Namibia to shine at hospitality forum

The Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), which is the premier tourism and hospitality investment conference in Africa, will take place in Windhoek from 25 to 27 June 2024. This is the first time the conference, which attracts many prominent international hotel owners, investors, financiers, management companies and their advisors, will take place in a SADC country. According to a statement by AHIF, the venue for the conference will be the Mövenpick and Mercure hotels in Windhoek. Both properties are receiving a total makeover after they were acquired in 2021 by a fund managed by Kasada Capital Management.“Consequently, AHIF will showcase the relaunch of both properties.”The weekend before the conference, the forum will feature various trips to see some of Namibia’s best hospitality investment projects and tourism attractions, it added.“They include spectacular desert scenery, awesome adventure sports and sensational safaris on which it is possible to see endangered black and white rhino, antelope, cheetah, elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, ostriches and zebras.”These trips will not only be educational, but will also provide valuable networking, AHIF said.National potentialIn the seven-year period prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Namibia’s tourism sector had been growing consistently, it said. According to the tourism ministry, tourism numbers grew by about 5% per year from just under 1.2 million in 2012 to 1.6 million in 2019.“However, the pandemic pummelled the country’s tourism industry, with visitor arrivals in 2020 falling below 200 00.”Since then, they have recovered by 40% in 2021 and jumped by 98.1% to 461 027 in 2022. “Securing the bid to host AHIF 2024 is not just a win for Namibia, but also an affirmation of our national potential. We are delighted to welcome the international hospitality investment community to explore the untapped investment potential of our tourism industry,” Nangula Uaandja, chairperson and CEO of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), said.She said Namibia is a strikingly beautiful country, with picturesque landscapes that are guaranteed to charm at first sight.“More than that, we are a country that is committed to developing our people by attracting foreign investments that catalyse economic activity and employment creation.”Investing in AfricaAccording to CEO Olivier Granet and CIO David Damiba, they are looking forward to welcoming guests to Kasada’s newly refurbished and relaunched Mövenpick and Mercure hotels. “The full refurbishment at Namibia’s leading hotel complexes and conference centre is testament to our strategy of bringing capital and expertise to enhance the hospitality sector in key cities across Africa.”Meanwhile, Matthew Weihs - managing director of The Bench, which organises AHIF - said they are very excited that the event will for the first time go to a SADC country next year. “Investing in Africa is all about uncovering and seizing new opportunities.”

Namibia to shine at hospitality forum

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-03

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Namibia to shine at hospitality forum

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-03

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