NEWS
BWH Hotels reinforces African growth strategy ahead of FHS Africa 2026
BWH Hotels is strengthening its long-term focus on Africa as it prepares to take part in Future Hospitality Summit Africa 2026 in Cape Town. The group says rising investor confidence, improving market stability, and positive tourism growth projections are creating stronger momentum across the continent. This renewed push is visible in both an expanding development pipeline and a series of new hotel openings in key markets. With activity building across North Africa and selected sub-Saharan destinations, BWH Hotels is positioning the region as a major part of its international growth strategy.
As the company prepares for FHS Africa 2026, Wytze van den Berg, Vice President International Operations at BWH Hotels, will again represent the group in discussions focused on hospitality investment and long-term regional development. The company points to growing confidence among investors across several African countries, supported by greater predictability and encouraging inbound travel projections. Within this broader regional picture, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Egypt, and Morocco are emerging as particularly important markets, with Northern Africa standing out for the pace of new hotel projects and development activity.
Two markets are currently leading that momentum. Morocco and Egypt have become the fastest-growing development markets for BWH Hotels in Africa, with more than 25 new pipeline properties signed in Morocco over the past year and around a dozen additional projects actively being pursued in Egypt. This expansion supports the company’s wider strategy of growing across multiple segments through brands such as Best Western Hotels & Resorts and WorldHotels. By widening its footprint across upscale, upper midscale, and soft branded luxury categories, the group is creating more opportunities for owners and developers in destinations with rising demand.
The company is also backing its pipeline growth with new openings scheduled for this year. Four hotels are planned to open across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, further strengthening the group’s operational presence in markets tied to expanding business travel and regional tourism. In Nigeria, two openings are set to play a particularly important role: Best Western Premier McDons Skye Hotel in Owerri and Best Western Plus Ambience Hotel Ikeja in Lagos. Together, these properties reflect the group’s approach to combining international brand standards with locally relevant hospitality in fast-growing urban destinations.
Best Western Premier McDons Skye Hotel is being positioned as an upscale hotel for both business and leisure guests. The property will feature a rooftop bar and restaurant with city views, guestrooms designed with premium bedding and modern technology, a fitness centre, an outdoor pool, and flexible meeting and event facilities equipped for corporate use. Its location also offers access to commercial districts and transport connections, reinforcing its role as a practical and contemporary address in Owerri.
In Lagos, Best Western Plus Ambience Hotel Ikeja will strengthen the company’s upper midscale hotel offer in one of the city’s key business districts. The property will include modern guestrooms with ergonomic design and high-speed connectivity, an on-site restaurant serving international and Nigerian cuisine, a meeting room for smaller corporate gatherings, and wellness facilities tailored to business travellers. Its location near Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Ikeja City Mall adds further value for guests seeking accessibility and convenience in one of Nigeria’s busiest commercial centres.
Looking ahead, BWH Hotels sees FHS Africa 2026 as an important platform for engaging with investors, developers, and industry leaders around the future of hotel growth on the continent. The company intends to use the event to support wider conversations around sustainable hospitality development, brand diversification, and the long-term outlook for African travel demand. With a broader pipeline, stronger regional confidence, and additional openings underway, BWH Hotels is making clear that Africa remains a strategic priority within its global development agenda.
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