Top Hotel News by Juliana Hahn
According to the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database, 29,520 rooms will go live across North Africa in the coming years, with Egypt leading the charge.
110 hotel projects with 29,520 keys are planned in North Africa, according to our findings, with many lined up for well-established tourist hotspots. We take a closer look at these upcoming launches.
Hotel openings by year
We’ve found that 18 more hotels with 4,379 keys will open in the last quarter of 2020. For 2021, 36 openings with 9,065 rooms are planned.
Another 20 projects with 4,596 keys are signed off for 2022, 15 properties with 6,681 rooms will be completed in 2023, and 21 hotels are on the books for 2024 and beyond.
Of the 110 new hotels, 168 will be in the four-star category. The remaining 340 will be in the five-star segment.
North Africa’s top national growth markets
Egypt comes first in our rankings with 55 planned openings and 17,676 keys, while Morocco takes second place with 36 projects and 8,300 rooms.
Algeria completes the top three with 11 new hotels and 2,317 rooms. Tunisia and Sudan will see five and two hotels respectively, leaving Libya lagging behind on one.
Key urban growth markets in North Africa
Cairo is North Africa’s fastest growing urban market, with 14 hotels and 4,251 keys in its pipeline. Marrakech is right on its heels, however, with 13 launches and 2,060 rooms.
Algiers and Rabat will grow their portfolios by seven hotels each, encompassing 1,407 and 1,109 keys respectively. Six projects are underway in Sharm El-Sheikh, incidentally, while five will launch in both Tunis and Hurghada.
North Africa’s fastest growing hotel groups and brands
Marriott International will open the most new properties in North Africa in the coming years. The Maryland-headquartered hotel giant currently has 16 projects with 3,535 rooms in the pipeline for this region. Hilton Worldwide follows with 14 new hotels and 3,266 keys, while Radisson Hotel Group will expand by 12 properties and 2,735 rooms.
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is the fastest growing brand in the region with eight ongoing projects and 2,256 rooms. Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Swissotel Hotels & Resorts and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will each open six properties; Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and the Ritz-Carlton Hotels follow hot on their heels with five new hotels apiece.
Noteworthy hotel openings in North Africa
Overlooking the turquoise waters of Sidi Abdel Rahman Bay in Marassi, Egypt, Vida Marassi Marina is an elegantly designed hotel with 120 rooms and suites. Guests will have direct access to the marina and a range of other lifestyle amenities, including yacht club restaurants, meeting facilities, outdoor pools and sun decks when the property opens in Q3 2022.
Meanwhile, the new Radisson Blu Hotel Juba in Sudan will open in the Hai Malakal district, overlooking the majestic White Nile River and just 8km away from Juba International Airport. Besides its 158 guest rooms with Radisson Blu signature services such as free high-speed internet access, the hotel will offer four F&B outlets, 750 sq m of meeting space, a business centre, an outdoor swimming pool and terrace, a spa, a gym and retail – though the highlight will surely be the sky bar and restaurant overlooking the city. This scheme will launch in late 2020.
Over in Morocco, Pestana CR7 Hotel Marrakech will draw inspiration from the achievements of celebrated Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. Designed by Didier Lefort Architectes Associés and Italy-based Eclettico, the property will boast light-filled public spaces and 174 rooms adorned with local designs and materials, as well as modern accents. The grand opening will take place in early 2021.
