BWH Hotels (https://apo-opa.co/4uyD3GL), a leading global hospitality enterprise including WorldHotels™ (https://apo-opa.co/4uzDlgu), Best Western® Hotels & Resorts (https://apo-opa.co/3NbqMr0) and SureStay® Hotels (https://apo-opa.co/4lHsm0A), announced today its renewed commitment to the African continent as the group prepares to participate in the upcoming Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa  (www.FutureHospitality.com/Africa), taking place from 31 March – 1 April, 2026. The company will once again be represented by Wytze van den Berg, VP International Operations, BWH Hotels and his team, who will contribute to key discussions on hospitality investment and growth across the region.

 

Strong Momentum Across High Growth Markets

BWH Hotels continues to see rising confidence and sustained investor interest across African markets, driven by increasing regional stability and strong long-term inbound travel projections. “Investor confidence comes with predictability. While the world is filled with uncertainties, we are seeing growing trust and confidence across many African countries,” said van den Berg. “The continent’s future projected tourism numbers are promising and reinforce investor appetite across key markets.”

The company highlights Ethiopia, Tanzania, Egypt and Morocco as markets showing particularly strong development momentum, supported by a wave of new pipelines and hotel projects, especially in Northern Africa.

Record Pipeline Growth in Morocco and Egypt

Morocco and Egypt are now the two fastest‑growing development markets in Africa. “In the past year, we have signed more than 25 new pipeline properties in Morocco, and we are actively working on a dozen additional projects in Egypt,” noted van den Berg. “These two markets are rapidly accelerating and represent major growth engines for our brand family across Africa.” This expansion supports BWH Hotels’ strategy to broaden its portfolio including Best Western Hotels & Resorts and WorldHotels, offering diverse development opportunities for different market segments—from upscale and upper‑midscale properties to soft‑branded luxury.

New Openings Strengthen Regional Presence

Strategic expansion across Africa continues with four new hotel openings planned for this year, strengthening the group’s footprint in key regional markets. The growth includes two new properties in Nigeria, one in Ethiopia, and one in Tanzania—reflecting the brand’s commitment to supporting Africa’s dynamic tourism and business‑travel sectors. In Nigeria, the Best Western Premier McDons Skye Hotel and the Best Western Plus Ambience Hotel Ikeja represent the group’s upscale and upper‑midscale offerings, combining modern design, international service standards and locally inspired hospitality. These openings underscore BWH Hotels’ long‑term investment in Africa and its mission to deliver high‑quality accommodations in fast‑growing destinations.

 

Hotel Highlights

Best Western Premier McDons Skye Hotel, Owerri, Nigeria

• Upscale, contemporary hotel designed for both business and leisure travelers
• Rooftop bar and restaurant offering panoramic city views
• Stylish guestrooms with premium bedding, modern technology and workspace-friendly layouts
• State-of-the-art fitness center and outdoor pool
• Flexible meeting and event facilities equipped with advanced AV solutions
• Convenient access to major commercial districts and transport links

Best Western Plus Ambience Hotel – Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

• Upper-midscale hotel situated in one of Lagos’ key business hubs
• Modern, comfortable rooms featuring ergonomic design and high-speed connectivity
• On‑site restaurant serving international and Nigerian cuisine
• Well-equipped meeting room ideal for small corporate gatherings
• Fitness center and relaxation areas for business travelers on the go
• Proximity to Murtala Muhammed International Airport and Ikeja City Mall

Looking Ahead to FHS Africa 2026

As BWH Hotels prepares for FHS Africa, the company aims to further engage with investors, developers and hospitality leaders to drive conversations around sustainable hotel growth, brand diversification and the longterm outlook for African travel demand. “We are proud to once again participate in FHS Africa, which remains a critical platform for shaping the future of the continent’s hospitality sector,” concluded van den Berg. “Africa continues to be a priority region for BWH Hotels, and we look forward to contributing our insights and strengthening our partnerships across the continent.”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 16, 2026/APO Group/ –FHS Africa (www.FutureHospitality.com/Africa), organised by The Bench, is proud to announce the 2026 recipients of the prestigious FHS Africa Awards.

 

This year’s honourees are Vimbai Masiyiwa, Co-Founder and CEO of Batoka Africa, who will receive the Leadership Award, and Colin Bell, CEO of Natural Selection and former CEO of Wilderness, who will receive the Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality Award.

Both awards will be presented in Nairobi during FHS Africa 2026, taking place from 31 March to 1 April 2026. The recipients will be celebrated as part of the event programme, including exclusive one-to-one interviews in which they will share reflections on their life stories, leadership journeys and the milestones that have shaped their impact on African hospitality.

As Co-Founder and CEO of Batoka Africa, Vimbai Masiyiwa is shaping a new era of African hospitality. The company operates a portfolio of luxury safari properties in Zimbabwe, grounded in conservation, sustainability and community empowerment.

Under her leadership, Batoka Africa has championed responsible tourism that protects biodiversity while creating meaningful economic opportunity for local communities. Masiyiwa is recognised for advancing gender inclusion in leadership and for building an African-owned brand that competes confidently on the global stage while remaining deeply rooted in shared value and local impact.

Commenting on the award, Vimbai Masiyiwa said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the FHS Africa Leadership Award. For us at Batoka Africa, hospitality is about stewardship, of land, of culture and of opportunity. This recognition reflects the dedication of our teams and the communities we work alongside in Zimbabwe. I look forward to sharing our journey in Nairobi and celebrating the continued evolution of African-led hospitality.”

Colin Bell is one of the most influential figures in African conservation tourism. Through his leadership at Natural Selection and previously at Wilderness, he has helped shape a model of high-end, conservation-driven safari experiences that balance commercial success with environmental stewardship. Over the course of his career, Bell has played a central role in expanding conservation tourism into new territories, strengthening partnerships with governments and communities, and demonstrating how hospitality can directly support biodiversity protection and local livelihoods. His work has positioned African safari tourism as a global benchmark for sustainable luxury.

Colin Bell said: “I’m deeply grateful for this recognition from FHS Africa. Hospitality, at its best, connects guests to wild places in meaningful ways while safeguarding those places for generations to come. I look forward to reflecting on that journey in Nairobi and celebrating the collective effort of so many people who have shaped Africa’s conservation tourism story.”

Matthew Weihs, Growth Director at The Bench, added: “Vimbai Masiyiwa and Colin Bell are two exceptionally worthy winners. Both have redefined what leadership in African hospitality looks like – purpose-driven, commercially astute and deeply committed to community and conservation. We cannot wait to showcase their stories and personal journeys on stage in Nairobi at FHS Africa 2026.”

FHS Africa 2026 will bring together hospitality investors, owners, operators and industry leaders from across the continent and beyond for two days of forward-looking discussion, high-level networking and celebration in Nairobi.

BRUSSELS, Belgium, February 18, 2026/APO Group/ –Radisson Rewards, the global loyalty program for Radisson Hotel Group (https://apo-opa.co/4tD4tLb), has surpassed 27 million members within three years, reflecting its rapid growth and strong global appeal. In 2025, the program introduced a series of new and expanded partnerships across banking, travel and lifestyle sectors, strengthening its promise to make earning and using points easier, more relevant and more rewarding for members worldwide.

These new partnerships not only broaden everyday earning opportunities but also simplify points conversion and deliver added value through exclusive benefits. As Radisson Hotel Group’s global portfolio continues to grow, now spanning more than 1,600 hotels including member favourite resorts and city hotels, members now have more cities than ever to redeem their rewards in.

Strengthening financial partnerships across key markets

As part of Radisson Rewards’ expansion strategy across high-growth regions, including the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the program has significantly broadened its global banking network in 2025.

These partnerships form part of a broader expansion strategy in Radisson Hotel Group high growth markets of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and India and they enable clients to seamlessly convert points from the bank’s own loyalty program into Radisson Rewards points.

As the largest bank in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, Al Rajhi Bank (https://apo-opa.co/4czwvB0) joins Radisson Hotel Group as a significant new partner, marking a major milestone in the Group’s expansion across the Kingdom. This momentum is further strengthened by a new partnership with HSBC Bank (https://apo-opa.co/3OMROFi) in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Together with AI-enabled meetings and events solutions and culturally tailored F&B concepts, these initiatives deepen Radisson Hotel Group’s connection with guests and loyalty members throughout the region.

The Group has achieved record growth in India, recording 33 new hotel signings and expanding into 11 new cities in 2025. It has now partnered with HDFC Bank (https://apo-opa.co/4aqcUlm), India’s largest private sector bank, and Axis Bank (https://apo-opa.co/3OjloCk), the third-largest private sector bank in India, to offer guests and clients unrivalled access to hotels and rewards.

In the United Kingdom, Radisson Hotel Group formed a new partnership with business credit card provider Capital on Tap (https://apo-opa.co/4b0SYor), offering their PRO customers an exclusive tier match. This grants them immediate VIP status to utilize within Radisson Rewards. As part of this collaboration, all Capital on Tap bank customers can also seamlessly convert points earned through the bank’s loyalty program directly into Radisson Rewards points, creating a streamlined path to enhanced travel benefits and rewards.

Everyday rewards through lifestyle partnerships

In an exciting expansion, the new Radisson Rewards Shop introduces a powerful new way for members to accelerate their earnings, uniquely positioning Radisson Rewards as a lifestyle ecosystem rather than a travel‑only program by allowing members to earn points on everyday purchases while shopping with their favourite brands. Brands in the portal include lifestyle favourites like Fnac, Sephora, Adidas, Nike, Apple, and Samsung. This elevated proposition makes Radisson Rewards stand out turning routine shopping into a rewarding experience that strengthens long‑term loyalty and keeps the brand present in members’ everyday lives. Radisson Rewards Shop (https://apo-opa.co/4amXiz7) is currently available in the UK, US, India, Spain, France, Italy and Germany.

Further strengthening its travel ecosystem, Radisson Rewards has extended its partnership with GetYourGuide (https://apo-opa.co/4kKL8DI), a booking platform for travel tours, attractions, excursions and activities around the world. Radisson Rewards members in all markets are now able to earn points per every US dollar spent in every market worldwide – enabling them more experiences, and more rewards.

Radisson Rewards offers one of the sector’s most streamlined tier structures, enabling members to reach the highest tier twice as fast as traditional hotel loyalty programs, with benefits available from day one. Combined with dynamic redemption and an expanding partner ecosystem, members enjoy greater flexibility and more meaningful ways to earn points and redeem them for exceptional experiences across the more than 1600 hotels.

“These partnerships reflect our commitment to expanding Radisson Rewards beyond hotel stays and creating a truly global lifestyle program,” said Ana Martinez de Velasco, Global Director, Radisson Rewards at Radisson Hotel Group “By integrating with leading brands across banking, travel, and retail, we are giving our members more ways to earn, more ways to engage, and more reasons to stay loyal.”

Learn more about Radisson Rewards (https://apo-opa.co/40i0GVW).

For high-resolution pictures, click here (http://apo-opa.co/4kEyu97).