Africa Attracting Investments by Major Hotel Companies

Lagos, Nigeria-based W Hospitality Group released research that shows extensive investment in Africa by major hotel companies. In total, 208 new hotels with more than 38,000 rooms are planned to come into the market in the next five years.

There will be 63 new hotels with 9,612 rooms in 2012, 55 hotels with 9,356 rooms in 2013, 57 hotels with 12,296 rooms in 2014, 30 hotels with 6,060 rooms in 2015 and hotels with 750 rooms in 2016.

Overall, this represents an increase in capacity of 30 percent over the existing base. Of the total number of rooms in the pipelines, 55 percent are under construction, the balance in the planning and design phase.

The country receiving the greatest attention from investors is Nigeria, where 43 hotels with 6,808 rooms are planned. It is followed by Morocco, with 35 hotels and 5,809 rooms, and Egypt, with 19 new hotels and 5,923 rooms.

The next countries on the list are Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana and Gabon. Despite the recent problems there, Libya also features in the top 10, where three hotels with 1,000 rooms are planned. Of the major hotel chains, Accor is the leader, by a fair distance, with a pipeline of 36 hotels and 5,982 rooms.

It is followed by Carlson Rezidor with 25 hotels and 5,337 rooms; Hilton, with 11 hotels and 3,380 rooms; IHG with 9 hotels and 2,885 rooms; Marriott with 14 hotels and 2,512 rooms; Mövenpick, with 12 hotels and 2,182 rooms; and Starwood with 6 hotels and 2,140 rooms.