The Radisson Hotel Group has officially surpassed the 100-hotel milestone across Africa, counting both operational properties and those currently under development, marking a significant expansion of its footprint on the continent.
The global hospitality company announced that the milestone comes as it accelerates its growth strategy across Africa, positioning the region as a key pillar of its long-term expansion plans leading up to 2030.
Over the past 12 months, Radisson signed agreements for more than 15 new hotels, adding roughly 2,500 rooms to its development pipeline.
These projects include the company’s first entries into the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, signaling a broader push into emerging African markets.
Despite this expansion into new territories, Radisson continues to prioritize established markets such as Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria, where it is actively expanding its brand presence and deepening partnerships with local investors.
The company noted that its Radisson Blu brand remains the backbone of its African portfolio, while the Radisson brand has emerged as the fastest-growing flag due largely to a strategy focused on converting existing hotels into Radisson-branded properties.
According to Radisson’s Regional Chief Development Officer for Africa and Turkey, Ramsay Rankoussi, the company’s expansion approach prioritizes speed, quality partnerships, and operational readiness.
We’ve crossed the 100-hotel mark in Africa by staying true to our plan—focusing on where we can lead, moving fast on quality conversions, and partnering with owners who share our ambition, Rankoussi said.
Our pipeline is built to open, not just to announce.
Industry analysts say Radisson’s conversion-led development strategy has enabled the group to expand rapidly without waiting years for new hotel constructions to be completed.
Over the last five years alone, more than 15 hotels representing nearly 3,000 rooms have joined the Radisson Africa portfolio through conversions.
Radisson’s latest hotel agreements span several African countries, including:
- Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Harare in Zimbabwe
- Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech in Morocco
- Ain Sokhna in Egypt
- Lagos and other Nigerian cities
- Umhlanga in South Africa
Among the key projects are Radisson Blu Hotel Kinshasa, multiple Radisson properties in Lubumbashi, Radisson Harare, and Park Inn by Radisson Victoria Falls Resort.
Nigeria has become one of Radisson’s most important expansion fronts in Africa.
The hotel group currently has 13 properties across operations and development in Nigeria, with the capital city Abuja hosting three hotels with a combined 458 rooms.
Several additional projects are also underway across the country.
One of them is the Radisson Hotel Aba, which will mark the company’s first presence in Aba, one of the most commercially active cities in southeastern Nigeria.
Another project, the Radisson Hotel & Conference Centre Yenagoa, is scheduled to open in 2027 in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.
The facility will feature 196 rooms and is strategically positioned near business districts, government offices, and Bayelsa International Airport.
In Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos, the Radisson Collection Hotel Lagos Atlantic will target high-end business travelers and leisure visitors on Victoria Island.
Rankoussi identified Nigeria and Morocco as Radisson’s key depth markets, meaning the company intends to continue investing heavily in both countries.
Radisson’s strategy in Africa is also evolving to include more resort-style and leisure destinations, reflecting the continent’s growing tourism sector.
One of the most notable projects is the Park Inn by Radisson Victoria Falls Resort, expected to open in 2029 near Victoria Falls.
Located close to Zambezi National Park, the resort will offer 150 rooms, including five luxury suites.
Victoria Falls remains one of Africa’s most iconic tourist attractions, drawing more than 350,000 international visitors annually.
Beyond this project, Radisson is also exploring opportunities in destinations such as:
- Zanzibar
- Namibia
- Botswana
- Zambia
These destinations are increasingly popular among travelers seeking nature-based tourism and luxury safari experiences.
Industry data suggests that Radisson’s growing interest in Nigeria reflects broader trends in the continent’s hospitality sector.
According to the W Hospitality Group, Nigeria currently leads Africa in hotel rooms under development, with 14,392 rooms in the pipeline.
This places the country ahead of:
- South Africa – 10,870 rooms
- Kenya – 8,653 rooms
- Egypt – 6,530 rooms
- Morocco – 5,960 rooms
Market research firm Statista projects that Nigeria’s hotel industry will generate $1.48 billion in revenue by 2025, growing at an annual rate of nearly 9.6 percent until 2030, when the market could reach $2.33 billion.
Meanwhile, analysts cited by CNBC Africa estimate that hotel occupancy rates in Nigeria could stabilize at around 70 percent by 2026.
Radisson’s expansion strategy also signals growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s secondary cities, not just traditional hospitality hubs like Lagos and Abuja.
The company’s decision to build hotels in cities such as Aba and Yenagoa suggests that business travel, government activity, and domestic tourism demand are expanding beyond the country’s largest metropolitan areas.
Experts say that a stronger presence of international hotel brands could further strengthen Nigeria’s tourism and conference industries by providing higher-quality accommodation and event facilities.
Radisson’s 100-hotel milestone comes at a time when Africa’s tourism industry is experiencing strong growth.
According to UN Tourism, international tourist arrivals to Africa increased by 8 percent in 2025, making it the fastest-growing tourism region globally.
Across the continent, the hotel development pipeline now includes 504 projects with nearly 98,000 rooms, with more than 56 percent already under construction.
Industry observers believe that large-scale investments by international hotel groups will help strengthen Africa’s tourism infrastructure, create employment opportunities, and raise service standards across the sector.
For Nigeria, Radisson’s continued expansion offers a strong signal to airlines, tour operators, and global conference organisers that the country is developing the hospitality infrastructure needed to support its growing economy.
With 13 hotels already in its Nigerian portfolio and more on the way, Radisson’s presence in the country is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
