U.S. hotel chain Hilton has announced ambitious plans to nearly triple its presence in Africa by opening 160 new hotels across the continent. This expansion will see Hilton enter new markets such as Angola, Benin, and Ghana, while also marking its return to Madagascar and Tanzania.
In Angola, the company will establish three hotels one in Cabinda and two in the capital, Luanda, catering to both affordable and high-end segments. In Benin, Hilton has signed an agreement for a 233-room hotel in Cotonou with the Société de Développement Hôtelier du Bénin. Madagascar will see two new Hilton projects in Antananarivo, while Ghana will host a new airport hotel in Accra.
Tourism boom
Nigeria remains a major focus, with plans for the 93-room Wave Hotel Abuja Jabi, a 200-room Hilton Lagos Ikeja in partnership with Cornfield Group (set to open in 2029), and a 100-room Hilton Garden Inn in Kano with Akhim Plus. Additional developments include the 109-room DoubleTree by Hilton Fes Golf in Morocco and two new hotels in Ethiopia.
Currently operating 63 hotels in Africa, Hilton aims to capitalize on growing business and leisure travel across the region. Similarly, Marriott has announced its intention to add 50 new properties by 2027, expanding into Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Mauritania.
The surge in hotel investments comes as Africa experiences a tourism boom, with international arrivals in the first quarter of 2025 rising 9% year-on-year 16% above pre-pandemic levels according to the UN World Tourism Organization.
Tourism now contributes significantly to GDP in many African countries, accounting for 3% to 7% in nations like Kenya, Morocco, and South Africa, and up to 15% in tourism-reliant economies such as Namibia. Airlines are also increasing capacity in response to this momentum, with Emirates now operating 161 weekly flights across Africa, United Airlines launching a direct Washington–Dakar route, and Delta set to begin seasonal daily flights to Accra in December.