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Podcasts

Podcasts

Episode 95: Protecting the Wild: Merging Tourism and Conservation in Africa

In this Episode, Conservation Biologist Brooke Friswold explains how rewilding elephants, involving tourists in scientific research, and creating boundary-less landscapes can shape a new era of ecotourism, one where conservation and capital grow hand in hand.

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Podcasts

Episode 94: Building Africa's Next Powerhouse: The Journey of Tadiwos Belete

In this episode, we sit down with Tadiwos Belete, CEO & Founder of Kuriftu Resorts, to discuss his remarkable journey from refugee to resort builder, the power of locally built brands, and his vision for African hospitality across borders.

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Podcasts

Episode 93: Transforming Congo: Hospitality, Investment, and Opportunity with CHIC

In this episode, Khalil Manji, CEO of CHIC, discusses the future of hospitality investment in Africa with a spotlight on the Democratic Republic of Congo. From untapped opportunities in secondary cities to building successful partnerships in emerging markets, Khalil shares actionable insights on navigating new frontiers.

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Podcasts

Episode 92: BWH's Global Footprint: Independent Hotels, New Markets, and the Future of Travel

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.

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Podcasts

Episode 91: Tui Blue's Growth Strategy Across Africa

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.

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Podcasts

Navigating Africa’s Hospitality Market: Insights on Economic Shifts, Connectivity, and Investment

In this AHIF podcast, host Matthew Weihs and political economist Daniel Silke explore Africa’s booming hospitality market, covering key trends, investment opportunities, and economic shifts driving the sector forward. Tune in to see why Africa is the next big destination for hospitality investment.

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Podcasts

Episode 89: Sustainable Solutions - Tackling Food Waste in Africa with CityBlue Hotels and Farm to Feed

In this episode of the AHIF podcast, Matthew Weihs welcomes Jameel Verjee from City Blue Hotels and Claire Van Enk of Farm to Feed. They discuss Farm to Feed's mission to combat food waste by creating a marketplace for surplus produce in Kenya. Claire emphasizes the environmental impact of food loss in Africa, while Jamil highlights their partnership's role in promoting sustainability across East and West Africa. They share ambitions for expansion and technology integration to enhance their impact continent-wide.

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Podcasts

Episode 88: Decoding the African Hotel Investment Market with Co-CEO JLL

In this episode of the AHIF podcast, Wayne Godwin, co-CEO of JLL in Africa, shares his expertise on Africa's booming hospitality sector. With transaction volumes outpacing pre-pandemic levels and a growing interest in leisure properties, Wayne provides a comprehensive overview of the investment landscape. Tune in for valuable insights and actionable strategies."

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Podcasts

Episode 87: Exploring Radisson's Role in Africa's Booming Hospitality Sector

Radisson's Africa Development Director, Erwan Garnier, discusses hotel development trends on the AHIF podcast. Key points include Radisson's focus on upscale business hotels and serviced apartments, along with the importance of project execution and government stability for successful hotel development in Africa.

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Podcasts

Episode 85: Unveiling BWH's Strategy: Lifestyle Brands and Leisure Destinations across Africa

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.

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Podcasts

Episode 86: Unlocking Africa's Hospitality Potential: TUI Blue's Vision for the Continent

Wesam Okasha shares TUI BLUE's journey from its inception in 2016 to becoming the fastest-growing brand within the TUI Group. He highlights their expansion into Africa and Asia, with a strong focus on sustainability and delivering unique holiday experiences. Okasha discusses the brand's strategic approach to growth and their commitment to creating memorable guest experiences while minimizing environmental impact.

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Podcasts

Episode 84: Trevor Ward, Managing Director, W Hospitality

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 viability, this conversation offers valuable insights for investors and industry players alike.

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Podcasts

Episode 83: Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director & CEO, CG Corp Global & CG Hospitality Holdings

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 emphasizes the significance of wellness tourism and the group's plans for expansion in this sector.

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Podcasts

Episode 82: Michael Aldridge, CEO, KOFISI

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.

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Podcasts

Episode 81: Thomas Emanuel, Senior Director, STR

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 Nairobi, the discussion offers a nuanced perspective.

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Podcasts

Episode 80: Suhail Ashok Bhatia, Director Asset Management, Compagnie Hoteliere et Immobiliere du Congo (CHIC)

Discover CHIC's evolution in DRC's hospitality scene. Suhail Bhatia, Director of Asset Management, shares insights into their commitment to quality, simultaneous development of five hotels, strategic partnerships, and tech innovations like digital keys. CHIC's success is a testament to Africa's golden era of opportunities.

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Podcasts

Episode 79: JS Anand, Founder, Leva Hotels

Dive into the African hospitality journey with JS Anand, Founder & CEO of Labour Hotels. Discover expansion insights in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and West Africa, tackling service and government challenges. JS unveils Labour Hotels' commitment to community development, co-branding, and AHIF's strategic impact on Africa's hospitality evolution.

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Podcasts

Episode 78: Bani Haddad, Founder & Managing Director, 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 challenges and benefits of their model, including flexibility, shorter contractual terms, and street-smart management that leads to higher profitability. Learn about Aleph Cares, their sustainability and social responsibility program, and how they engage with local communities in Africa.

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Podcasts

Episode 77: Maya Ziadeh, Chief Development Officer, MEA & Turkey, Accor

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

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Podcasts

Episode 76: Wesam Okasha, Head of Global Development and Managing Director, TUI Hotels & Resorts

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, Wesam Okasha, Head 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 created the TUI Care Foundation to contribute to sustainable tourism and hospitality.

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Podcasts

Episode 75: Thomas Emanuel, Senior Director, STR

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 room, as well as segmentation data and business on the books.

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Podcasts

Episode 74: Paul Bridger, COO, Rove Hotels & Mark Dunford, CEO, Knight Frank Kenya

Discover the Affordable Lifestyle in Africa's Hospitality Industry. Join us on the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum podcast as we dive into the latest episode featuring Paul Bridger, CEO of Rove Hotels, and Mark Dunford, CEO of Knight Frank. Learn about Rove Hotels, an affordable lifestyle brand bringing quality design and service without compromising on price. Explore the potential for affordable lifestyle in Africa, the demand for leisure properties, and Rove Hotels' expansion plans on the continent. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the hospitality and airport real estate sectors. Tune in now!

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Podcasts

Episode 73: Hala Matar Choufany Podcast

Are you looking to invest in the hospitality industry? Have you considered Africa as a potential market? In a recent podcast episode, Hala Matar Choufany, President of HVS in Middle East, Africa, and Asia, shared her insights on the challenges and opportunities in the African hospitality industry.

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Podcasts

Episode 72: Wytze Van Den Berg

Best Western Hotel Group's recent acquisition of World Hotels and expansion into the luxury market is a reflection of their CEO's global growth strategy. With a goal of having 80 hotels in Africa by 2026, Best Western is actively working with existing hoteliers and owners to rebrand and expand their footprint on the continent.

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Podcasts

Episode 71: Stephane Sebah, VP Development GTAF & East Africa, Louvre Hotels

Listen to Stephane Sebah, VP of Development at Golden Tulip, as we delve into Africa's hospitality investment landscape. Gain valuable insights from his 20 years in the financial market, specializing in analysis, risk management, and investment strategies. Discover how his expertise seamlessly transitions into the hospitality industry, bridging the gap between investors and the sector.

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Podcasts

Ep 70: Trevor Ward, Principal, W Hospitality Group

Listen to Trevor Ward, Principal, W Hospitality Group as he shares findings from his annual pipelines report.

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Podcasts

Ep 69: Jameel Verjee, Founder & CEO of CityBlue Hotels

Excited to share our latest podcast episode featuring Jameel Verjee, Founder & CEO of CityBlue Hotels!

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Podcasts

Ep 68: Dan Fenton, Global Tourism Director, & Bernadine Galliver, Vice President Tourism Advisory - JLL

Listen to Dan & Bernadine as they deep dive into explaining the features and relevance of the 'Tourism Readiness Report' published by WTTC & JLL. The report asseses what makes a city ready for sustainable Travel & Tourism growth.......

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Podcasts

Ep 67: Rishabh Thapar, Director at HVS Middle East and Africa

Listen to Rishab in this insightful podcast as he talks about the emerging trend of conservation & climate awareness in the African hospitality sector and provides.......

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Podcasts

Ep 66 : Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director & CEO, CG Corp Global & CG Hospitality Holdings

CG Corp is a multinational conglomerate with  150+ hotels in 12 different countries. The group has a strong presence in East Africa and is constanly looking to expand into other parts of the contient.  Listen to Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director & CEO of CG Corp Global as he discusses his strategy for Africa and outlines the four key pre-requisites that must be present in any country while looking to invest. Rahul also outlines the challenges that need to be addressed in facilitatiing international investment in Africa. 

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Podcasts

Ep 65: Trevor Ward, Managing Director, W Hospitality Group

Listen to Trevor Ward, Managing Director of W Hospitality Group as he talks at length about the report findings and gives insights on the developments in the hospitality sector in Africa.

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Podcasts

Ep 64 : Billy Cheung, Chairman of Century Park Hotel & Residencies

The Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) podcast met up with Billy Cheung, Chairman of Century Park Hotel & Residencies......

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Podcasts

Ep 63: Mark Willis, CEO of Turkey, India, Middle East and Africa at Accor

In this AHIF podcast we spoke with Mark Willis, CEO of Turkey, India, Middle East and Africa at Accor. Sharing his new year’s.......

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Podcasts

Ep 62: Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President of Development for Africa and Turkey, Radisson

Matthew Weihs, Managing Director of the Bench, spoke to Ramsay Rankoussi Vice President of Africa and Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group. We asked him about the past year which has been a successful one for the operator and.....

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Podcasts

Ep 61: Fabio Nava Vice President of Capital Markets at JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group Sub-Saharan Africa

In this podcast we spoke to Fabio Nava VP of Capital Markets at JLL’s Hotels and Hospitality Group to understand the findings from the Annual Spotlight on Africa report...

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Podcasts

Ep 60: Imad Barrakad Chairman and CEO, Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT)

We spoke with Imad Barrakad, CEO of the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT) about their thoughts on hosting the AHIF Marketspace digital event .....

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Podcasts

Ep 59: HE Nadia Fettah Alaoui Minister of Tourism, Handicraft, Air Transport and Social Economy of the Kingdom of Morocco

We took the chance to speak to the Her Honourable Excellency Nadia Fettah Alaoui the Minister of Tourism, Handicraft, Air Transport and Social Economy about the tourism plans for the Kingdom......

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Podcasts

Ep 58: Yemisi Mokuolu CEO of Hatch Ideas and Founder of the Asa Baako Music Festival

In this podcast focused on #myAfrica we spoke to Yemisi Mokuolu CEO of Hatch Ideas and founder of the Asa Baako music festival in Ghana. We explored what Africa meant to her through her work and ......

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Podcasts

Ep 57: Hala Matar Choufany, President-Middle East, Africa and South Asia, HVS

n this podcast, we discussed with Hala Matar Choufany the President ME/Africa and South Asia for HVS the results of their recent survey on the Africa Traveller and .....

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Podcasts

Ep 56: Mary Gostelow, Owner and Editor of the Gostelow Report

In this AHIF podcast, we thought we’d turn the tables and ask the questions to Mary Gostelow, Owner and Editor of the Gostelow report....

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MATTHEW WEIHS
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M: +44 7858 511012
E: matthew.weihs@thebench.com

MALA PATEL
Event Director, the bench
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E: mala.patel@thebench.com

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