Cape Town Leads Future Hospitality Summit Africa 2025 as a Trailblazer Shaping Africa’s Tourism and Investment Landscape with Rapid Growth and Lucrative Opportunities

Cape Town is set to take center stage at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa 2025, showcasing its rapid growth and emerging leadership in shaping the continent’s tourism and investment landscape. With a booming hospitality sector, unparalleled investment opportunities, and its strategic position as a premier business hub, Cape Town is leading the way in driving Africa’s tourism and real estate sectors forward. The summit will highlight the city’s significant role in attracting global investors, developers, and industry leaders eager to capitalize on its dynamic growth and lucrative prospects.

Cape Town, renowned as South Africa’s jewel along the southern coastline, continues to evolve as a major economic force on the African continent. With its burgeoning hospitality and real estate industries, the city has cemented its position as the top destination for both tourists and investors across Africa. The city’s dynamic growth sets the stage for the upcoming Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa, an influential platform set to take place from June 17-19, 2025, which is expected to showcase Cape Town’s ongoing evolution and draw top executives, investors, and policymakers from across the globe.

The city’s hotel sector has shown outstanding performance, with CoStar’s April 2025 figures revealing an occupancy rate of 72.5%, the highest in South Africa. Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) climbed by 20.1% year-on-year, reaching ZAR 2,286.63 and the Average Daily Rate (ADR) reached ZAR 3,145.96, up 17.7% on 2024. According to Philip Wooller, Area Director for the Middle East and Africa at CoStar. He said: “Cape Town’s performance reflects a powerful rebound in demand and a growing confidence in the city’s hospitality offerings. The consistent rise in both occupancy and RevPAR shows that Cape Town is not only back on the global travel radar—it’s commanding a premium.”

A Magnet for Investment and Economic Growth

Cape Town has long been regarded as an alluring destination, attracting not only tourists but also significant investments. The convergence of impressive natural beauty, a thriving tourism sector, and an ever-growing real estate market has placed Cape Town at the center of Africa’s economic and commercial spotlight. As one of the continent’s most vibrant and dynamic cities, Cape Town’s success is rooted in its strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and diverse tourism offerings, which continue to draw international visitors year after year.

Investors, particularly those in the hospitality and real estate sectors, have recognized the city’s potential, eager to capitalize on Cape Town’s expansive growth. When a destination like Cape Town experiences strong economic expansion, it becomes an attractive hub for investments and new developments. Consequently, Cape Town’s hospitality sector has seen significant growth in the number of international hotel chains and luxury resorts looking to expand their presence.

This investment-friendly environment creates a snowball effect—more money flows into the region, leading to increased business activity, new job opportunities, and even more investments. With major international brands setting up shop in Cape Town, the city has rapidly become an ideal market for global hotel operators, real estate developers, and even emerging technology businesses targeting the tourism and hospitality industries.

Impressive Performance of Cape Town’s Hospitality Sector

The city’s hospitality sector has consistently outperformed many of its counterparts, both regionally and nationally. In April 2025, Cape Town recorded an outstanding hotel occupancy rate of 64.6%, far exceeding the national average of 56.3%. This number demonstrates the ongoing attractiveness of the city as a preferred destination for both business and leisure travelers.

Additionally, Cape Town’s luxury hotels outperformed expectations, reaching an exceptional occupancy rate of 66.2% during the same period. This outpaced the hotel occupancy rates in other major South African cities such as Johannesburg and Durban, further cementing Cape Town’s place as the leading hospitality hub in the country.

Cape Town’s real estate market is experiencing a similar boom. In 2024/5, the average capital value of property reached R13,400/sqm, significantly higher than Johannesburg, and Pretoria. Wayne Godwin, CEO at JLL Africa, noted: “We’re seeing a convergence of factors driving the real estate upswing in Cape Town: a robust tourism pipeline, investor confidence, and a renewed focus on mixed-use and lifestyle-driven developments. The city’s appeal is both emotional and financial—it makes sense to visit, and increasingly, it makes sense to invest.”

These figures reflect the city’s ongoing attractiveness and enduring popularity. Cape Town’s hospitality sector has weathered the storms of global economic fluctuations, regional challenges, and industry-wide disruptions, continuing to experience strong demand from domestic and international tourists alike. With the tourism industry rebounding strongly post-pandemic, Cape Town’s resilience and growth offer a hopeful outlook for the future.

The Future Hospitality Summit Africa: A Premier Platform for Networking and Investment Opportunities

The Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa serves as a pivotal event for industry leaders, investors, developers, and policymakers who are keen to explore the latest trends, innovations, and investment opportunities in the hospitality sector. The Summit’s reputation as one of Africa’s most influential hospitality and tourism investment conferences has attracted a distinguished lineup of stakeholders from across the globe.

Held annually, FHS Africa plays a critical role in fostering new partnerships, offering a platform for idea exchange, and facilitating deals between top executives, hotel operators, and investors. This year’s Summit, taking place in Cape Town from June 17-19, is expected to see significant discussions around the future of hospitality in Africa, With a special emphasis on the trends that are set to influence the industry in the coming decade.

The FHS Africa’s agenda is extensive, tackling key issues such as hospitality finance, development, investment strategies, and capital markets. These are particularly crucial given the fast-changing landscape of the hospitality industry in Africa. With its growing importance, Cape Town is the perfect backdrop for such a high-profile event, further showcasing its capacity to host global conferences and draw influential figures in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

During the event, participants will also discuss the region’s pressing challenges, such as the need for sustainable tourism practices, innovative business models in hospitality, and strategies for attracting and retaining international guests. Attendees will be able to network and forge partnerships that could lead to groundbreaking new projects across the African continent.

“We’re seeing strong and sustained demand in Cape Town, driven by both international, and regional travel. This is creating meaningful opportunities for growth, particularly in the premium and luxury space. The anticipated addition of Morea House, Autograph Collection later this year reflects this momentum and the market’s appetite for distinctive, high-quality hospitality experiences,” said Karim Cheltout, Senior Vice President, Lodging Development at Marriott International, Middle East and Africa.

Andrew McLachlan, Founder & MD, Develop Hotels Inc (pictured), concluded: “Cape Town is buzzing — I’m tracking over 40 new hotel projects, from boutique stays, aparthotels to urban resorts. With global brands and bold independents circling, FHS Africa couldn’t be better timed to help investors, developers and owners align brand, business models and strategy for serious long-term value”  

Investment Opportunities in Cape Town’s Real Estate and Hospitality Sectors

One of the primary draws for investors to Cape Town is the city’s dynamic real estate sector. The city offers a unique combination of commercial, residential, and hospitality developments, making it a hotspot for international and local property developers. Real estate investments in Cape Town have seen strong returns in recent years, especially in high-end residential, mixed-use developments, and luxury hotel projects.

Cape Town’s real estate market is benefiting from a combination of factors, including its growing middle class, the influx of international businesses, and its standing as a prime tourist destination. The city’s real estate industry also stands to benefit from the rise of more sustainable development practices, with a growing demand for environmentally conscious construction and eco-friendly accommodations.

For those seeking long-term investments, the hospitality sector in Cape Town continues to promise strong returns, particularly for those targeting the upper-end of the market. Luxury properties, boutique hotels, and eco-lodges are especially sought after as both investors and travelers continue to prioritize quality and sustainability.

Cape Town is poised to lead the Future Hospitality Summit Africa 2025, showcasing its rapid growth, emerging as a key player in shaping Africa’s tourism and investment landscape with abundant opportunities.

The Road Ahead: Cape Town as Africa’s Hospitality and Investment Capital

Cape Town’s transformation into Africa’s premier destination for tourism and investment is only just beginning. The city is set to continue attracting new investments in hospitality, real estate, and infrastructure, further strengthening its status as the continent’s top destination for both leisure and business.

As Cape Town prepares to host the Future Hospitality Summit Africa, it will showcase its potential to the world, offering an unparalleled opportunity for stakeholders to connect and capitalize on the growing momentum of the city’s tourism and investment sectors. With its continued focus on innovation, sustainability, and growth, Cape Town is poised to remain at the forefront of Africa’s hospitality and real estate industries for years to come.

The Future Hospitality Summit Africa will undoubtedly play a key role in shaping the future of Cape Town’s hospitality landscape, reinforcing its place as a global tourism and investment hub. Whether through luxury properties, emerging technologies, or new investment strategies, the Summit is expected to bring together thought leaders and innovators eager to take the next steps in shaping the continent’s hospitality future.

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