Nairobi to host hospitality talks as Ethiopia tops table

September 26, 2018 in Business, Infrastructure, Investment, Real Estate & Property by Editor

September 26, 2018—Nairobi will next week host the 2018 Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), a gathering that brings together various people involved in the continent’s hospitality business with Ethiopia maintaining the regional spot for hotel development.

Being the headquarters of the African Union and other major international organizations has boosted demand for accommodation in Addis Ababa, up by 50 pc compared to last year.

Organized by London-based Bench Events, the talks in Nairobi between October 2 and 4 will dwell on driving investment in tourism projects, infrastructure and hotel development across Africa.

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s biggest and most profitable carrier, is also building a new $90 million structure in Addis Ababa that will feature an aviation museum and duty free shops.

According to W Hospitality, Ethiopia has 31 hotel developments in the pipeline followed by Kenya with 20; Tanzania, 15; Uganda nine and Rwanda has seven under construction.

This year’s pipeline report, now in its 10^thedition, has 41 contributors, reporting 418 deals with over 100 brands across Africa.

Year-on-year performance for Africa as a whole in 2018 shows growth, but more muted than in recent years – 25 pc growth in the number of pipeline rooms in 2015; 19 pc in 2016, and 13 pc in 2017, much the same as the 14 pc growth in 2018.

Details of the survey, which covers the whole of the African continent, will be one of the key discussions at AHIF.  Mathew Weihs, Bench Events managing director said, “It is this kind of content that makes AHIF a must-attend event, alongside unrivalled networking opportunities.”

The Forum is supported by Kenya’s tourism ministry and cabinet secretary, Najib Balala, will be addressing participants along with other speakers both from Africa and beyond.

 

African hotels