The even created a platform for practitioners to celebrate the achievements of the tourism and travel industry, which contributed $194.2 billion to Africa’s economy in 2018, representing 8.5 per cent of the continent’s GDP, as well as, offered 24.3 million African jobs, or 6.7 percent of total employment.
This year alone, there are 75,000 branded rooms in 401 hotels in the pipeline across Africa, representing a growth of 51 per cent in total pipeline rooms since 2015, according to the annual African Hotel Chain Development Pipeline Survey by W Hospitality Group. However, recent events show that some African hospitality management companies are gradually waking up to the challenges and are now improving on their management skills, gaining confidence of African hotel owners and impressing with world-class service and facility offerings.
These African hospitality managers are now engaging in the scramble for their market share in hospitality sector considering the boom on the continent. Currently, there is an increase in intra-Africa travel with at least four out of every 10 travellers in Africa are from within the region. That means more guests for the hotels on the continent and more hotels to manage by the indigenous hospitality management companies.