Hospitality leaders, policymakers, investors, tourism authorities, sustainability professionals, development institutions, operators, educators, and emerging industry leaders from across Africa converged in Abuja for the 9th Edition of the International Hospitality, Tourism & Eco-Sustainability Forum (IHTEF Africa 9.0), reinforcing the platform’s growing role within Africa’s hospitality, tourism, and sustainability ecosystem.
Held at the Nigeria Army Conference Centre & Suites (NACCAS), Asokoro Abuja, the 2026 edition of the Hospitality Sustainability Summit Africa convened strategic conversations around hospitality investment, sustainable infrastructure, ESG integration, workforce transformation, operational excellence, tourism partnerships, leadership development, and the future of Africa’s hospitality economy.
This year’s Summit, themed: “Investing in Africa’s Sustainable Hospitality Future recorded significant ministerial and international participation, including representation from the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy of Nigeria, Hannatu Musa Musawa, as well as the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of The Gambia, Abdoulie Jobe.
The Gambian delegation also included senior tourism and government officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Director General of the Gambia Tourism Authority, further reinforcing growing regional collaboration and tourism diplomacy between African hospitality stakeholders.
Among the notable speakers and industry leaders who participated at the Summit were Trevor Ward of W Hospitality Group; Dr. Soromidayo George, Director of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability at the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC); Ahmed Raza, District Director, Radisson Hotel Group Nigeria; Dr. Oluwaseun Alabi of Afreximbank; Karl Hala; Peter Idoko, General Manager, Legend Hotel Lagos Airport, Curio Collection by Hilton; Lanre Balogun of Glocient Hospitality (Managers of Ikogosi Warm Springs) and Dr. Badaki, President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), alongside several hospitality executives, operators, and sustainability professionals.
Speaking during the Summit in a keynote address titled “Investing in Africa’s Sustainable Hospitality Future,” Managing Director of W Hospitality Group, Trevor Ward, presented findings from the 2026 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa Report.
He noted that: “Nigeria continues to demonstrate strong hospitality growth potential and remains one of Africa’s most strategic hotel development markets. The pace of branded hotel expansion across Lagos, Abuja, and other emerging destinations reflects growing long-term investor confidence in the country’s hospitality and tourism sector.”
According to the report, Africa’s hotel development pipeline has reached a historic high of 675 hotels and resorts representing 123,846 rooms currently under development across the continent.
The report revealed an 18.6 percent increase compared to 2025 figures, reflecting growing investor confidence in Africa’s hospitality and tourism industry despite economic and infrastructure challenges.
He noted that Egypt remained Africa’s largest hotel development market with 45,984 rooms in the pipeline, while Nigeria ranked among the continent’s leading hospitality investment destinations alongside Kenya, Ethiopia and Cape Verde.
Key strategic sessions at the Summit included: “Hospitality, Tourism Infrastructure & Capital Allocation”; From Development to Execution: Developers, Operators & ESG Experts; “Navigating Hospitality Growth Through Policy, Partnerships & Corporate Relations”; “Building Profitable Hospitality Workforces: Skills, Talent & Sustainability”
The Summit also featured participation and engagement from leading hospitality and corporate brands including the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Glocient Hospitality, AATC Onomo Allure, Sheraton Lagos, Pedestal Hospitality, Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, and Lake Greenfield, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham among others.
One of the major highlights of the Summit was the highly engaging IHTEF Bartender Academy Competition sponsored by the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in partnership with the Coca-Cola Youth Empowered Programme.
The competition, which focused on youth empowerment, hospitality skills development, creativity, and mixology excellence, attracted strong participation from emerging hospitality talents across Nigeria.
Miss Victoria Esu, a student of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Abuja, emerged winner of the competition and received the grand prize of ₦1 Million, while the second and third place winners received ₦500,000 each.
The Summit also featured the IHTEF Bed Making Competition and Emerging Youth Leaders Session, both designed to reinforce the platform’s broader commitment towards practical skills development, workforce transformation, operational excellence, and preparing the next generation of hospitality professionals for Africa’s evolving service economy.
Speaking at the close of the Summit, Founder & Chairman of IHTEF, Chibuikem Diala, expressed appreciation to speakers, sponsors, delegates, exhibitors, partners, media organisations, volunteers, and institutional stakeholders for their continued support towards the platform.
“IHTEF continues to evolve beyond a conference into a knowledge platform, an intellectual marketplace, and a gathering of leaders committed to shaping the future of hospitality and tourism in Africa. The conversations, partnerships, and collaborations witnessed during this edition reaffirm the enormous opportunities that exist within Africa’s hospitality ecosystem,” he stated.
The organisers further disclosed that preparations towards the landmark 10th Edition of IHTEF Africa will commence immediately, with a stronger focus on continental engagement, institutional partnerships, industry intelligence, workforce development, and long-term hospitality ecosystem growth across Africa.
Signed:
IHTEF Media & Communications Team
📧 hello@ihtefafrica.com