitors and business travellers, received 18,273 international tourists in 2024, up from 16,798 in 2023 and 14,357 in 2022.

Several factors continue to drive hospitality demand in Nigeria, such as the seasonal diaspora travel, the annual “Detty December” festivities that draw visitors from across the world, cultural tourism and entertainment.

Morocco – 10,606 rooms

 

Morocco ranks second among Africa’s largest hotel development markets, with 75 hotel projects representing 10,606 pipeline rooms.

The country also stands out for its strong execution rate, with 6,859 rooms already under construction, representing about 64.7% of the total pipeline.

Much of this pipeline is being driven by the expansion of major international hotel brands, including Marriott International, Hilton, Accor, amongst others.

Hotel development in Morocco is heavily concentrated in Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, and the coastal tourism hubs along the Atlantic. Marrakech in particular has emerged as a flagship tourism city, combining luxury resorts, cultural attractions, and large-scale conference facilities.

The country welcomed about 19.8 million international tourists in 2025, marking a 14% increase compared with the previous year and the highest level on record, according to official tourism data.

Egypt – 45,984 rooms

Egypt leads Africa’s hotel construction pipeline by a wide margin, becoming the continent’s largest hospitality development market.

The country currently has 185 hotel projects with a combined 45,984 rooms, accounting for more than one-third of Africa’s entire hotel pipeline. Of this total, 23,622 rooms are already under construction.

Much of this growth is being driven by the rapid expansion of global hotel brands, including Marriott International, Accor, Radisson Hotel Group, and IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Development activity is heavily concentrated in major tourism and commercial hubs such as Cairo, Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada, and the Red Sea resort corridor, which remain the country’s primary gateways for international visitors.

Tourism growth has played a major role in sustaining this construction boom. Egypt welcomed about 19 million international tourists in 2025, marking a 21% increase compared with 2024, well above global tourism growth trends

Several factors are driving this surge in visitor numbers. Egypt’s globally recognised historical attractions, including the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor, and Nile cruise tourism, continue to draw cultural tourists, as well as the beach destinations along the Red Sea.