Africa remains one of the most active hospitality investment frontiers globally, supported by rising tourism demand, expanding urban economies, and a growing pipeline of branded hotel developments across the continent.
At the start of 2026, Africa’s hotel chain development pipeline stood at 675 hotels and 123,846 rooms, an 18.6% increase year-on-year, according to the Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa 2026 report by W Hospitality Group.
The analysis draws on signed development deals submitted in early 2026 by 53 regional and international hotel chains operating across Africa, as well as global groups with multi-country footprints.
For consistency, it excludes purely domestic hotel operators active in only one African market.
The coverage spans all 54 African countries, including North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and key island markets in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, offering a comparable view of where future hotel supply is concentrated across both major cities and resort destinations.
Casablanca, Morocco’s commercial capital, ranks eighth among Africa’s top cities and resorts for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 3,335 rooms in its development pipeline. The city accounts for roughly one-third of Morocco’s total hotel pipeline, reflecting its growing appeal as both a business and tourism destination.
Nearly 70% of Casablanca’s planned hotel rooms are scheduled to open between 2026 and 2027, with 18 new hotels expected to enter the market by the end of that period. This marks a sharp increase from the four hotels that opened in 2025.
The city’s hospitality expansion also includes Spain’s Eurostars Hotel Group’s entry into Africa through its Eurostars and Exe brands, further strengthening Casablanca’s international hotel presence.
