FHS Africa 2026: A Different Kind of Hospitality Conversation

This year marked our first time participating in the FHS Africa , and it was a very different experience from the typical expos we’re used to.

The focus wasn’t just on showcasing products, but on meaningful conversations and industry collaboration. Through speed networking and curated sessions, we engaged with a new audience, hotel groups, management companies, policymakers, developers and ecosystem players across tech, payments, sustainability among many others.

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A few things that stuck with us:

Trevor Ward ‘s session on the gap between announced hotel developments and those that materialize was a reality check on challenges faced. The ambition is real. But execution across African markets is a different story.

That conversation was picked up by the next panel, where Fiona Craw (Westmont Hospitality Group) Clemence Lormand (Rotana Hotels), and Daniel Trappler (Radisson Hotels) brought it to life from both the brand and owner side. The picture they painted was candid and familiar. One challenge kept surfacing above the rest: running out of funding before even reaching pre-opening. Projects stall not because the vision is wrong, but because the runway runs out too soon. And that, as much as anything, is where the real opportunity lies for those who can help close that gap.

Serena Hotels Group CEO Ashish Sharma ACA, Global EMBA discussion on resilient, self-sustaining hospitality models made us think differently about what leadership in this industry actually looks like, especially in markets that can’t afford fragility.

Through Bani Haddad ’s panel, we also learnt the importance of management companies like Aleph Hospitality, and the operational complexities of managing hotels across multiple markets.

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There’s still a perception in some international circles that Africa is too complex, too risky, too fragmented. But on the ground, the story is completely different. The market is more dynamic and ready than outsiders assume, and that gap between perception and reality is exactly where opportunity sits.

The biggest takeaway? The narrative is shifting.

For us as suppliers Clique Ltd , the question that kept coming up was direct: Can you consistently supply across multiple regions?

Honestly, it pushed us to think harder about scaling beyond East Africa into West and Southern Africa. That’s a challenge we’re taking seriously.

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A few things we’re watching:

• International brands are entering the African market, steadily and with more confidence
• The ecosystem is crying out for stronger supplier-operator collaboration
• Governments will make or break the pace of growth
• Local economies need to be part of the win, not an afterthought

FHS Africa wasn’t just an event. It was a reminder that the future of hospitality here is collaborative, evolving — and honestly, more exciting than the headlines give it credit for.