Global hotel franchisor unveils plans for expansion into SSA region

The company also signed a master development agreement that will drive further expansion in the continent, with a minimum of 15 additional properties planned across sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. 

One of the properties due to open next year will provide a boutique, upscale experience for international travellers in the in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, one of Africa’s most visited safari destinations. 

Two additional hotels – which will operate under the Clarion hotel and Quality Inn hotel brands – are to open in Nairobi’s central business district. 

“The hotels will serve growing demand for both business and leisure travel in one of the continent’s most dynamic cities,” Choice says in a statement. 

Fast-growing hospitality market 

According to Pat Pacious, President and Chief Executive Officer of Choice, entering Africa is an important milestone in the group’s efforts to increase its global footprint and, in the case of Kenya, to establish itself in one of the continent’s fastest-growing hospitality markets. 

Choice Hotels International is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, with over 7,500 hotels in 47 countries and territories. The company is in the process of accelerating its EMEA growth strategy and its portfolio in the region now approaches 64,000 rooms and a year-over-year growth of 7%. 

Enhancing Africa’s travel and tourism sector was a focus of the African Marketing Confederation’s 2025 annual conference held in Ghana recently. The AMC is collaborating with UN Tourism on its Brand Africa initiative to create a responsible, sustainable and attractive pan-African tourism brand. 

At the conference, the AMC also launched a dedicated Tourism Chapter for African tourism marketers.