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Africa’s hospitality sector is entering a new growth phase, with hotel construction accelerating across the continent as tourism, business travel, and urban development continue to expand.

According to the Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa 2026 report by W Hospitality Group, the continent’s top hotel development markets account for 504 hotel projects with a combined pipeline of 97,878 rooms. Of this total, 54,742 rooms, representing about 56% of the pipeline, are already under construction.

The renewed construction momentum is underpinned by improving travel demand in Africa’s tourism economy.

Africa recorded an 8% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2025 compared with 2024, the strongest growth rate globally, according to UN Tourism.

The agency’s World Tourism Barometer shows the continent welcomed about 81 million international tourists in 2025.

Investors and global hotel brands are increasingly betting on Africa, from luxury resorts to business hotels.

Nairametrics reported on some of West Africa’s largest hotels, which include major hospitality landmarks like Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Rock City Hotel in Ghana, and Eko Hotels & Suites, which rank among the region’s biggest properties in terms of total room inventory.

Together, these top ten countries account for about 79% of all hotel rooms currently planned or being built in Africa, showing that most hotel investment on the continent is happening in a few fast-growing destinations.

Here are the top 10 African countries leading hotel construction projects by number of pipeline rooms. 

Ghana rounds out the top ten African hotel development markets with 26 hotel projects totaling 3,942 pipeline rooms. The country has 2,196 rooms, representing about 55.7% of the pipeline, currently under construction.

Most hotel projects are concentrated in Accra, the country’s commercial and tourism hub, as well as emerging destinations such as Takoradi and Kumasi.

Hotels are dominated by local giants Southern Sun, Sun International, and City Lodge Hotel Group, alongside international players like Marriott (via Protea Hotels), Hilton, Accor, and Radisson.

Tourism growth has also supported the expansion of hotel infrastructure, with the country recording 1,288,804 international tourist arrivals in 2024, representing a 12% increase from the previous year, according to official tourism data.

International arrivals are expected to rise by about 3% to 5% in 2025 compared with 2024, based on preliminary estimates from UN Tourism.