Africa’s Hotel Development Surges with Over 100,000 New Rooms Planned by 2026
Africa’s hotel sector is booming with 104K new rooms by 2026—Cairo, Lagos, and Sharm El Sheikh lead growth, fueled by Marriott and Hilton.
Munni Khatun 
June 19, 2025: Africa is experiencing a massive hotel development boom, with over 104,000 new hotel rooms set to open across the continent by the end of 2026. This rapid growth reflects the region’s rising popularity as a global tourism and business destination.
Cairo leads the way, with nearly 18,000 rooms in the pipeline, followed by hotspots like Sharm El Sheikh, Lagos, and Addis Ababa. A significant portion of these rooms are in resort-style properties designed to cater to international travelers seeking leisure, wellness, and beachside experiences.
Several top hotel chains are fueling the expansion:
Marriott International tops the list with 165 new hotels planned, totaling over 29,000 rooms.
Hilton follows with 93 hotels and more than 17,000 rooms.
Accor, IHG, Radisson, and Wyndham are also actively investing across North, West, and East Africa.
Experts say this surge is being driven by infrastructure improvements, growing middle-class travel demand, and government-backed tourism initiatives. The balance between urban business hotels and luxury coastal resorts reflects a diverse investment strategy targeting both corporate and holiday travelers.
