Accor, Shoreline ink Nigeria hotel development agreement  

Accor group, a world-leading hospitality group has entered into a partnership with Shoreline Group to develop a network of hotels across Nigeria, in a move that underscores growing interest in the country’s hospitality market. 

The agreement, signed alongside the Africa Forward 2026 summit in Nairobi, sets out plans for up to 10 hotels and more than 1,200 rooms by 2030. The development, which will span eight cities, is expected to cover midscale, upscale and luxury segments.

A hospitality training academy is also included in the plan as part of efforts to address skills gaps in the sector. Shoreline Group has indicated an investment commitment of about $300 million tied to the rollout.

Nigeria’s hospitality pipeline gathers pace 

Executives from both companies framed the partnership as a long-term push into a market where demand for quality hotel rooms continues to outpace supply.

Sébastien Bazin, chief executive of Accor, said the group sees “significant potential” in Nigeria’s hospitality sector and views the partnership as a way to deepen its presence in English-speaking Africa. 

Kola Karim, chief executive of Shoreline Group, said the project aligns with the firm’s broader strategy to build infrastructure platforms across the continent.

He added that hotel development is becoming increasingly important to investment flows, particularly in Nigeria, where business travel and urban expansion are increasing pressure on existing capacity. 

Nigeria has emerged as one of the most active hotel development markets in Africa. Industry data from W Hospitality Group shows 57 hotels are currently in the pipeline, placing the country behind only Egypt and Morocco in terms of planned projects.

Growth has been driven by corporate travel demand, population expansion and renewed interest from global hotel operators. 

Accor already operates a small footprint in Nigeria, including properties under the Ibis and Mövenpick brands in Lagos and a Novotel in Port Harcourt.

Before the new partnership, the group also had several additional projects in development, including Mövenpick Living Abuja and an ibis property in Lekki scheduled to open in the near term.

Global hotel groups expand footprint in Nigeria 

Accor is not alone in expanding in the market. Hyatt Hotels Corporation is preparing to open a Hyatt Regency in Lagos, marking a new entry point into West Africa’s largest city.

At the same time, Radisson Hotel Group is advancing plans to significantly scale its Nigerian presence from four hotels to as many as 13 in the coming years. 

Radisson is also planning a luxury Radisson Collection property in Lagos by 2029, part of a broader strategy that includes expansion into Abuja and secondary cities such as Aba and Yenagoa.

The expansion reflects a broader shift by global operators toward Nigeria’s commercial hubs, where demand for higher-end accommodation has remained steady despite broader economic pressures. 

Accor’s global expansion strategy

Accor, which operates in more than 110 countries and manages a portfolio spanning economy to luxury brands, continues to rely on partnerships and franchising models for expansion.

The group runs more than 45 brands globally, supported by its lifestyle arm developed with Ennismore, and employs hundreds of thousands of staff worldwide. 

At the end of 2025, the group reported more than 5,800 hotels and over 880,000 rooms globally, supported by a development pipeline of more than 250,000 additional rooms.

During the year, Accor opened more than 300 hotels worldwide, adding roughly 51,000 rooms to its system. 

The company also continues to expand in North Africa and the Red Sea region. Last month, Accor signed a deal with MAVEN to launch TRIBE Ain Sokhna at Baymount in Egypt, marking its entry into the Red Sea hospitality market. 

Financially, Accor reported full-year 2025 recurring earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of about €1.2 billion ($1.4 billion), an increase from the previous year, and announced a €450 million ($526.5 million) share buyback plan for 2026. 

Shoreline Group targets Africa hospitality assets

Shoreline Group, also known as Shoreline Energy International, is an Africa-focused investment firm headquartered in Monaco with operations linked to Nigeria.

The company invests in energy, infrastructure and engineering projects across the continent, with a growing focus on hospitality-related assets tied to urban expansion and travel demand. 

The Nigeria hotel agreement signals continued confidence among global operators and investors in the country’s long-term tourism and business travel outlook, even as competition for prime locations and skilled hospitality labour intensifies.