Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) Podcast

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, Michael Aldridge, Founder and CEO of KOFISI, shares the story of how the company has evolved from its beginnings in Kenya into one of Africa's most influential workspace brands. He talks about KOFISI's unique approach to "hotelifying" the workplace—blending hospitality, design, and service to create full-service environments that enhance productivity and employe...

In this episode of the FHS Podcast, JoBecker-Birck, Director of PR & Communications at WorldHotels, discusses the power of storytelling in the industry. It focuses on how brands are created and elevated through the mediums of PR and storytelling. The conversation also focuses on how the PR domain is evolving and how it can play a significant role in writing a hotel's success story    

In this episode, we explore Kenya's evolving hospitality landscape at a time when Africa's inbound tourism is growing at twice the global average. The conversation examines the key drivers behind Kenya's resilience, the gaps between policy ambition and on-the-ground execution, and the country's strategic shift toward business, MICE, and digital nomad markets.

In this episode, the conversation explored how 88 Nairobi represents a new chapter of urban luxury in Africa and how landmark developments can reshape investor confidence and resident expectations. The discussion examined evolving demand patterns across Kenya, shifts in capital flow, and what is needed to unlock greater institutional investment into African real estate and hospitality.

Brooke Friswold, Conservational Biologist at Bring the Elephant Home, shares a compelling vision for how conservation, science, and hospitality can work together to create sustainable ecotourism models. In this episode, she outlines efforts to rewild South Africa's captive elephants, develop data-driven policies to protect elephant wellbeing, and launch immersive conservation tourism programs that...

What does it take to build a hospitality brand rooted in African identity and driven by community impact? In this FHS Africa podcast episode, Matthew Weihs is joined by Tadiwos Belete, CEO and Founder of Kuriftu Resorts, to unpack his extraordinary story — from leaving Ethiopia as a teenage refugee to founding Boston Partners PLC and igniting tourism development in his home country. Tadiwos reflec...

In this episode, we sit down with Khalil Manji , CEO of CHIC , to explore the future of hospitality investment across Africa — with a particular focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other emerging markets. Khalil shares insights into why destinations like the DRC are becoming increasingly attractive to investors, the challenges of pioneering in untapped regions, and how strategic pa...

With over 4,200 hotels across 100 destinations, BWH Hotels has transformed from a midscale brand into a global player covering everything from luxury to glamping. In this episode of the FHS Africa Podcast, we sit down with Ron Pohl , President of WorldHotels and Head of International Operations at BWH Hotels, to explore the group's evolving strategy. From expanding in Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Bra...

In this episode of the FHS Africa Podcast , Matthew Weihs speaks with Wesam Okasha, Managing Director of TUI BLUE , about the brand's ambitious expansion across Africa . With recent triple-branded developments in Kenya , a growing presence in Zanzibar and South Africa , and a focus on sustainable tourism , TUI BLUE is redefining hospitality across the continent. Wesam shares insights into the bran...

This AHIF podcast episode dives into Africa's dynamic hospitality market with expert insights from political economist Daniel Silke. Hosted by Matthew Weiss, the discussion explores the continent's growth drivers, key market trends, and investment opportunities that are shaping Africa's hospitality landscape. From economic resilience and demographic shifts to air connectivity and sustainable touri...

In this podcast, Matthew Weihs hosts Jameel Verjee, CEO of City Blue Hotels, and Claire Van Enk, founder of Farm to Feed, exploring their innovative partnership in tackling food waste and promoting sustainability across Africa. Claire introduces Farm to Feed's mission as a B2B marketplace for surplus produce, addressing significant food loss issues in Kenya. Jamil discusses City Blue Hotels' commi...

In this episode of the AHIF podcast, Wayne Godwin, co-CEO of JLL in Africa, provides a comprehensive overview of the hospitality investment landscape in Africa. He discusses the significant surge in transaction activity, surpassing 2019 levels, and highlights the growing interest in leisure properties across the continent. Wayne explores the opportunities and challenges facing investors, emphasizi...

This episode of the AHIF podcast features Erwan Garnier, Development Director for Africa at Radisson Hotel Group. Erwan discusses Radisson's extensive presence across the continent, with over 100 hotels operational or under development in 32 African countries. He highlights their strategic focus on key markets like Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt, while also pursuing opportunities in eme...

In this AHIF podcast episode, Matthew Weihs sits down with Wesam Okasha, Managing Director of TUI Blue, to delve into the brand's remarkable journey since its establishment in 2016. Okasha sheds light on TUI Blue's ambitious growth targets, surpassing expectations by opening 97 hotels in their initial three years. He discusses their strategic expansion into new markets, including Africa and Asia,...

Discussion with Wytze van den Berk, VP of International Operations for BWH, highlighting BWH's growth post-acquisition of World Hotels, expansion plans in Africa, diverse brand portfolio, and opportunities and challenges in the African market.

In the latest episode of the AHIF podcast, Matthew Weihs and Trevor Ward delve into the intricacies of Africa's hospitality market. With a focus on the annual Hotel Chain Development in Africa pipeline report, they explore the challenges, trends, and opportunities shaping the continent's hotel industry. From the surge in resort developments to the impact of currency devaluation on project viabilit...

In this episode of the AHIF podcast, Rahul Chaudhary, MD and CEO of CG Corp Global and CG Hospitality Holdings, shares insights on the remarkable growth and strategic ventures of CG Global over the past two years. From expanding into emerging markets like Nepal and Sri Lanka to venturing into the automobile industry, Rahul highlights the group's dynamic approach to investment. Furthermore, he emph...

In this episode of the AHIF podcast, Michael Aldridge, the Founder and CEO of Kofisi, shares profound insights into the dynamic world of shared workspaces. The conversation unfolds the strategic growth of Kofisi, fueled by a unique blend of hospitality and co-working principles. Aldridge sheds light on the sustainability practices embedded within Kofisi's operations and highlights the pivotal role...

Thomas Emanuel, Senior Director at STR, shares invaluable insights in this insightful podcast. The episode examines the recovery dynamics of the continent's diverse markets, presenting key statistics that underscore the robust resurgence of Africa's hotel industry. From dissecting occupancy and average rates trends to spotlighting exceptional performances in cities such as Lagos, Addis Ababa, and...

Suhail Bhatia, Director of Asset Management, shares the inception of CHIC, highlighting its commitment to bringing world-class accommodation to a region hungry for quality. Dive into the challenges and triumphs of simultaneously developing five state-of-the-art hotels, fueled by a vision for sustainable growth. Explore the strategic partnerships, including the game-changing collaboration with Acco...

JS Anand, Founder & CEO of Labour Hotels, shares his vision for expanding in Africa, exploring opportunities in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and West Africa. He highlights the need for service improvement, training, and government support in the African hospitality landscape. Discussing challenges, JS addresses financial struggles, decision-making complexities, and the importance of synergizing efforts in th...

Dive into the world of hospitality investment in Africa with Matthew Weihs on the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum podcast. In this episode, he interviews Barney Haddad, the Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality. Discover how Aleph Hospitality operates as a third-party white label hotel operator, providing flexible management services for hotel owners across Africa. Explore the unique challeng...

Maya Ziadeh, the Chief Development Officer for premium midscale and economy brands in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at Accor discussed Accor's strategy for the African hospitality investment market, their portfolio of brands, and their priorities for growth in Africa in our AHIF podcast series,  Maya highlighted the potential for hotel investment in Africa, with its young and fast-growing po...

TUI Blue is not just another hotel operator, but a socially responsible company that invests in people and communities. In a recent AHIF podcast episode, tHead of Global Development and Managing Director, TUI Hotels & Resorts discussed their journey, development opportunities, and pipeline in Africa. TUI Blue's social corporate responsibility is at the heart of their business model, and they have...

Thomas discusses the data solutions provided by STR, which collects data from over 78,000 hotels worldwide on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. The company provides benchmarking analysis to help clients understand their competitive position in the market and their direct competitors. They offer a range of key performance indicators, including occupancy, average rate, and revenue per available ro...