A new study into Africa’s hospitality industry forecasts more than 700 new hotel restaurants and bars will open on the continent before 2025.

The study was put out by food and beverage strategy and design firm KEANE, and released at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum.

“Over the last 70 years, the restaurant market internationally has been built on three factors; growing towns and cities, broad distribution of income and a growing middle class. When you take into account that the anticipated rate of urbanisation, expected across Africa, will outpace India and China in the next 25 years, Africa will become one of the world’s most vibrant dining scenes,” said Stefan Breg, group strategy director, KEANE.

During the presentation Breg explained Africa is at a crossroads in the way hotels are marketed to guests. Africa, as a whole, could go the American route and market rooms first and foremost, with two–three food and beverage venues per property. On the other side, they could go the route more common in the Middle East, where each property typically has four–five venues.

Hotels throughout Africa will add hundreds of hotels in the next few years, but the focus is, and will continue to be, sustainable development, officials at the conference said.