Latest news with #BaniHaddad
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa's hospitality boom: Are we building fast enough?
Africa's hospitality sector is booming — but is development keeping up with demand? That was the key question tackled by a panel of industry leaders at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa 2025, held from 17 to 19 June at The Westin Cape Town. Moderated by Ninon Lamothe, Africa Director at Voltere by Egis, the session Africa's Hospitality Boom: Is the Sector Growing Fast Enough to Meet Rising Demand? brought together Bani Haddad (founder and MD, Aleph Hospitality), Esteban Lozada (MD development North & West Africa, Hilton), Wytze van den Berg (VP EMEA, BWH Hotels) and Artur Gerber (CEO, TUI Blue Hotels & Resorts) to unpack the opportunities and challenges facing hotel growth on the continent. The discussion focused on the demand-supply gap in African hospitality markets, what kind of hotel developments make sense, and where the growth opportunities are. Is demand outpacing supply? "There's a lot of demand in Africa. I'm not sure if it's too much," says Wytze van den Berg. "But what we know is that by 2050, Africa will have 2.5 billion people. That's 30% of the planet's population — and you need more hotels for that." BWH Hotels is focusing on upgrading older hotels across African cities into modern three- and four-star properties. "Conversions are going much quicker than greenfield projects," he says, adding that many legacy hotels in Africa are being bought, renovated, and repositioned to better meet market demand. Bani Haddad agrees demand is real, but highly localised. 'Africa is a massive continent, not just in population but in diversity. There are cities where supply isn't coping with demand, and others where there's clearly no need for more rooms,' he says. 'You can't keep building upscale in Nairobi, for example. A long-stay, midscale product might make more sense now. We're not seeing enough lifestyle hotels either — and there's definitely a market for that." International and domestic drivers of demand Esteban Lozada outlines Hilton's dual approach to meeting both international and domestic demand. 'Africa has some fantastic leisure experiences, strategic business hubs, and ambitious tourism policies. In Ghana and Angola, for example, there's been a push for visa-free entry to boost tourism.' On the domestic side, he points to demographics. 'Sixty percent of Africa's population is under 25. In 10 years, more people will be entering the workforce in Africa than in the rest of the world combined. That means more purchasing power, a growing middle class, and rising local travel demand.' Lozada says Hilton plans to open 100 more hotels across Africa in the coming years, creating 18,000 jobs. TUI's long-term approach Artur Gerber highlights TUI's long history in Africa, particularly in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and now Zanzibar. "We're not only an operator — we're also an owner. So we're invested in the long term," he says. TUI's strategy focuses on creating clusters in each region, combining different hotel brands in one area. 'We've done it in Cape Verde — we opened one hotel 30 years ago and now there are 10–15 direct flights from Europe daily. We're doing the same in Senegal. That ecosystem approach works.' He adds that Africa's people are part of the draw. "If you ask guests what they remember most, it's not just the weather or food — it's that they felt welcome. That's what sets African hospitality apart." Development challenges remain Despite the optimism, panellists acknowledge the real roadblocks. "The number one issue is access to capital,' says Haddad. 'And even when you secure funding, getting the hotel open is another story. There's often a resistance to bringing in professional project teams early on. That lack of planning slows everything down." Gerber adds that supply chain issues and energy infrastructure are also major concerns. "We face cost increases, but we're still trying to install sustainable solutions — solar, water saving, waste management. These things cost more upfront, but they're necessary." He says operating hotels requires skilled staff, and training local teams has become a top priority for TUI. "We're rotating talent across our hotels in Africa and Europe. That knowledge exchange is part of our long-term investment." Key growth markets to watch According to panellists, the markets showing the most promise right now include: • Morocco and Egypt (Hilton and TUI both expanding) • Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria (West Africa remains strong) • Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania (East Africa development pipeline) • Angola (Hilton announced three new hotels) • Uganda (BWH bringing in its WorldHotels brand) Haddad also announced Aleph's takeover of 26 hotels under the Onomo brand, totalling 3,400 keys — and says Aleph is setting up a luxury division to manage its growing high-end portfolio. While the sector is expanding and operators are innovating to meet demand, challenges around capital, planning, and infrastructure mean the pace of development still struggles to fully keep up with the continent's rapid growth. "This continent is full of lifestyle, energy and vibe — it's underserved, but it's ready," he says. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AFRICAN HOTEL DEVELOPMENT GROUP AND ALEPH HOSPITALITY IN LARGEST HOTEL MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO DEAL IN THE REGION
Aleph Hospitality to assume operations of 26 Onomo Hotels on 1 September CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- African Hotel Development, the leading African lifestyle hotel group, real estate developer, and owner of the ONOMO brand, has entrusted Aleph Hospitality with the management of 26 ONOMO-branded hotels across 14 African countries. This strategic move is fully in line with African Hotel Development's business realignment strategy. By appointing Dubai-based Aleph Hospitality as manager of its hotel portfolio, African Hotel Development reaffirms its ambition to sharpen its focus on brand development and asset management, while accelerating the expansion of ONOMO's footprint, with the objective of doubling the brand's scale within five years. This transaction represents a new chapter in Aleph Hospitality's growth trajectory, doubling its portfolio and enabling the group to reach its goal of operating 50 hotels by the end of 2025, cementing its position as the leading independent hotel management company across the Middle East and Africa. "The direction we are taking with Aleph Hospitality reflects our strategic decision to separate operations from ownership and brand development," said Julien Renaud, CEO of African Hotel Development. "By delegating hotel operations to a trusted partner, we retain full strategic control over the future of the ONOMO brand while creating the conditions for faster growth and premiumization, especially for our upscale offerings, ONOMO Allure and ONOMO Collection." Through this transaction, Aleph Hospitality will reinforce its presence in 10+ African countries, with the opening of four new regional offices and the rollout of cluster operations in several key markets, including Kenya and Morocco where Aleph is already active. "This partnership allows us to scale our operations and further enhance efficiency across markets," said Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality. "We are proud to be selected as the operator of ONOMO Hotels and are committed to delivering exceptional value for all stakeholders — guests, owners, teams, and partners alike." "Africa represents one of the most dynamic and promising hospitality markets in the world today and has been at the core of our growth strategy. We're proud to further deepen our presence and bring our unique management approach to more communities across Africa," added Haddad. For more information about Onomo, visit For information about Aleph Hospitality, visit Photo - - - - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE African Hotel Development; Aleph Hospitality
Zawya
24-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kenya's luxury hospitality sector soars despite challenges
The sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by international visitors and a stable economy. Experts at the upcoming EAPI Summit in Nairobi will address challenges, while exploring opportunities for investment in this thriving market. Kenya's luxury hospitality sector is experiencing significant growth, spurred by an increasing arrival of international visitors, a stable economy, and a rising middle class. Industry experts attribute this surge to the country's unique blend of natural beauty, strategic location, and supportive government policies — all of which are attracting substantial investment in high-end tourism and hospitality. The dynamics of this thriving sector will be a key focus at the upcoming East Africa Property Investment (EAPI) Summit, a premier real estate event. The 12 th annual summit, to be held in Nairobi on May 7-8, 2025, will gather over 450 global investors, developers, and real estate professionals. Participants will explore opportunities to capitalize on investment potential in Kenya, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia — countries showing promising signs of economic recovery and political stabilization. Speaking on the growth of the hospitality industry, Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality, highlights Kenya's untapped potential. 'Kenya presents a great opportunity for hospitality investment due to its unique combination of untapped potential, economic stability, strategic location, and government incentives. Add to that a 35% increase in international visitors and a growing middle class with disposable income. It's clear that the demand for quality hospitality services will continue to rise, offering promising opportunities for local and international investors,' says Haddad. Haddad's Aleph Hospitality is the largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa. Mark Dunford, CEO of Knight Frank Kenya, adds that improved air connectivity is critical to sustaining this growth and the influx of tourists into Kenya. 'Jomo Kenyatta International Airport must remain a hub for Sub-Saharan Africa region with additional long-haul flights to support along with further investment in the other local airports,' says Dunford. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is an international airport serving Nairobi, the capital and largest city of Kenya. Fiona Craw, Vice President of the Hotels&Hospitality Group at JLL Africa, notes that Kenya's hospitality sector attracts significant investment, particularly in Nairobi and the Masai Mara area. This growth is driven by robust demand across sectors including corporate, leisure, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), and government. Nairobi's position as a key economic and transit hub in Africa, coupled with Masai Mara's global reputation as a premier safari destination, further fuels this investment trend. Craw says the ongoing infrastructure development in Kenya, especially in Nairobi, is enhancing accessibility and supporting the country's efforts to establish itself as a leading MICE tourism destination. 'This strategic positioning is driving demand for high-quality accommodation and state-of-the-art meeting facilities,' says Craw. Despite promising opportunities, experts acknowledge several challenges hobbling the industry's growth. 'Kenya's hospitality industry, while exhibiting resilience and growth, faces several challenges such as security concerns, regulatory hurdles, supply chain disruptions, and human resource challenges. The high cost of financing and inflation-driven operational costs further strain businesses,' says Aleph Hospitality's Haddad. He adds: 'For Kenya to solidify its position as a premier global investment destination, collaboration with government and private sectors is key to improving infrastructure and security. Streamlining land acquisition and development approvals will cut delays and costs, making business easier. Diversifying suppliers can ease supply chain issues while investing in talent retention will boost efficiency and service quality'. Visa complexities are another hurdle that could stunt the growth of Kenya's luxury hospitality sector. However, visa complexities are not unique to Kenya as many countries in the rest of the African continent face similar challenges. Visa complexities in Africa are marked by limited visa-free travel, with only a small percentage of countries offering such options to fellow African nations. The process is often expensive and bureaucratic, requiring lengthy procedures and embassy visits. There is also a significant disparity in passport strength across the continent, with some countries enjoying extensive visa-free access while others face severe restrictions. Political instability and security concerns further complicate mobility for citizens from certain regions. Says Dunford of Knight Frank Kenya: 'There are a number of issues facing the industry at present. The easiest of these issues to overcome would be the simplification of the visa/entry process to tangibly encourage visitors.' Another issue that potential investors should be mindful of is the oversupply of hotel rooms in Nairobi, which heightens competition among hotel operators. JLL Africa's Craw estimates that Nairobi recently experienced a significant supply increase, with over 2,000 new hotel rooms introduced in just 18 months. 'As a result, market performance is expected to face downward pressure throughout 2025 as the sector works to absorb this new inventory,' she says. Daniel Trappler, Senior Director of Development for Sub-Sahara Africa at Radisson Hotel Group, partly agrees with Craw about the oversupply of hotel rooms, in some urban Nairobi areas. Trappler says, however, that there are certain nodes that represent pockets of value that are not yet adequately supplied, and with the correct brand could certainly capture market share in Nairobi and lure guests easily, especially with brands that RHG does not yet have operational in the city. Investors that have access to the right capital are therefore in a good position to leverage from this market opportunity. Trappler further adds that both the entry level luxury brand Radisson Collection, and the lifestyle upscale brand Radisson RED, would serve owners with strong returns if built at the right locations. The group is eager to expand in Nairobi in this regard. Despite the oversupply of hotel rooms and intense competition, there are pockets of growth and excellence. Marriott International, which has a presence in Kenya as it operates city hotels in Nairobi and safari lodges in the Masai Mara, says it is seeing strong growth in its business. Jugal Khushalani, Marriott International's Senior Director for Development in the East Africa region, says: 'There remains an increased appetite for high-end experiences in the market, positioning us to further expand our portfolio of luxury brands through urban hotels and safari lodges. Kenya is positioned for sustained growth across all segments, and we remain committed to growing our footprint in the country and supporting the growth of its tourism sector.' The experts agree that despite short-term challenges, the long-term outlook for Kenya's hospitality sector remains positive. They have proposed innovative strategies to address these challenges while ensuring sustained growth in the luxury market. The solutions for sustained growth include: Alternative financing models: Public-private partnership and government-backed incentives can reduce financing costs for new developments. Sustainable tourism practices: High-end resorts are adopting eco-friendly initiatives such as solar energy usage and marine conservation programs to align with global trends favouring sustainable luxury tourism. Enhanced air connectivity: Continued investment in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and regional airports will improve access for long-haul travellers. Bespoke experiences: Personalization remains key in luxury travel. Exclusive offerings like private safaris, tailored cultural tours, and secluded beachfront villas cater to affluent travellers seeking unique experiences. With strategic investments and collaborative efforts between government entities and private stakeholders, Kenya is well-positioned to solidify its reputation as a premier destination for luxury travel in Africa. The country's diverse offerings — from world-class safaris to coastal retreats — continue to attract discerning travellers seeking unforgettable experiences. The 12 th East Africa Property Investment Summit meeting will take place on 7 and 8 May 2025 at Pullman, Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya. For more information and to book to attend the EAPI Summit visit Distributed by APO Group on behalf of API Events.
