Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) Podcast

Brooke Friswold, Conservational Biologist at Bring the Elephant Home, shares a compelling vision for how conservation, science, and hospitality can work together to create sustainable ecotourism models. In this episode, she outlines efforts to rewild South Africa's captive elephants, develop data-driven policies to protect elephant wellbeing, and launch immersive conservation tourism programs that fund research and uplift communities. Whether it's community-led chili farming in Thailand or luxury lodges funding scientific initiatives in Africa, Brooke makes the case for a future where tourism does more than observe, it actively protects.

What does it take to build a hospitality brand rooted in African identity and driven by community impact? In this FHS Africa podcast episode, Matthew Weihs is joined by Tadiwos Belete, CEO and Founder of Kuriftu Resorts, to unpack his extraordinary story — from leaving Ethiopia as a teenage refugee to founding Boston Partners PLC and igniting tourism development in his home country. Tadiwos reflects on the challenges of returning to a market with decades of halted progress, and how he created a model where 83% of staff are the same people who built the resorts. He outlines his ambitious vision to expand into Uganda, Djibouti, and even Washington, D.C., with the goal of creating a truly African brand that serves both locals and global travellers. With insights into workforce development, community ownership, diaspora investment, and brand differentiation, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in Africa's future in hospitality.

In this episode, we sit down with Khalil Manji, CEO of CHIC, to explore the future of hospitality investment across Africa — with a particular focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other emerging markets. Khalil shares insights into why destinations like the DRC are becoming increasingly attractive to investors, the challenges of pioneering in untapped regions, and how strategic partnerships and local knowledge are critical for success. He also discusses the broader trends shaping Africa's hospitality landscape, the evolving role of private capital, and what opportunities he sees on the horizon. We dive into why secondary cities are becoming prime targets for development, and what lessons can be learned from early movers into less traditional markets. Khalil also reflects on what he's most looking forward to at FHS Africa 2025, and why he believes the next big wave of investment will come from those willing to look beyond the usual hotspots.

With over 4,200 hotels across 100 destinations, BWH Hotels has transformed from a midscale brand into a global player covering everything from luxury to glamping. In this episode of the FHS Africa Podcast, we sit down with Ron Pohl, President of WorldHotels and Head of International Operations at BWH Hotels, to explore the group's evolving strategy. From expanding in Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil to the rise of independent hotels and the demand for experiential travel, we dive into the key trends shaping the future of hospitality. Ron also shares insights on how BWH balances brand standards with flexibility, why sustainability and ESG initiatives matter, and what's next for the industry—including the group's move into glamping. Tune in for a deep dive into global hospitality trends, investment opportunities, and what makes a BWH property stand out in today's competitive landscape.

In this episode of the FHS Africa Podcast, Matthew Weihs speaks with Wesam Okasha, Managing Director of TUI BLUE, about the brand's ambitious expansion across Africa. With recent triple-branded developments in Kenya, a growing presence in Zanzibar and South Africa, and a focus on sustainable tourism, TUI BLUE is redefining hospitality across the continent. Wesam shares insights into the brand's strategy, from integrated resort clusters to AI-powered operations and eco-friendly initiatives.

This AHIF podcast episode dives into Africa's dynamic hospitality market with expert insights from political economist Daniel Silke. Hosted by Matthew Weiss, the discussion explores the continent's growth drivers, key market trends, and investment opportunities that are shaping Africa's hospitality landscape. From economic resilience and demographic shifts to air connectivity and sustainable tourism, this conversation offers valuable perspectives for anyone interested in the future of African hospitality. Tune in to understand why Africa is the next frontier for hospitality investment.

In this podcast, Matthew Weihs hosts Jameel Verjee, CEO of City Blue Hotels, and Claire Van Enk, founder of Farm to Feed, exploring their innovative partnership in tackling food waste and promoting sustainability across Africa. Claire introduces Farm to Feed's mission as a B2B marketplace for surplus produce, addressing significant food loss issues in Kenya. Jamil discusses City Blue Hotels' commitment to sustainability and their synergistic collaboration with Farm to Feed to integrate these practices into hospitality operations across East and West Africa. Together, they highlight their tech-driven approach, strategic expansion plans, and shared vision to transform food supply chains while driving positive environmental and economic impact in the region.

In this episode of the AHIF podcast, Wayne Godwin, co-CEO of JLL in Africa, provides a comprehensive overview of the hospitality investment landscape in Africa. He discusses the significant surge in transaction activity, surpassing 2019 levels, and highlights the growing interest in leisure properties across the continent. Wayne explores the opportunities and challenges facing investors, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach in navigating the market. From the impact of COVID-19 on development costs to the rise of branded residences, Wayne offers valuable insights and actionable strategies for unlocking Africa's hospitality potential.

This episode of the AHIF podcast features Erwan Garnier, Development Director for Africa at Radisson Hotel Group. Erwan discusses Radisson's extensive presence across the continent, with over 100 hotels operational or under development in 32 African countries. He highlights their strategic focus on key markets like Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt, while also pursuing opportunities in emerging markets. Erwan emphasizes the growing demand for serviced apartments and resorts alongside traditional business hotels. He underscores the importance of thorough due diligence, with a focus on realistic project costing and financing plans, to ensure successful project execution. A key takeaway is the significant impact of government stability on investor confidence and project financing. Erwan concludes by emphasizing the importance of a stable political environment for attracting investment and propelling the growth of Africa's hospitality sector.

In this AHIF podcast episode, Matthew Weihs sits down with Wesam Okasha, Managing Director of TUI Blue, to delve into the brand's remarkable journey since its establishment in 2016. Okasha sheds light on TUI Blue's ambitious growth targets, surpassing expectations by opening 97 hotels in their initial three years. He discusses their strategic expansion into new markets, including Africa and Asia, highlighting their innovative approach to delivering authentic holiday experiences. Furthermore, Okasha emphasizes TUI Blue's unwavering commitment to sustainability, detailing their initiatives to reduce environmental impact and promote eco-friendly practices across their properties. The conversation also touches upon TUI Blue's upcoming luxury property in Zanzibar, offering a glimpse into its unique offerings and contribution to the evolving hospitality landscape.

Discussion with Wytze van den Berk, VP of International Operations for BWH, highlighting BWH's growth post-acquisition of World Hotels, expansion plans in Africa, diverse brand portfolio, and opportunities and challenges in the African market.

In the latest episode of the AHIF podcast, Matthew Weihs and Trevor Ward delve into the intricacies of Africa's hospitality market. With a focus on the annual Hotel Chain Development in Africa pipeline report, they explore the challenges, trends, and opportunities shaping the continent's hotel industry. From the surge in resort developments to the impact of currency devaluation on project viability, this conversation offers valuable insights for investors and industry players alike.

In this episode of the AHIF podcast, Rahul Chaudhary, MD and CEO of CG Corp Global and CG Hospitality Holdings, shares insights on the remarkable growth and strategic ventures of CG Global over the past two years. From expanding into emerging markets like Nepal and Sri Lanka to venturing into the automobile industry, Rahul highlights the group's dynamic approach to investment. Furthermore, he emphasizes the significance of wellness tourism and the group's plans for expansion in this sector.

In this episode of the AHIF podcast, Michael Aldridge, the Founder and CEO of Kofisi, shares profound insights into the dynamic world of shared workspaces. The conversation unfolds the strategic growth of Kofisi, fueled by a unique blend of hospitality and co-working principles. Aldridge sheds light on the sustainability practices embedded within Kofisi's operations and highlights the pivotal role of technology in enhancing the workspace experience. The discussion moves onto Kofisi's expansion strategy in Africa, exploring the untapped potential of the shared workspace sector on the continent. With a focus on well-being and service standards, Aldridge provides a comprehensive view of the evolving trends in the workspace industry. 

Thomas Emanuel, Senior Director at STR, shares invaluable insights in this insightful podcast. The episode examines the recovery dynamics of the continent's diverse markets, presenting key statistics that underscore the robust resurgence of Africa's hotel industry. From dissecting occupancy and average rates trends to spotlighting exceptional performances in cities such as Lagos, Addis Ababa, and Nairobi, the discussion offers a nuanced perspective. Gain strategic insights into the interplay of domestic and international demand, the pivotal role of connectivity, and the promising trajectories of pivotal markets. This podcast serves as an invaluable resource, providing a panoramic view of the nuanced nuances shaping Africa's hospitality renaissance.    

Suhail Bhatia, Director of Asset Management, shares the inception of CHIC, highlighting its commitment to bringing world-class accommodation to a region hungry for quality. Dive into the challenges and triumphs of simultaneously developing five state-of-the-art hotels, fueled by a vision for sustainable growth. Explore the strategic partnerships, including the game-changing collaboration with Accor, and discover how CHIC is revolutionizing the hospitality landscape with innovative technology like digital keys. From boosting local economies to pioneering future-ready solutions, CHIC's story is a testament to the golden era of opportunities unfolding in Africa.

JS Anand, Founder & CEO of Labour Hotels, shares his vision for expanding in Africa, exploring opportunities in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and West Africa. He highlights the need for service improvement, training, and government support in the African hospitality landscape. Discussing challenges, JS addresses financial struggles, decision-making complexities, and the importance of synergizing efforts in the region. He commends AHIF for exposure and emphasizes Labour Hotels' commitment to local community development. The podcast unfolds insights on co-branding, greenfield projects, and the strategic role of AHIF in shaping Africa's hospitality future.

Dive into the world of hospitality investment in Africa with Matthew Weihs on the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum podcast. In this episode, he interviews Barney Haddad, the Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality. Discover how Aleph Hospitality operates as a third-party white label hotel operator, providing flexible management services for hotel owners across Africa. Explore the unique challenges and benefits of their model, including flexibility, shorter contractual terms, and street-smart management that leads to higher profitability. Learn about Aleph Cares, their sustainability and social responsibility program, and how they engage with local communities in Africa.

Maya Ziadeh, the Chief Development Officer for premium midscale and economy brands in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at Accor discussed Accor's strategy for the African hospitality investment market, their portfolio of brands, and their priorities for growth in Africa in our AHIF podcast series,  Maya highlighted the potential for hotel investment in Africa, with its young and fast-growing population, and urbanization happening faster than any other continent. Accor was one of the first movers in Africa, and they continue to focus on expanding their network in key cities and growing their brands in tier two and tier three cities, especially with franchise partners.

TUI Blue is not just another hotel operator, but a socially responsible company that invests in people and communities. In a recent AHIF podcast episode, tHead of Global Development and Managing Director, TUI Hotels & Resorts discussed their journey, development opportunities, and pipeline in Africa. TUI Blue's social corporate responsibility is at the heart of their business model, and they have created the TUI Care Foundation to contribute to sustainable tourism and hospitality.

Thomas discusses the data solutions provided by STR, which collects data from over 78,000 hotels worldwide on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. The company provides benchmarking analysis to help clients understand their competitive position in the market and their direct competitors. They offer a range of key performance indicators, including occupancy, average rate, and revenue per available room, as well as segmentation data and business on the books.

Discover the Affordable Lifestyle in Africa's Hospitality Industry. Join us on the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum podcast as we dive into the latest episode featuring Paul Bridger, CEO of Rove Hotels, and Mark Dunford, CEO of Knight Frank. Learn about Rove Hotels, an affordable lifestyle brand bringing quality design and service without compromising on price. Explore the potential for affordable lifestyle in Africa, the demand for leisure properties, and Rove Hotels' expansion plans on the continent. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the hospitality and airport real estate sectors. Tune in now!

Investing in the African Hospitality Industry: Challenges and Opportunities Are you looking to invest in the hospitality industry? Have you considered Africa as a potential market? In a recent podcast episode, Halla Matar Choufany, President of HVS in Middle East, Africa, and Asia, shared her insights on the challenges and opportunities in the African hospitality industry. Choufany highlighted the diverse markets in Africa, each at different stages of development. However, she sees potential in conducting feasibility studies to identify sustainable schemes that tie into the bigger picture of tourism infrastructure. Connectivity, financing, safety, and mindset are some of the challenges facing the African market, but changing the mindset around the difficulties of doing business in Africa could lead to finding solutions. Despite the economic slowdown, there is a migration of money into the Middle East and Africa, making it a good time to invest in Africa as the cost to acquire certain assets is lower compared to other markets. Private equity firms are already showing interest in the African market, and Choufany believes that as more transactions and investments take place, lenders will follow suit. Instead of building new hotels, Choufany suggests converting and renovating existing assets in Africa, which requires less capital investment and can potentially bring newer and renovated products to the market. She also sees potential for unique and smaller hospitality offerings, such as lodges and local home accommodations. The conversation also touched on the importance of market research and having the right team and advisors in place to make successful investments in the hospitality industry. So, if you're considering investing in the African hospitality industry, be sure to do your research, understand the market, and have the right team in place to make it a success.      

Best Western's Strategic Approach to Growth and Expansion in Africa and Beyond Best Western Hotel Group's recent acquisition of World Hotels and expansion into the luxury market is a reflection of their CEO's global growth strategy. With a goal of having 80 hotels in Africa by 2026, Best Western is actively working with existing hoteliers and owners to rebrand and expand their footprint on the continent. Wytze Van Den Berg, the Vice President EMEA, explains how Best Western has integrated the World Hotels team into their own, adding experienced professionals in the upper upscale and luxury segments to their team. Best Western will continue to use all of their brand names for consumer marketing purposes, but for B2B sales, they will reach out to clients as BWH Hotels. In addition to growth and expansion, Wytze also highlights the importance of cost savings and competitiveness in the industry. Rising labor, energy, and construction costs make it increasingly important to collectively source materials for construction and invest in technology to make distribution more economic. Operational cost savings through combined buying power also play a crucial role. Best Western's strategic approach to growth and expansion in Africa and beyond is a reflection of their commitment to offering a wide range of options to keep customers loyal while remaining competitive in the current market. As the industry continues to evolve, Best Western is positioning itself for continued success and growth.

Welcome to the AHIF podcast featuring Stephan Sebah, VP of Development at Golden Tulip, as we delve into Africa's hospitality investment landscape. Gain valuable insights from his 20 years in the financial market, specializing in analysis, risk management, and investment strategies. Discover how his expertise seamlessly transitions into the hospitality industry, bridging the gap between investors and the sector. Stephan shares exciting updates about Golden Tulip, currently operating 11 hotels with 900 rooms across East Africa and the West Coast. Explore their ambitious growth plans, including four upcoming hotel constructions and discussions for potential partnerships in the pipeline. With a focus on local sourcing, sustainability, and empowering local communities, Golden Tulip is shaping the future of hospitality in Africa. Join us for an engaging discussion at AHIF, where we'll dive deep into topics like regional sourcing, sustainable practices, and the economic impact of the hospitality sector. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with industry leaders, explore investment opportunities, and be a part of Africa's thriving hospitality landscape. #AHIF #GoldenTulip #HospitalityInvestment #AfricanDevelopment #SustainableTourism

Listen to Dan & Bernadine as they deep dive into explaining the features and relevance of the 'Tourism Readiness Report' published by WTTC & JLL. The report asseses what makes a city ready for sustainable Travel & Tourism growth. Find out how the report can serve as a useful index for the private sector especially investment firms. 

Rishabh Thapar, Director at HVS Middle East and Africa, specializes in hotel realty development in emerging markets. With 15 years of experience across operations, development, pre-opening, and consulting, he has worked in diverse hotel markets in over 30 countries. He has undertaken individual and portfolio valuations, operator searches and management contract negotiations, market studies, strategic and transaction advisory for some of the leading hotel companies. Listen to Rishab in this insightful podcast as he talks about the emerging trends of conservation & climate awareness in the African hospitality sector. Hie gives an indepth analysis on how hotel chains have hotel chains have shifted their focus in favor of engaging the local community. He also highlights key leisure investment opportunities in East & South Africa.

CG Corp is a multinational conglomerate with  150+ hotels in 12 different countries. The group has a strong presence in East Africa and is constanly looking to expand into other parts of the contient.  Listen to Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director & CEO of CG Corp Global as he discusses his strategy for Africa and outlines the four key pre-requisites that must be present in any country while looking to invest. Rahul also outlines the challenges that need to be addressed in facilitatiing international investment in Africa. 

The annual W Hospitality Pipeline Report covers the 54 countries in Africa, comprising North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean islands and provides consistent, reliable and comparable data on the development pipeline activity of the hotel chains who are operating in Africa, and those who are seeking to enter the continent for the first time. Listen to Trevor Ward, Managing Director of W Hospitality Group as he talks in length about the report findings and gives insights on the developments in the hospitality sector in Africa. 

The Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) podcast met up with Billy Cheung, Chairman of Century Park Hotel & Residencies – a new development in the heart of Kigali, Rwanda.  We talked about how he discovered the potential of both the African market and the opportunity to diversify his traditional business into the hospitality sector.  Billy gave AHIF more details of the project and details of his needs going forward.   

Announcing that the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) is, after a two year break with COVID, planning on bringing the investment community back to Sub-Saharan Africa Matthew Weihs, Managing Director or the Bench, spoke to Ramsay Rankoussi Vice President of Africa and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group. We asked him about the past year which has been a successful one for the operator and what his expectations of the market in the coming 12 months, what changes to strategy they have had since COVID and where they will be focusing for future development.

In this AHIF podcast we spoke with Mark Willis, CEO of Turkey, India, Middle East and Africa at Accor. Sharing his new year's resolutions with us we also took the time to look back at 2021 and the learnings taken from this turbulent period as well as exploring where he sees opportunities in the MEA region.

In this podcast we spoke to Fabio Nava VP of Capital Markets at JLL’s Hotels and Hospitality Group to understand the findings from the Annual Spotlight on Africa report they’ve recently published.  We explored how the pandemic has impacted the market and discussed the future opportunities for investment. 

We spoke with Imad Barrakad, CEO of the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT) about their thoughts on hosting the AHIF Marketspace digital event – with its focus on Morocco on 25 March 2021.  We asked Imad what the role of SMIT is, what the investment climate is currently and how now, in the backdrop of covid, what the investment opportunities are in Morocco.  You can register to attend the Marketspace for free at www.ahif.com

On the eve of our first digital “in focus” event for the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) community, the Morocco Marketspace taking place on 25th March, I took the chance to speak to the Her Honourable Excellency Nadia Fettah Alaoui the Minister of Tourism, Handicraft, Air Transport and Social Economy about the tourism plans for the Kingdom.  We discussed where the travel situation is now, the support the Government have given the industry and the future incentives for investment and where, in her opinion, the potential opportunities are. 

In this podcast focused on #myAfrica we spoke to Yemisi Mokuolu CEO of Hatch Ideas and founder of the Asa Baako music festival in Ghana.  We explored what Africa meant to her through her work and the founding of this growing music festival. We discussed how this particular venture has developed into an event that is regenerating the local community through travel and tourism and how, now, the need has developed into the potential of investing in hotels for the area.   

In this podcast, we discussed with Hala Matar Choufany the President ME/Africa and South Asia for HVS the results of their recent survey on the Africa Traveller & Hotel Guest Sentiments. We discussed the main findings of the survey and how this will impact travel activity going forward for Africa.

In this AHIF podcast, we thought we’d turn the tables and ask the questions to Mary Gostelow, Owner and Editor of the Gostelow report, columnist and Editor of www.girlahead.com.  A fascinating discussion on her life and times and how she ended up the sage of the industry, how she approaches her work, and is able to extract such amazing insights. 

In this podcast we spoke with Trevor Ward, Managing Director of W Hospitality Group, about recent publishing of the 2020 African Hotel Chain Development Pipeline survey – the 12th annual report. Covid-19 has derailed the market as it has the global hospitality industry but we discussed how Africa was being impacted specifically and what it means for hotel development in the short, medium and long term. With that in mind and with the AfricaTomorrow (www.africa-tomorrow.com) event a month away – what we should be expecting from the online conference where Trevor will be presenting his pipeline report

In this podcast with Frederic van Lennep, we discussed how technology can be leveraged to build confidence in a post coronavirus world for hotels. We also explored what role technology would play, how a touch-less future can be created, and how this reflects the customer experience. Frederic also published a white paper recently on the importance of technology in post-COVID19 hotel operations which can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-technology-post-covid-19-hotel-operations-van-lennep/

In this podcast, we discussed Marek's journey from Poland to Africa and how his entrepreneurial spirit led him to Nigeria. We discussed his relationship with travel technology and the potential for the African market especially, post Covid-19, his thoughts on the outcomes for the industry and Africa.  

L’Afrique sera dans quelques années le centre du monde, affirme le magnat des affaires camerounais Mamoudou Fadil tout en renforçant son point de vue sur le potentiel à long terme de la croissance de l’immobilier hôtelier et du développement du tourisme sur le continent lors de son entretien avec Jean Perrochon. Africa will be on the centre stage of the world in a few years, states the Cameroonian business magnate Mamoudou Fadil while reinforcing his views about the long term growth potential for hotel real estate and tourism on the continent in an interview with Jean Perrochon.

This podcast, with Trevor Ward Managing Director of W Hospitality Group, canvassed his opinion on the state of the African hotel market. Looking at the key markets and cities that development is taking place and the trend towards developing mid-scale brands

Un entretien éclairant avec Mohamed Wade (DG du groupe Amandla Capital Real Estate) accordée à Jean Perrochon (Directeur du FIHA), qui suscite des réflexions intéressantes sur les opportunités d'investissement dans une classe d'actifs en immobilier hôtelier en évolution et dans un marché touristique régional qui devrait croître de 6% en glissement annuel au cours de la prochaine décennie.   An eye-opening interview between Mohamed Wade (Managing Director of Amandla Capital Real Estate) and Jean Perrochon (Director of FIHA), that raises some interesting considerations about the investment opportunities in the evolving hotel real estate asset class and in a tourism market that is set to grow at 6% YoY over the next decade.

In this podcast, we discuss with Hala Matar Choufany about her current scope of work in the Middle East, focused on driving value for owners. We also discussed the importance, and growing attention from the investment community on making sustainability work.  Finally – we looked at the difference in the type of work from the Middle East to Africa. 

Podcast FIHA 2020 avec Philippe Gauguier, associé au cabinet de conseil InExtenso, sur les tendances encourageantes des marques hôtelières économiques, les conditions d’investissement en Afrique et l’accroissement de la collaboration économique entre diffèrent pays du continent.   FIHA 2020 podcast with Philippe Gauguier, an Associate of the consultancy InExtenso, focusing on the encouraging trends of economy hotel brands, the investment conditions in Africa and the growth of economic collaboration between different countries on the continent.   

In this podcast, we speak to Matthew Tripolone the Vice President of Development for InterContinental Hotels Group MEA. We discussed the history of IHG in the region, the pipeline for the brand, the VOCO brand growth and the overall opportunities in the Middle East and African markets.

Premier podcast de la série du Forum de l'Investissement Hôtelier Africain 2020 avec Alexis Janoray, Chef de développement pour l'Afrique chez le Groupe AccorHotels; le commanditaire principal de cet évènement annuel. Une perspective sur les opportunités d'investissement dans l'immobilier hôtelier en Afrique de l'Ouest et de l'engagement du Groupe AccorHotels dans la région et sur le continent.

In this podcast, Karl de Lacy Director, International Hotel Services for Best Western Hotel Group talks about how the recent acquisition of WorldHotels brand has added value to their organization. In particular, we look at how this increase in brands enables them to work with more owners from luxury down to mid-scale products.