Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has announced a major expansion across Africa, planning to double the number of its properties on the continent with six new hotels expected by 2020. This growth will introduce Hyatt to four new African countries, create approximately 2,100 jobs, and provide additional accommodation options for both leisure and business travelers.
East Africa is a central focus for the brand, driven by ongoing government investment in infrastructure and improved air connectivity. Tourism across Sub-Saharan Africa grew by 11 percent in the past year, and the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer reported a 14-percent increase in international arrivals to East Africa in the first half of 2017 compared with the same period in 2016. Intra-Africa travel also rose nearly 13 percent during that time, highlighting expanding regional demand.
“With the introduction of a Pan-African, visa-free passport next year alongside the continued improvement in connectivity and growth of the region’s airlines, we expect tourist and business travel will only continue to increase,” said Peter Penev, vice president of acquisitions and development for Hyatt. “We look forward to working with local developers and partners to deliver on our plan to expand the hotel industry in East Africa.”
Hyatt’s six new hotels include four entries into new markets: Hyatt Regency Algiers Airport in Algeria (expected late 2018); Hyatt Regency Douala in Cameroon (expected late 2020); Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa in Ethiopia (expected summer 2018); and Hyatt Centric Dakar in Senegal (expected summer 2018). These openings mark strategic moves into key urban centers and capital cities across the continent.
In addition to those market entries, Hyatt will expand its existing footprint with Park Hyatt Marrakech in Morocco (expected early 2019) and Hyatt Regency Arusha in Tanzania (expected early 2019). Beyond these projects, the brand is monitoring opportunities in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire as part of longer-term growth plans.
This expansion reflects broader trends supporting hospitality investment across Africa: rising air connectivity, improving infrastructure, and growing intra-continental travel. For Hyatt, the new properties aim to meet increasing demand from international visitors and regional travelers alike while creating local employment and partnering with regional developers to adapt offerings to market needs.