Africa’s hospitality industry is undergoing a significant transformation, fuelled by a wave of investment from international hotel giants and regional stakeholders seeking to expand their footprint across the continent. The Future Hospitality Summit held in Cape Town this week showcased this momentum, with major players unveiling strategic partnerships and ambitious development pipelines that signal a renewed confidence in Africa’s tourism and travel infrastructure.
One of the most notable announcements came from African Hotel Development, the parent company of the ONOMO hotel brand, which confirmed the transfer of management for 26 hotels across 15 African countries to Dubai-based Aleph Hospitality. The deal, which includes five hotels still under construction, represents a portfolio of 3,400 rooms in key markets such as South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire. It is considered the continent’s largest ever transition from a managed to a franchised hotel portfolio.
Effective 1 September, Aleph Hospitality will assume operational control, marking a critical milestone in its longstanding objective to manage 50 properties by the end of 2025. The company will bolster its regional presence through the establishment of four new offices, including one in Cape Town to support its South African properties in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Additional offices will be opened in Nairobi, Casablanca and Abidjan.
Neil George, Partner and Executive Director at Aleph Hospitality, emphasised the group’s strategy of decentralised management: “We are not doing remote control management, which is something we are allergic to. We’re on the ground and provide the portfolio with the kind of support and management that they deserve.”
Julien Renaud, CEO of African Hotel Development, noted that this strategic realignment is part of a broader plan to separate operational management from ownership and brand development. “When it comes to brand development, we are super ambitious and want to double our portfolio over the next five years. Aleph plays a great role in this, having to take over operations, which is basically the guest experience,” he said.
In a parallel development, Hilton announced its intention to triple its presence in Africa to more than 160 properties, with over 100 new hotels planned over the coming years. Notably, Hilton will enter Angola with three properties comprising more than 700 rooms scheduled to open by 2028. Further expansion includes re-entries into Tanzania and new signings in Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia, with a strong emphasis on North African markets.
Marriott International also revealed a robust expansion plan, with over 50 new properties and more than 9,000 rooms projected by 2027. The hotel group will enter five new African markets: Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar and Mauritania. It also aims to scale its operations in countries with growing demand such as Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania and Nigeria. According to Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Marriott, the company is responding to “a transformation of Africa’s tourism sector, driven by visionary government agendas, substantial infrastructure development, enhanced regional and international connectivity, and diversified travel experiences.”
Meanwhile, Valor Hospitality Partners declared its entry into West Africa through two new signings in Nigeria and Senegal. These properties, operating under franchise agreements with IHG Hotels & Resorts, represent a combined investment exceeding R540 million. This move expands Valor’s African portfolio to 15 hotels and reinforces its commitment to delivering integrated management solutions across emerging markets. Michael Pownall, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Valor, highlighted that these deals mark “an incredible frontier for the adoption of fully integrated management services.”
Collectively, these developments illustrate a powerful convergence of international confidence, regional ambition and improved infrastructure underpinning Africa’s evolving tourism and hospitality landscape. With global brands aligning their growth strategies with Africa’s dynamic economic and demographic shifts, the continent is poised to become a key frontier in the global hotel investment arena.
