Africa continues to attract strong hospitality investment, driven by growing tourism, expanding cities, and increasing hotel development projects across the continent.
According to nairametrics, 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.
- Ain Sokhna, Egypt – 3,071 rooms
Ain Sokhna, one of Egypt’s prominent Red Sea resort destinations, ranks tenth among Africa’s top cities and resorts for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 15 hotel projects totaling 3,071 rooms.
While the resort has more planned projects than Marsa Alam, its developments average significantly fewer rooms per property.
Kerten Hospitality leads Ain Sokhna’s pipeline with seven projects accounting for 1,025 rooms, while other developments are spread across major global chains including Accor, H World, IHG, JAZ Hotel Group, Marriott International, and Radisson Hotel Group.
Despite its sizeable hospitality pipeline, several projects were signed as far back as 2018 and 2019, making Ain Sokhna’s development cycle older than many competing resort markets. Only 24% of its planned rooms are scheduled to open in 2026 and 2027
- Zanzibar, Tanzania – 3,319 rooms
Zanzibar, Tanzania’s globally recognized island resort destination, ranks ninth among Africa’s top cities and resorts for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 3,319 rooms in the development pipeline. The island continues to attract significant hospitality investment as its tourism profile expands.
Nine new resorts totaling 1,618 rooms are scheduled to open in 2026, while an additional four projects with 806 rooms are expected in 2027.
Luxury developments from brands such as ENVI Lodges, Four Seasons, and House Residence by Kerten Hospitality are among the major additions shaping Zanzibar’s premium hospitality market.
By the end of 2027, about 73% of Zanzibar’s total hotel pipeline is scheduled to become operational, reinforcing its position as one of Africa’s fastest-growing resort markets.
- Casablanca, Morocco – 3,335 rooms
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
- Accra, Ghana – 3,443 rooms
Accra, Ghana’s capital city, ranks seventh among Africa’s top cities for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 3,443 rooms in its development pipeline. The city has continued to attract significant hospitality interest in recent years, supported by improving macroeconomic conditions, including easing inflation and a stronger currency performance.
Hilton and Marriott International jointly account for nearly 60% of Accra’s pipeline, with five properties each, including three Hilton developments currently under construction. The market is also seeing entries from newer players in West Africa such as CityBlue Hotels, Eurostars Hotel Group, and Rotana, which collectively contribute several projects to the pipeline.
About 45% of Accra’s planned hotel rooms are scheduled to open by the end of 2027, while 28% of the pipeline remains listed as “to be confirmed,” reflecting some uncertainty in delivery timelines.
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 3,573 rooms
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and widely regarded as Africa’s diplomatic capital, ranks sixth among Africa’s top cities for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 3,573 rooms across 19 hotel projects. The city also stands as the third-largest diplomatic hub globally, after New York and Geneva, supporting steady demand for international hospitality infrastructure.
Only one new deal was signed in 2025, by Leva, highlighting a relatively concentrated recent signing activity compared to other markets. Marriott International leads expansion activity with five of the planned properties.
About 60% of Addis Ababa’s pipeline is scheduled to open in 2026 and 2027, while around 30% of the rooms have unspecified opening dates, the highest share of “to be confirmed” timelines among the top 10 cities and resorts.
- Nairobi, Kenya – 3,650 rooms
Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, ranks fifth among Africa’s top cities for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 3,650 rooms in its development pipeline. The city has recorded a strong rebound in hotel development activity after a period of slower growth, driven by a wave of new signings over the past two years.
CityBlue Hotels leads activity in Nairobi with seven of the 20 pipeline deals, most of which were signed in 2025, and four are scheduled for opening in 2026. Hilton also features a property under its Tapestry Collection, while Marriott International has developments under its Protea and Courtyard brands slated for launch.
Overall, about 57% of Nairobi’s pipeline is expected to open by the end of 2027, reinforcing the city’s position as a key East African hospitality and business hub.
- Marsa Alam, Egypt – 3,769 rooms
Marsa Alam, a purpose-built resort town on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, ranks fourth among Africa’s top cities and resorts for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 3,769 rooms across 14 resort projects. The destination continues to expand rapidly as a dedicated leisure hub within Egypt’s broader Red Sea tourism corridor.
JAZ Hotel Group leads development activity in Marsa Alam with five projects, while Hilton follows with four. Marriott International has two projects in the pipeline, alongside single developments from Radisson Hotel Group, IHG, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
More than half of the planned rooms—about 53%—are scheduled to open in 2026 and 2027, while the pipeline remains relatively recent, with only two of the 14 projects signed more than four years ago.
- Lagos, Nigeria – 4,250 rooms
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, ranks third among Africa’s top cities for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 4,250 rooms in its development pipeline. Like Cairo, the city functions as a collection of interconnected urban centres that continue to merge, each with distinct demand profiles driven by business, leisure, and transit activity.
Marriott International leads Lagos’ pipeline with eight deals, followed by Accor with five projects. Hilton and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts each contribute three developments, reflecting the city’s broad mix of global hotel brands.
Several expected openings—including Hyatt Regency, Best Western Plus, Ibis Lekki, and Citadines—are anticipated in 2026, following a period with limited branded hotel openings in the city. About 60% of Lagos’ pipeline is scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027, reinforcing its position as West Africa’s leading hospitality investment hub.
- Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt – 4,851 rooms
Sharm El Sheikh, one of Africa’s leading resort destinations, ranks second among the continent’s top cities and resorts for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 4,851 rooms in its development pipeline. Located at the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula along the Red Sea coast, the resort continues to attract large-scale luxury hospitality investments.
The pipeline is made up of just nine deals, but with significantly larger resort developments compared to other destinations. Accor dominates activity in Sharm El Sheikh, with seven of the nine projects, and nearly 90% of the rooms operating under its brands, largely in the luxury and upper upscale segments.
Hilton and IHG each contribute one resort to the pipeline, while almost the entire development slate is expected to open by the end of 2027, reinforcing the destination’s position as a high-end leisure hub.
- Cairo, Egypt – 22,111 rooms
Cairo, Africa’s largest hospitality development market, ranks first among the continent’s top cities and resorts for planned hotel rooms in 2026, with 22,111 rooms in its development pipeline. The city competes closely with Lagos in scale and is made up of multiple expanding urban clusters, including New Cairo, a rapidly growing satellite city in its own right.
Major global hotel chains dominate Cairo’s pipeline, with Accor leading at 28 hotels, followed by Marriott International with 20, Hilton with 18, and IHG with 14. Together, these four groups account for about 16,400 rooms, highlighting the city’s strong concentration of international brands.
A total of 21 new deals were signed in 2025, with more than half coming from Accor and Hilton, while Minor Hotels and Hyatt also expanded their footprint in the market. About 40% of Cairo’s planned rooms are scheduled to open in 2026 and 2027, reinforcing its position as Africa’s largest and most active hotel development hub.
