Morocco is now the second-largest hotel development market in Africa, with 75 hotels and resorts currently being built or planned, adding 10,606 rooms, according to a report by W Hospitality Group.
Only Egypt ranks higher, with 185 hotel projects and nearly 46,000 rooms under development.
Across Africa, the report lists 675 hotel and resort projects, representing 123,846 rooms. That is an 18.6% increase compared with last year, showing strong growth in the continent’s tourism industry.
Morocco’s 75 hotel projects have an average size of about 141 rooms each.
North Africa is leading the expansion. Together, Morocco and Egypt account for more than 45% of all hotel rooms currently being developed in Africa. Overall, the 10 biggest markets hold about 79% of all planned rooms on the continent.
Many Moroccan projects are already moving forward. Out of the 10,606 rooms planned, around 6,859 rooms are already under construction, meaning nearly two-thirds of the projects are underway.
International hotel chains are also expanding across Africa. Marriott International has the largest pipeline with more than 31,700 rooms under development, followed by Hilton and Accor. Along with IHG Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Hotel Group, these five groups account for about 80% of hotel projects being developed on the continent.
More than 65,000 hotel rooms are expected to open in Africa between 2026 and 2027, although actual openings could be lower if some projects are delayed.
In Morocco, the boom in hotel construction is linked to the country’s tourism strategy and preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
New hotels are planned in major destinations including Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier, Agadir and Fez.
The expansion is also expected to create jobs in construction and hospitality, as Morocco aims to add 200,000 tourism jobs by 2026
