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Radisson Hotel Group Surpasses 100 Hotels in Africa, Accelerating 2030 Growth Ambition

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Radisson Hotel

The last 12 months set a new benchmark with more than 2,500 rooms signed and multiple market entries

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 1, 2026/APO Group/ –Radisson Hotel Group has reached a significant milestone in Africa, with more than 100 hotels across the continent in operation and under development. Radisson Blu continues to anchor the legacy footprint. At the same time, the Radisson brand is the fastest riser, supported by a strong conversion engine and a concrete pipeline that continues to translate into openings. Building on this momentum, the Group has signed over 15 new hotels and roughly 2,500 rooms in the last 12 months, including new market entries in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe. This week, Radisson Hotel Group is also attending FHS Africa ( www.FutureHospitality.com) in Nairobi, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its presence and strengthening strategic partnerships across the continent.

Over the past five years, Radisson and Radisson Blu have ranked among the most signed brands in Africa, with one of the highest shares of cumulative openings. The last 12 months set a new benchmark with more than 2,500 rooms signed and multiple market entries. Priority growth markets remain Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria, where the Group is deepening its presence and widening its brand distribution.

Ramsay Rankoussi, Regional Chief Development Officer, Radisson Hotel Group, commented: “We’ve crossed the 100-hotel mark in Africa by staying true to our plan, focusing on where we can lead, moving fast on quality conversions, and partnering with owners who share our ambition. The next phase is about depth in Morocco and Nigeria, a smarter footprint in South Africa, and a stronger resort offering that matches where travelers want to go. Our pipeline is built to open, not just to announce. That is why our conversion share is high, our time to market is short, and our brands are gaining ground in the cities and resort destinations that matter most.”

Nigeria shows the model’s resilience. The Group now holds a strong position in the country with 13 hotels in operation and pipeline, while Abuja is carrying a significant active pipeline with three hotels totaling 458 keys.

South Africa is being reshaped with priorities in Cape Town, targeted growth in secondary cities such as Durban and Pretoria, and a sharper focus on leisure corridors that include Kruger National Park, Sun City, and the Garden Route. The Group plans to enter Zanzibar and is considering lodge, safari, and affiliation opportunities across Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia to meet the rising demand for nature-led experiences.

Conversions remain a core lever for scale and speed. In the last five years, more than 15 hotels, equal to almost 3,000 rooms, joined the portfolio through conversion. This helped the Group lead openings across the continent while keeping brand standards high and owners in mind.

Recent signings show the extensiveness of this strategy, with a balanced pipeline of city hotels, resort destinations, and quick-to-market conversions. These signings span the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Morocco, including Radisson Blu Kinshasa and three Radisson hotels in Lubumbashi, Radisson Harare, Park Inn Victoria Falls, Radisson Collection Lagos Atlantic, as well as new additions in Casablanca with Radisson Blu Resort & Conference Center Bouskoura, a first Radisson brand hotel in Rabat, and further expansion in Marrakech. Key signings include:

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Radisson Blu Hotel, Kinshasa
Upper-upscale flagship in Gombe

Opening late 2026. Set on Boulevard Colonel Tshatshi in the Gombe district, the hotel will offer 110 keys, including suites and a Presidential Suite. Guests can choose from a lobby bar, an all-day dining restaurant, and a pool bar. Wellness includes a gym, massage rooms, and an outdoor pool with a terrace. Meetings and events feature a modern event hall with a pre-function area. The address is well connected, 32 kilometers from N’djili International Airport, 10 kilometers from N’Dolo Airport, and 6 kilometers from Gare Centrale.

Radisson Hotel Lubumbashi
Panoramic city stay in the DRC’s second city

Opening mid-2027. Located on Revolution Road Avenue, the hotel will feature 97 keys, including junior suites and a Presidential Suite. Dining spans a lobby bar, an all-day dining venue, and a rooftop bar and grill with city views. Three flexible meeting rooms and a pre-function area support business and social events. Facilities include a gym and a swimming pool. The location sits near Kipopo Lake, Lubumbashi Golf Club, and La Plage, and is 12 kilometers from Luano International Airport.

Radisson Blu Apartments Lubumbashi
Upscale apartment living in Lubumbashi’s prestigious Quartier Golf

Targeted for 2030. A 160-room property located in Quartier Golf, one of Lubumbashi’s most upscale residential districts, near Kipopo Lake and surrounded by luxury homes and key landmarks including Lubumbashi Golf and La Plage. Planned amenities include a specialty restaurant and bar, a pool bar, and a gym, offering a premium stay experience for extended-stay and leisure travelers.

Radisson Airport Hotel Lubumbashi
A strategically located airport hotel designed for ease and connectivity

Set to open in 2028, this 105-room property will be located just 6 kilometers from Luano International Airport, around a 10-minute drive, making it well positioned for business travelers, transit guests, and airline crews. Planned facilities include a restaurant, lobby bar, pool bar, meeting rooms, and a swimming pool, combining practicality with a welcoming hospitality experience close to the airport.

Egypt

Radisson Resort Ain Sokhna Groove
A large-scale Red Sea resort in one of Egypt’s growing leisure destinations

Planned for 2029, Radisson Resort Ain Sokhna Groove will offer 469 rooms, including 50 family rooms, as part of The Groove Ain Sokhna mixed-use development. Located along the Red Sea coast, around 30 kilometers south of Ain Sokhna and approximately 150 kilometers from Cairo, the resort is expected to feature private beach access, a spa, gym and fitness center, several restaurants, plus a ballroom and meeting rooms, catering to both holidaymakers and events demand.

Radisson Serviced Apartments COY Sheikh Zayed City
Flexible extended-stay accommodation in a fast-growing hub of Greater Cairo

Expected to open in 2030, this 120-key serviced apartments property, including six one-bedroom units, will form part of the COY development in Sheikh Zayed City. With a location just 13 kilometers from Sphinx International Airport and 14 kilometers from the Great Pyramids of Giza, the development sits close to major commercial, leisure, education, and healthcare destinations. Planned amenities include a coffee lounge, bar, kiosk, and meeting and event space integrated into the wider co-working environment.

Morocco

Radisson Blu Hotel & Conference Center, Casablanc a Bouskoura
Conference-ready address beside Palm Golf

A 119-key hotel with eight suites, a rooftop restaurant, and a dedicated conference center. Event facilities include two boardrooms, while a spa and a large outdoor pool cater to leisure travelers. The hotel is located 20 kilometers from Mohammed V International Airport and next to Palm Golf Palmeraie Country Club.

Radisson Hotel & Apartments Rabat Technopolis
Dual-component hub in the capital’s innovation park
A two-building project in Technopolis, 25 minutes from central Rabat. The hotel will offer 140 rooms, four dining venues, a pool, and a meeting and events space. The adjacent serviced apartment building adds 56 units. Technopolis connects businesses with leading education and research centers, creating a strong base for corporate demand.

Radisson Blu Resort Marrakech Ben Akil
Low-rise bungalows with views of Atlas Mountains

Opening early 2028. A 17-hectare estate featuring 80 bungalow-style accommodations, each with an outdoor terrace. Larger typologies include private pools. The resort sits beside Royal Golf Marrakech and is a 15-minute drive from the city center.

Nigeria

Radisson Hotel Aba
A new internationally branded hospitality destination for Aba

Targeted for 2031, Radisson Hotel Aba will introduce 120 rooms, including six junior suites, in a prime riverside location along the Aba River near key transport corridors. The hotel will become the first Radisson-branded property in Aba and the Group’s third branded hotel in Nigeria. Plans for the hotel include a gym, swimming pool, and several meeting rooms, serving both business and local demand. Sam Mbakwe International Airport in Owerri is approximately 56 kilometers away, or a 1 hour and 10 minute drive.

Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Yenagoa
A conference-focused hotel in the heart of an emerging Nigerian business center

Scheduled for 2027, the property will feature 196 rooms, including 16 junior suites, four executive suites, and two Presidential Suites, in Yenagoa, a city that is steadily strengthening its role as an administrative and commercial hub in southern Nigeria. Located near government institutions, business districts, and Bayelsa International Airport, approximately 33 kilometers or 40 minutes away, the hotel is set to benefit from the area’s ongoing infrastructure and hospitality growth while meeting rising demand for accommodation, meetings, and large-scale events.

Radisson Collection Hotel, Lagos Atlantic
Refined lifestyle luxury on the oceanfront of Lagos’ leading business district

Targeted for 2029, Radisson Collection Hotel, Lagos Atlantic will feature 107 rooms, including 16 executive suites and one Presidential Suite, on a prime oceanfront site on Victoria Island. As Lagos’ main financial and commercial district, Victoria Island is home to multinational companies, corporate headquarters, embassies, and strong year-round business activity. Located approximately 33 kilometers from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, around a 45-minute drive, the hotel will mark the second Radisson Collection property in Lagos.

South Africa

Radisson Serviced Apartments Umhlanga
A modern serviced apartment offering in the heart of Umhlanga’s business district

Planned for 2029, Radisson Serviced Apartments Umhlanga will introduce 155 rooms in a newly built development within Umhlanga Ridge, one of the area’s most established commercial and lifestyle hubs. The property will be within walking distance of Gateway Theatre of Shopping and close to major office precincts, including Umhlanga Ridge Business Park, La Lucia Office Park, and Glass House Office Park. Comprising studios and apartments, the project is designed to meet growing demand for high-quality extended-stay accommodation in the district.

Zimbabwe

New market entry

Radisson Serviced Apartments, Harare
Prime Borrowdale address for extended stays

Targeted for end-2028. A 147-key serviced apartments project within a master development near Maxwell Road in Borrowdale. The neighborhood is known for luxury residences, upscale shopping at Sam Levy’s Village, and entertainment at Borrowdale Racecourse. Planned amenities include a café and bar, a gym with sauna, and a pool with a deck. Set to be the only internationally branded hotel apartment offering in the area.

Park Inn by Radisson Victoria Falls Resort
A resort destination near one of the world’s most iconic natural landmarks

Expected to open in 2029, Park Inn by Radisson Victoria Falls Resort will offer 150 rooms, including five suites, in a setting overlooking Zambezi National Park. Located just 5 kilometers from Victoria Falls, around a 10-minute drive, the resort will be ideally positioned near one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, a destination that attracts more than 350,000 international visitors each year. With year-round waterfall views, adventure tourism, and access to safari experiences in the surrounding national parks, the property will cater to both leisure travelers and tour groups. Victoria Falls Airport is located approximately 22 kilometers, or a 23-minute drive, away.

Leading with the most diverse footprint across the continent, with presence in more than 30 African countries, Radisson Hotel Group blends depth in focus markets with selective entry into new destinations each year.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Future Hospitality Summit Africa (FHS Africa).

 

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Africa Finance Corporation Appoints Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Yemi Cardoso as Chairman of the Board

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Mr Cardoso’s appointment comes as AFC continues to expand its role in financing and developing strategic infrastructure assets that address Africa’s infrastructure gap, accelerate industrialisation and strengthen regional integration

LAGOS, Nigeria, October 14, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, announces the appointment of Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as Chairman of its Board of Directors. He succeeds the immediate-past Chair, Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, who served the Corporation meritoriously during her tenure and continues to serve as a board member.

 




 
 

Mr Cardoso brings extensive experience spanning international banking, investment management, economic policy and public sector leadership. Since assuming office as Governor of the CBN in September 2023, he has led a far-reaching programme of monetary, financial-sector, and institutional reforms to restore macroeconomic stability, strengthen policy credibility, and rebuild investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy.

Under his leadership, the CBN has implemented significant reforms to Nigeria’s foreign exchange market, addressed longstanding foreign exchange obligations, strengthened monetary policy transmission, and enhanced institutional governance and transparency. The Bank has also concluded a recapitalisation programme for the banking sector, aimed at strengthening the resilience and capacity of Nigeria’s financial system to support sustainable economic growth.

I look forward to working with the Board, management and member states to advance The Africa We Build 2050

Prior to his appointment as Governor, Mr Cardoso built a distinguished career in international banking and public service, including a 12-year tenure as Chairman of Citibank Nigeria and service as Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Lagos State. In the latter role, he contributed to economic planning and fiscal management in one of Africa’s largest economies. He holds a degree from Aston University in the United Kingdom and a master’s in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School, where he also served on the Alumni Board.

Mr Cardoso’s appointment comes as AFC continues to expand its role in financing and developing strategic infrastructure assets that address Africa’s infrastructure gap, accelerate industrialisation and strengthen regional integration. His experience in financial sector reform, institutional governance and capital markets will provide valuable perspective on the Corporation’s strategic direction as it mobilises investment to unlock Africa’s economic potential.

Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr Cardoso as our Board Chairman. He shares our conviction that Africa’s lasting stability depends on its productive capacity. His leadership will strengthen AFC as we advance The Africa We Build 2050, mobilising African capital to build the infrastructure and industries that create jobs, prosperity and dignity for our people. We also sincerely thank Mrs Samuel-Ogbu for her dedication and contribution to AFC’s board during her tenure.”

Mr. Cardoso commented on his appointment, saying: “A more productive Africa is a more stable Africa. AFC has the credibility and track record to mobilise capital and build the infrastructure and industries that drive transformation. I look forward to working with the Board, management and member states to advance The Africa We Build 2050. Our measure of success must be the productive capacity we create, the industries we enable and the jobs we support.”

AFC continues to advance transformational infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa, with recent milestones including achieving financial close on the US$753 million Lobito Corridor Railway Project in Angola, to support the rehabilitation, upgrade, and long-term operation of the 1,300-kilometre brownfield rail corridor; supporting a US$600 million facility for Dangote Group’s US$7 billion fertiliser expansion programme to scale production in Nigeria; and committing to a combined US$300 million investment alongside Vision Invest in WIOCC Group to accelerate the expansion of critical digital infrastructure across the continent. These investments reflect AFC’s unique approach to developing strategic infrastructure platforms that connect markets, strengthen industrial value chains and mobilise capital at scale to drive Africa’s economic transformation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

 




 

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Ghana Targets End to Liquid Fuel Purchases for Power as Gas Supply Expands

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GECF

Ghana, Senegal and the GECF outlined how African producers can grow domestic gas use alongside exports at the GECF-AEC Strategic Forum

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 14, 2026/APO Group/ –Ghana expects to stop procuring liquid fuels for power generation next year, John Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, said during a Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF)-hosted strategic session at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town. Ghana has already cut its liquid fuel purchases for electricity from eight cargoes to two, he said, as domestic gas and imports from Nigeria replace diesel and heavy fuel oil in thermal plants.

 




 
 

Ghana’s gas policy prioritizes domestic processing, with gas directed first to power generation and then to industry, Jinapor said. The switch from liquid fuels saved Ghana about $500 million in a single year through import substitution, at a time when electricity demand is growing about 10% annually. Nigeria supplies Ghana through the West African Gas Pipeline, and he said Ghana expects to double those volumes under its current agreements. Ghana is also building a 278 km pipeline to link its main power centers, and is using a levy on pump fuel to fund LPG adoption, targeting 50% penetration within three years.

We are a gas continent before an oil continent

Senegal, which began exporting LNG in 2025, is working to balance exports with supply to its own economy. El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, said companies often prioritize export markets, leaving governments to secure domestic supply. Senegal is targeting domestic gas supply of around 150 million standard cubic feet per day by 2030, delivered through a national gas network to power plants across the country. Diouf said the network’s pipeline, which has faced delays, is expected within nine months.

Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), called the choice between exports and domestic use “a false choice.” In his address, he said: “Exports mobilize capital, revenue and investment confidence. Domestic utilization is the development multiplier.” The GECF’s Global Gas Outlook projects African gas demand will more than double, from 175 billion cubic meters in 2024 to about 374 billion cubic meters by 2055.

Panel moderator Oliver Onyekweli, Partner at McKinsey & Company, noted that only around 3% of gas commercialized in Africa is traded within the continent. Mshelbila said regional cooperation, gas storage and cross-border infrastructure will determine how resilient African markets are to future supply disruptions. He cited the Senegal-Mauritania Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project as a model.

NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, described gas as a “Swiss knife” for African development, with uses spanning power generation, petrochemicals and fertilizers. “We are a gas continent before an oil continent,” he asserted.

Ghana’s gas master plan, currently under review, sets a 15-year blueprint for the country’s gas infrastructure and budgeting.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

 

 




 

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Africa Energy Bank to Begin Financing Gas Projects in Early 2027, African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) Says

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African Energy Chamber

APPO’s new bank will prioritize regional corridors as GECF forum panelists flag a gap in domestic gas financing

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 14, 2026/APO Group/ –The Africa Energy Bank (AEB) will become operational within weeks and begin financing projects at the start of 2027, Farid Ghezali, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), said during the technical panel of the GECF-AEC Strategic Forum at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town. The bank, launched by APPO and Afreximbank, will use a corridor approach, prioritizing projects that deliver regional economic development across four pillars: export infrastructure, domestic infrastructure, clean cooking and power.

 




 
 

Ghezali said exports and domestic supply should not compete. “I come from a country where you cannot export any drop of gas if the domestic demand is not satisfied,” he said. APPO and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) signed an agreement earlier this year to work jointly on gas corridors, and plan to harmonize transit tariffs and gas contracts across member states.

I come from a country where you cannot export any drop of gas if the domestic demand is not satisfied

The panel focused on why domestic gas markets remain underdeveloped. Rashid Ali Abdallah, Executive Director of the African Energy Commission (AFREC), said recent investment has gone largely into export terminals while regional pipelines struggle to attract funding. He called for regional financing frameworks for cross-border infrastructure, and for joint planning of gas pipelines and power transmission.

In South Africa, industrial consumers face the loss of natural gas supply within about 18 months, with only a short-term coal supply bridge beyond that, said Jaco Human, Executive Officer of the Industrial Gas Users Association of Southern Africa (IGUA-SA). The gas aggregation company was formed to pool demand, share risk and underwrite new infrastructure across the region. Human said a proposed pipeline linking the Orange Basin to Western Cape and inland markets would need around 200 petajoules of annual demand. “We have much more demand than that, so the problem is not an economic one,” he said. “Rather, it is a coordination problem.”

Abubakar Abbas, Senior Energy Forecast Analyst at the GECF, said Africa will require at least $1 trillion over the next 30 years to develop its gas resources. Per capita energy consumption on the continent is about 25 gigajoules a year, well below the global average. Abderrezak Benyoucef, Head of Energy Studies at OPEC, said OPEC expects gas to rise from 17% to 23% of Africa’s energy mix by 2050. Electricity generation is projected to grow from under 1,000 TWh to about 2,700 TWh, with half of it from gas.

The AEB is headquartered in Abuja, where Nigeria handed over the bank’s offices to APPO and Afreximbank in February.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

 




 

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