Africa’s hotel sector is experiencing significant growth in 2025, driven by investor confidence, expanding tourism, and the strategic ambitions of hotel chains across the continent.

According to the 2025 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report by W Hospitality Group, a total of 577 new hotels and 104,444 rooms are currently in the development pipeline, a 13.3% increase over the previous year.

The hotel chain development pipeline refers to the total number of hotel projects being planned, built, or prepared for opening by major hospitality brands.

A strong pipeline is now viewed as a highly desirable asset for African nations seeking to position themselves for long-term commercial and tourism growth.

Hotel development activity has been recorded in 42 African countries, with West Africa leading the way, 13 of its 16 countries have projects in the pipeline.

The Southern and Indian Ocean region follows, with 12 countries involved.

This year, Comoros and Somalia were added to the list of countries hosting hotel chain developments.

According to the report, Egypt holds the top position with 143 hotels, 33,926 rooms, and an average property size of 237 rooms.

Egypt now accounts for 32.5% of all rooms in the pipeline, up from 28% last year, and has four times as many rooms as second-place Morocco.

Morocco ranks second with 58 hotels, 8,579 rooms, and an average of 148 rooms per hotel.

While it dropped one place in the ranking, its pipeline has continued to grow, particularly in Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier.

Nigeria, which was in second place last year, now ranks third with 48 hotels, 7,320 rooms, and an average size of 153 rooms.

Only five new hotel agreements were signed in Nigeria over the past year, compared to 13 in Morocco.

Ethiopia has returned to growth after a previous decline and is now in fourth place with 33 hotels, 5,648 rooms, and an average hotel size of 171 rooms.

The report attributes this rebound in part to six new hotel openings that added more than 700 rooms.

In fifth place is Cape Verde, with 16 hotels, 5,565 rooms, and the highest average room size among the top 10 at 348 rooms per hotel.

Kenya ranks sixth with 26 hotels, 4,344 rooms, and an average of 167 rooms.

Tunisia follows closely in seventh with 17 hotels, 4,336 rooms, and an average hotel size of 255 rooms.

South Africa, a well-established player in the hospitality market, ranks eighth with 28 hotels, 4,076 rooms, and an average size of 146 rooms.

Tanzania takes the ninth spot with 29 hotels, 3,432 rooms, and an average of 118 rooms.

The country has seen notable percentage growth, with 18 agreements signed in the past two years, seven in Zanzibar, where resorts average 151 rooms, and another seven in national parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro, with smaller lodges averaging 23 rooms each.

Finally, Ghana ranks tenth with 22 hotels, 3,125 rooms, and an average of 142 rooms per property.

The report highlights that many African countries continue to experience steady year-on-year growth in hotel pipeline development, underlining the continent’s long-term potential as a competitive and attractive destination for global hospitality brands.