The 2026 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report by W Hospitality Group reveals a record 123,846 rooms across 675 hotels and resorts. This represents year-on-year growth of 18.6%, or 12.2% on a same-store basis. While the overall pipeline reflects strong continental expansion, the data show that development activity is increasingly concentrated in a small number of dominant markets. The top ten countries now account for 79% of total pipeline rooms and more than 75% of new signings, reinforcing their growing influence on Africa’s hotel development trajectory.

BTN Interviews Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO of The Bench, attributes his nearly 30 years of success in hospitality events to trust, credibility, and a focus on turning conversations into real investments. Reflecting on milestones like the first Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in 2005 and its evolution into FHS World, he highlights Dubai’s strategic location and leadership vision as catalysts for growth. Celebrating the 20th anniversary at Madinat Jumeirah, FHS World 2025 will feature over 200 speakers, new initiatives like PitchPoint and the World Branded Residences Awards, and themes centered on AI, branded residences, sustainability, and empowering next-generation talent. The event aims to continue connecting global visionaries and investors driving hospitality’s future.

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism announced that it will host the UAE Africa Tourism Investment Summit on October 27, 2025, in Dubai, as part of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS World 2025) - one of the leading global platforms for the hospitality, tourism, and investment sectors. The Summit aims to enhance economic and tourism partnerships between the UAE and African nations, boosting mutual investments across key priority sectors, particularly tourism, hospitality, and related services.

The 2025 edition of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia, which is set to take place at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh from 11-13 May 2025, has confirmed the first speakers for the region’s leading hospitality investment platform. Organised by The Bench, FHS Saudi Arabia brings together hospitality leaders and decision-makers to discuss hotel performance and development, the outlook for hospitality investment in Saudi Arabia and the key market trends driving the sector, aiming for actionable outcomes that will transform the industry, which continues to witness unprecedented growth.