Nairobi emerges as hotspot for attracting the biggest hotel brands in the world

david nganga

June 4, 2018 3:47 PM

A number of major brands have announced Kenya expansion plans

Nairobi has been listed as a hotspot for hotel development in the Eastern African region owing to a rise in demand for rooms and an under supply of international-grade hotels.

This is according to a Knight Frank report on Africa’s growing hotel market that also lists Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Seychelles among other hotel development hotspots in Eastern Africa — with the region accounting for 26% of pipeline projects in the continent.

The report also shows that Kenya has topped key sub Saharan Africa rivals Nigeria and Tanzania in the count of global chain hotel brands presence in the respective countries.

Kenya has 68 global hotel brands, while Nigeria and Tanzania have 58 and 46 of the branded properties respectively.

South Africa tops sub-Saharan countries with 430 branded chain hotels followed by Egypt (300), Morocco (153) and Tunisia (103).

Expansion

“Nairobi’s position as a major regional hub will be further reinforced by the growth of this sector in the city,” said Ben Woodhams, Managing Director of Knight Frank Kenya.

The Kenyan hotel sector is fast growing as local and international investors look to capture the growing number of business travellers.

A number of major brands have announced Kenya expansion plans including Marriott International which will open at AVIC International’s building in Westlands, Nairobi, and Hilton Hotel, which will open at The Pinnacle in Upper Hill.

david nganga