TOURISM NEWS - The African hospitality sector today is poised for a period of significant growth. 

Figures from Statista point to revenue in travel and tourism hitting US$25.29 billion this year, with hotels making up a significant US$11.29 billion of that. Hotels will also likely be a major beneficiary of tourism and travel’s projected growth of 7.31% leading up to 2030.

But hospitality investors and operators can’t simply set up shop on the continent and expect to succeed with a business-as-usual approach.

From short-term metrics to triple-bottom-line value

By focusing on the triple bottom line of Profit, People, Planet, investors in the hospitality sector can avoid the pitfalls of traditional, extractive models, which prioritise short-term financial gain at the expense of social and environmental welfare. 

Among the systematic risks they create are environmental degradation, social inequality and reputational damage. In turn, these risks can lead to regulatory headaches, community conflict and stranded assets that undermine long-term financial health.

By contrast, with a “culture wrapped in commerciality” approach, operators move toward building genuine stability, resilience and long-term asset value. 

Companies taking this approach are also better positioned to attract top talent, adapt to the climate crisis, and maintain social credibility in the communities in which they operate.

People as a foundation for enduring value

Of course, taking this approach requires significant investments in people and skills. That’s especially true across many African markets, where hospitality suffers from a skills deficit in both traditional roles like catering and management as well as in newer fields such as digital marketing and e-commerce. 

And when these skills are present, they can be difficult to retain because of high turnover within the sector.

It’s something we’ve tried to combat at Valor with our “Hotelitarian” approach to our employees and their development. The Hotelitarian philosophy sees every team member as a professional, passionate, specialised enthusiast, dedicated to hospitality. 

Ultimately, we want curious and courageous professionals whose well-being and expertise are the direct drivers of enhanced guest experiences and maximised, sustainable returns for the hotel owners.

That means ensuring that the Hotelitarians on property at our locations don’t just have the skills they need to thrive, but are also empowered, happy, engaged, and supported. That’s because we know they’re our foundation for delivering exceptional guest experiences and, consequently, better financial results.

The human connection: the enduring heart of hospitality

While technology increasingly mediates our world, the essence of the hospitality experience remains fundamentally human. People — the employees who greet, serve and anticipate needs — are the ultimate, non-replicable differentiators. 

Travellers today actively seek authenticity, personalisation, and a true sense of place, which is why we remain dedicated to nurturing and supporting our "Hotelitarians"— the people who translate a property's local culture and global standards into a genuine connection.

This human element is about more than a service transaction. It is about creating hyper-personalised memories, demonstrating empathy and responding flexibly to unexpected needs, something no algorithm can fully replicate. 

This is why investing in the well-being and professional development of people is not just a socially responsible choice, but the core commercial strategy for enduring value creation. It ensures that African hospitality assets offer elevated experiences that stand out in a competitive global market, driving loyalty and sustainable returns.

AI: Powering personalisation and profit

To truly capitalise on Africa's tourism boom, hospitality operators must embrace technology as an enabler, not a replacement for the human touch. Artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial for transforming a dynamic African market, one often characterised by complexity and volatility, into a streamlined, resilient opportunity.

AI’s role is three-fold in this regard: It’s about optimising operations and building resilience into that, it’s about elevating personalisation, and about enabling strategic asset management.

In the first instance, AI-driven predictive analytics allow assets to manage market volatility, optimise pricing and revenue management, and forecast demand with greater accuracy than traditional metrics.

Secondly, personalisation can be elevated to a higher level with the help of AI tools that streamline the guest journey by automating routine tasks, from initial booking through to post-stay feedback.

And thirdly, by identifying non-performing assets, predicting maintenance needs, and ensuring energy efficiency, AI enables a more proactive approach to asset management, directly supporting the "profit" and "planet" components of the triple bottom line.

Local as a competitive advantage

As much as possible, we also try to ensure that our hotelitarians are local and embedded within the communities they work in. That’s because we understand “A Whole World of Local” to be a strategic approach, rather than a simple marketing device. 

Even when outside expertise is needed, we immerse those candidates in the community.

Doing so creates richer guest experiences and differentiated property identities. Critically, it also results in higher resilience to the kind of political, economic, and environmental shocks that are becoming more common across the globe.

An approach that works for investors

In the long term, we believe, this is the only approach that can result in sustainable returns for investors. With communities that support hotels, staff who are loyal and skilled, and properties that sit naturally within those communities, you’re much better placed to have assets that hold value across cycles.

Ultimately, hospitality’s biggest 2026 opportunity doesn’t lie in chasing numbers but in building ecosystems. If players in the sector are to capitalise on Africa’s current hospitality boom, they must look to build a future characterised by responsible, people-first investment.

Tony Romer-Lee, Co-Founder and Managing Partner - AMEA at Valor Hospitality Partners

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