By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

Two of the world’s preeminent hotel companies, Hilton and Marriott International, have each unveiled extensive plans for expansion across the African continent, signalling a robust vote of confidence in the region’s burgeoning tourism and hospitality sectors. These strategic announcements, made this Wednesday at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa 2025 in Cape Town, highlight a determined effort by global players to capitalize on Africa’s accelerating economic development and the surging demand for quality accommodation.

Marriott International, a well-established presence in Africa, revealed its strategy to add over 50 new hotels, contributing more than 9,000 rooms, to its existing African portfolio by the close of 2027. This significant expansion includes the brand’s debut in five new African markets: Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Mauritania. Marriott has pinpointed key growth nations such as Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria, anticipating that these countries will account for more than half of its projected openings. Furthermore, the company is prioritizing the expansion of its luxury safari lodge collection, catering to the continent’s high-end experiential tourism market.

In a parallel move, Hilton outlined an even more dramatic scale of growth. The hospitality giant aims to nearly triple its current footprint in Africa, setting a target of over 160 hotels operating across the continent in the coming years, a substantial increase from its present 63 properties. This ambitious initiative involves the launch of more than 100 new hotels, with plans for maiden entries into Angola, Ghana, and Benin, alongside a re-entry into the markets of Madagascar and Tanzania. Hilton projects that this substantial expansion will be a catalyst for economic growth, creating an estimated 18,000 new job opportunities throughout the continent.

Both hotel groups underscored Africa’s dynamic demographic shifts, the increasing volume of intra-African travel, and the rising influx of international visitors as pivotal factors driving their investment decisions. The planned expansions are poised to introduce a diverse array of brands and hospitality experiences, spanning from luxurious full-service establishments to extended-stay and more focused-service properties, designed to meet the needs of a wide spectrum of travelers. This concentrated investment by Hilton and Marriott reflects a broader industry recognition of Africa as a crucial frontier for future hospitality development.