At a Glance
- Marriott to add over 50 properties, 9,000 rooms across Africa by 2027.
- Expansion targets five new markets: Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Madagascar, Mauritania.
- Select-service brands and branded residences drive growth amid surging African tourism demand.
Marriott International Inc. has unveiled plans to add more than 50 properties and over 9,000 hotel rooms across Africa by the end of 2027, significantly strengthening its footprint across one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism regions.
Announced at the Future Hospitality Summit Africa held in Cape Town, the expansion includes new market entries into Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Mauritania.
The U.S.-based hospitality giant already operates nearly 150 properties and 26,000 rooms across 20 African countries under 22 global brands.
Marriott’s strategy is driven by rising demand for premium hospitality experiences, an uptick in infrastructure investment, and the continent’s growing appeal as a global travel destination.
Select-service and branded residences drive demand
The expansion will focus heavily on Marriott’s select-service brands, particularly Protea Hotels by Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton, which continue to resonate with business and leisure travelers across urban hubs and safari circuits.
Key markets such as Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, and Morocco account for more than half of the planned openings through 2027.
Marriott is also capitalizing on conversion and adaptive reuse opportunities—expected to make up more than 30 percent of its upcoming additions—and is seeing increased interest in branded residential projects across Africa.
“Strong tourism policy, rising air connectivity, and consumer demand for differentiated experiences are powering Africa’s hospitality transformation,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, EMEA, Marriott International.
Autograph Collection hotel with 90 rooms set to be operated by Marriott International in Camps Bay, Cape Town.
North, East, and West Africa emerge as high-growth hubs
In North Africa, Egypt will debut the Aloft Hotels brand with a 2027 launch in Ghazala Bay.
Morocco will welcome AC Hotels by Marriott with an opening in Casablanca. Together, North and East Africa represent 60% of the company’s new pipeline.
In East Africa, safari tourism continues to flourish. Marriott plans to open six safari properties, including The Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Camp in Kenya and Mapito Safari Camp, Autograph Collection in Tanzania, both set for 2025.
The group will also debut Courtyard by Marriott in Kenya and introduce its first properties in Uganda, including Marriott Executive Apartments in Kampala.
In West Africa, Nigeria remains a cornerstone market, with six new properties by 2027 and the introduction of Courtyard by Marriott in Abuja.
The company is also expanding into Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mauritania, underscoring its regional ambition.
