Uganda and Ethiopia have overtaken Kenya as key investment destinations for global hotel chains scouting for investment opportunities in the region.

The two nations feature on the top five list, whose hotel sectors are expected to receive huge investments in sub-Saharan Africa, alongside Nigeria, Angola and Ghana, the Kenyan Standard newspaper has reported.

It quoted a new report ranking countries according to the number of jobs that new investments in the hotel sector will create this year which puts Nigeria as the hottest spot for investors in the hotel industry.

The survey by the W Hospitality Group is based on the number of signed contracts by international and regional brands as well as smaller non-branded hoteliers.

“Nigeria leads the way in sub-Saharan Africa with the creation of 53,000 jobs.

It is followed by Ghana with 11,000 and Angola (9,000), Ethiopia (8,800) and Uganda with 8,500,” said W Hospitality Group Managing Director Trevor Ward.

“In sub-Saharan Africa, growth is forecast to be a much faster 23 per cent. Where there are fewer people with hospitality industry experience, HPA anticipates three major trends; an influx of top management from abroad, a war for talented middle management and substantial investment in training programmes,” he said.

Hotel Partners Africa (HPA) is an alliance of three leading hospitality consultancies, with considerable expertise throughout Africa — W Hospitality Group, Hotel Spec and Leisure Property Services.

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Source: Bernama, March 4, 2014, titled “Uganda, Ethiopia Overtake Kenya For Foreign Investments In Hotels Sector”.