Africa hotel pipeline lifts as Marriott signs Nairobi airport deal and Egypt leads room growth

Monday 20th October 2025

by inAfrika Newsroom

Africa hotel pipeline momentum continued into October with Marriott confirming a Courtyard by Marriott at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, officials said. The 180-room development adds capacity at Kenya’s busiest gateway and underscores investor confidence as the Africa hotel pipeline expands across key hubs. The property targets a 2027 opening.

Marriott’s move follows a broader multi-year expansion plan that includes new safari and city properties. Moreover, developers cited demand from business travel and airline connectivity as drivers for airport-adjacent hotels. Industry trackers said well-located assets near terminals typically enjoy higher weekday occupancy and quicker ramp-up post-opening.

Data from W Hospitality Group show the Africa hotel pipeline at record levels in 2025. The survey counts roughly 577 projects and more than 100,000 rooms under development, with North Africa leading growth. In addition, Egypt remains the single largest market by rooms, reflecting a mix of coastal and urban projects moving through financing and construction.

Why it matters: a deeper Africa hotel pipeline supports jobs in construction and services while expanding conference and tourism capacity. However, analysts said project timelines still hinge on FX availability, utilities reliability and interest-rate trends. Consequently, sponsors are leaning on blended finance, PPPs and phased delivery to manage risk.

The Nairobi airport deal also aligns with route expansion by African and Gulf carriers. Therefore, asset managers expect better RevPAR resilience at airport clusters as connectivity grows. Meanwhile, developers said sustainability features—energy-efficient systems and water reuse—are increasingly required by lenders and international brands