20 of Africa’s richest hotel chain owners in 2026

Africa’s richest hotel chain owners are reshaping the continent’s luxury tourism, real estate and investment landscape. 

From Lagos and Marrakech to Cape Town and Dakar, billionaire investors are building multibillion-dollar hospitality empires spanning five-star city hotels, beach resorts, safari lodges and mixed-use developments.

These African hotel magnates sit at the intersection of tourism growth, commercial real estate and long-term capital preservation. As business travel rebounds and domestic tourism expands, their hotel portfolios are becoming among the most strategic assets in Africa’s private-sector economy.

Others built hotel empires outright, positioning their brands as regional champions competing with global chains.

Collectively, their investments support hundreds of thousands of jobs, anchor tourism-dependent economies, and stimulate auxiliary industries ranging from agriculture and construction to transport and entertainment. 

Shore Africa profiles 20 of the continent’s most influential hotel owners and their landmark properties.

1. Tony Elumelu
Nationality: Nigerian
Hotels: Transcorp Hotels
Nigerian billionaire Tony Elumelu is the chairman of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp), the conglomerate behind Transcorp Hotels Plc. Through Transcorp Hotels, he controls flagship assets including the iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja, one of West Africa’s most strategic hospitality properties serving presidents, diplomats and multinationals. The group has expanded into lifestyle hospitality with Aura by Transcorp Hotels, a tech-driven platform targeting short-let and business travelers. Under Elumelu’s stewardship, Transcorp Hotels has strengthened occupancy rates, diversified revenue streams, and positioned itself as a dominant player in Nigeria’s premium hospitality segment.

2 &3. Koos Bekker and his wife, Karen Roos
Nationality: South African
Hotels: Babylonstoren
Babylonstoren, a 17th-century wine and farm estate in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, has become a standout in luxury hospitality under billionaire Koos Bekker and his wife, Karen Roos. Babylonstoren is a 5-star farm hotel and winery located in the Franschhoek wine valley of South Africa. Acquired in 2007 and opened to guests in the early 2010s, the estate blends Cape Dutch heritage with modern design, featuring vineyard suites, farm-to-table dining, and botanical gardens. Bekker’s vision turns the property into more than a hotel; it’s a lifestyle and investment asset, attracting global travelers seeking experiential luxury. By merging conservation, agriculture, and tourism, Babylonstoren exemplifies South Africa’s premium travel sector and long-term value creation.

4. Taiwo Afolabi
Nationality: Nigerian
Hotels: Lagos Marriott Hotel
Taiwo Afolabi, founder of SIFAX Group, extended his maritime and logistics empire into luxury hospitality with the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja. Owned through Mac-Folly Hospitality Limited, a SIFAX subsidiary, the 250-room five-star property is managed by Marriott International, aligning global standards with Nigerian ownership. Since founding SIFAX in 1988, Afolabi has built a diversified conglomerate spanning ports, aviation, oil and gas, and real estate. His hospitality investment reflects a strategic bet on Lagos as West Africa’s commercial capital, capturing corporate travelers, expatriates and conference traffic in one of Africa’s busiest business corridors.

5&6. Gilbert & Ronald Chagoury (Chagoury Group)
Nationality: Lebanese-Nigerian
Hotels:
Lebanese-Nigerian businessmen Gilbert and Ronald Chagoury lead the Chagoury Group, owners of Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos’ largest and most established luxury hospitality complex. Located in Victoria Island, the property features over 800 rooms, extensive conference facilities, multiple restaurants and event spaces that host global summits, concerts and high-level political gatherings. Beyond hospitality, the Chagoury Group has deep interests in construction, manufacturing and real estate. Eko Hotels remains a cornerstone asset, benefiting from Lagos’ status as Nigeria’s financial nerve center and positioning the family among the most influential private players in West Africa’s tourism economy.

7. Stanley Uzochukwu
Nationality: Nigerian
Hotels: The Delborough Hotel
Stanley Uzochukwu, founder of Stanel Group, entered ultra-luxury hospitality with The Delborough Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. Opened in 2023, the property targets high-net-worth travelers with bespoke concierge services, premium suites and curated luxury experiences. Uzochukwu built Stanel Group into a diversified conglomerate spanning oil and gas, commodities and real estate before pivoting into hospitality. The Delborough signals a new generation of Nigerian-owned luxury hotels competing directly with global brands, reinforcing Lagos’ positioning as a destination for executive travel, investment summits and affluent leisure tourism.

8. Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch (Morocco)
Nationality: Moroccan
Hotels: Fairmont Taghazout Bay
Moroccan billionaire Salwa Idrissi Akhannouch, founder of Aksal Group, has built a dominant luxury retail empire that intersects strategically with hospitality and lifestyle real estate. Through high-end developments such as Morocco Mall and partnerships with global fashion houses, she has strengthened Morocco’s appeal to affluent tourists. Her investments extend into premium mixed-use projects integrating retail, hospitality and entertainment. As Morocco deepens its positioning as a gateway between Europe and Africa, Akhannouch’s portfolio benefits from tourism growth, rising consumer spending and the country’s expanding luxury ecosystem.

9. Karim Hirji
Nationality: Ugandan
Hotels: Imperial Hotels Group
Karim Hirji is one of Uganda’s most influential hotel owners, heading the Imperial Hotels Group, which operates six prominent properties across Kampala and Entebbe. His portfolio includes landmark assets such as the Kampala Serena-adjacent Imperial Royale and lakeside resorts serving business travelers, government delegations and international NGOs. Hirji’s group plays a central role in Uganda’s meetings and conference economy. With Uganda’s tourism sector rebounding and regional trade expanding, Imperial Hotels remains strategically positioned at the heart of the country’s diplomatic, aviation and commercial corridors.

10. Yerim Habib Sow
Nationality: Senegalese
Hotels: Teyliom/Mangalis Hotel Group
Senegalese entrepreneur Yerim Habib Sow, founder of Teyliom Group, controls Mangalis Hotel Group—one of West Africa’s most structured indigenous hotel platforms. Operating brands such as Noom, Seen and Yaas, Mangalis spans luxury, mid-scale and budget categories across Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger and Guinea. Sow’s vertically integrated model combines property development, branding and management, reducing reliance on foreign operators. As regional business travel rises and Francophone Africa urbanizes rapidly, Mangalis is positioning itself as a homegrown alternative to global chains expanding across the continent.

11. Mossadeck Bally (Azalaï Hotels Group)
Nationality: Malian
Hotels: Azalaï Hotels Group
Malian businessman Mossadeck Bally founded Azalaï Hotels Group in 1994, creating one of West Africa’s most enduring African-owned hotel chains. What began with the acquisition of the Grand Hôtel de Bamako evolved into a multi-country brand operating in Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and beyond. Consolidated under the Azalaï brand in 2005, the group primarily targets business travelers, diplomats and regional institutions. Bally’s long-term strategy emphasizes African ownership, operational resilience and regional integration, making Azalaï a symbol of indigenous hospitality leadership in Francophone West Africa.

12. Matifadza (Mati) Nyazema
Nationality: Zimbabwean
Hotels: Mbano Manor Hotel
Zimbabwean entrepreneur Matifadza “Mati” Nyazema owns Mbano Manor Hotel, a five-star eco-boutique property near Victoria Falls. Opened in 2020, Mbano Manor is notable as one of the first luxury hotels in Zimbabwe developed from scratch by a Black Zimbabwean woman. The property emphasizes privacy, expansive suites and sustainable design, attracting honeymooners and high-end leisure travelers. Positioned near one of Africa’s premier natural attractions, Nyazema’s investment aligns with Zimbabwe’s strategy to revive premium tourism and increase foreign currency inflows through boutique luxury experiences.

13 &14. Senzo & Thenjiwe Tsabedze (Indalo Hotels & Leisure)
Nationality: Eswatini
Hotels: Indalo Hotels & Leisure
Eswatini entrepreneurs Senzo and Thenjiwe Tsabedze lead Indalo Hotels & Leisure, an investment vehicle focused on asset-backed hospitality ventures. Their portfolio strategy blends hotel operations with property ownership, targeting long-term capital appreciation and steady cash flow. By prioritizing management efficiency and regional partnerships, Indalo positions itself within Southern Africa’s growing leisure and conference markets. The Tsabedzes represent a new class of Southern African investors leveraging hospitality real estate as both an operational business and a structured wealth-building platform.

15. Bryan Acheampong (Rock City Hotel)
Nationality: Ghanian
Hotels: Rock City Hotel
Ghanaian entrepreneur and politician Bryan Acheampong is the force behind Rock City Hotel, a large-scale hospitality and entertainment complex in Nkwatia Kwahu, Eastern Region. Designed as a hilltop destination, the development integrates hotel accommodation, event centers and leisure facilities, targeting domestic tourism and conference markets. Rock City reflects Ghana’s rising middle-class travel demand and government-backed tourism initiatives such as “Beyond the Return.” Acheampong’s investment underscores confidence in Ghana’s regional tourism clusters beyond Accra.

16. Guy Stehlik
Nationality: South African
Hotels: BON Hotels
Guy Stehlik founded BON Hotels in 2012, building a South Africa-based hotel management company with operations across Nigeria, Namibia, Ethiopia, Uganda and South Africa. Unlike asset-heavy owners, BON specializes in hotel management, marketing and operational turnaround strategies. Stehlik’s model emphasizes African talent development and cost-efficient management for independent property owners. By focusing on management contracts rather than ownership alone, BON Hotels has grown into one of Africa’s fastest-expanding indigenous hospitality management platforms.

17. Olivier Granet & David Damiba
Nationality: Olivier Granet is a Frenchman, while David Damiba is an Ivorian
Hotels: Kasada Capital Management, own a portfolio of over 20 hotels across Africa, primarily branded under Accor. Key properties in their portfolio include the Cape Grace (Fairmont) and Pullman in Cape Town, Hyde Johannesburg, and various Pullman, Novotel, and Ibis hotels in Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Cameroon.
Olivier Granet and David Damiba co-founded Kasada Capital Management in 2018, launching the Kasada Hospitality Fund to institutionalize hotel investment across sub-Saharan Africa. Backed by Qatar Investment Authority and Accor, Kasada acquires, develops and repositions hotel assets in high-growth cities. Granet’s prior leadership at Accor and Damiba’s private equity experience enable a disciplined, data-driven investment approach. Kasada represents the rise of structured private equity capital targeting Africa’s underpenetrated hospitality sector, focusing on scale, governance and long-term value creation.

18 & 19. Andy Townsend & Jim Gordon (Legacy Hotels & Resorts)
Nationality:
Hotels: Legacy Hotels & Resorts
Andy Townsend and Jim Gordon co-founded Legacy Hotels & Resorts, holding a combined 80% stake in the Southern Africa-focused hospitality group. Legacy manages and owns upscale hotels, resorts and conference venues across South Africa and select African markets. The group blends property ownership with management services, targeting leisure tourism, gaming-linked resorts and business conferencing. Their portfolio benefits from South Africa’s mature tourism infrastructure while leveraging expansion opportunities across the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

20. Tajudeen Owoyemi
Nationality: Nigerian
Hotels: Radisson Blu Ikeja
Tajudeen Owoyemi is the founder and chairman of Avalon Intercontinental Nigeria Limited, owner of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos Ikeja. Opened in 2016 and rebranded in 2018 under Radisson Hotel Group management, the property is strategically located near Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The hotel caters to business executives, airline crews and conference guests in Lagos’ industrial hub. Owoyemi’s investment highlights the value of internationally branded partnerships combined with strong local ownership in Nigeria’s competitive upper-upscale hospitality market.