Speaker

ANDREW McLACHLAN

Founder & Managing Director
DEVELOP HOTELS INC

Andrew McLachlan is the Founder and Managing Director of Develop Hotels Inc., a boutique development advisory firm specialising in hotel, resort and safari lodge development across Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. The firm provides independent, tailored services to owners, investors and developers - spanning hotel development management, investment viability, capital raising, brand and operator search, buy- and sell-side advisory and owner’s representation. With over three decades of experience in the hospitality sector, Andrew has led more than 150 projects valued more than USD 5 billion across 37 countries. His work ranges from intimate boutique hotels and safari lodges to large-scale, internationally branded urban hotels, repositioning projects and adaptive reuse developments. Prior to launching Develop Hotels Inc., Andrew held senior leadership roles at Hilton, Radisson Hotel Group, AfriNord Hotel Investments and Protea Hotels. His career includes: • 10 years in hotel operations, including opening and managing hotels as General Manager • 2 years overseeing hotel branding, advertising and communication strategies • Over 20 years in development, including establishing Radisson’s footprint in Africa as SVP of Development and later leading Hilton’s Sub-Saharan Africa expansion as Managing Director of Development • 9 years managing a Scandinavian hotel investment fund, offering debt and mezzanine financing to hotel projects across Africa Andrew is widely regarded as one of Africa’s foremost hotel development experts - a strategic dealmaker with deep local knowledge, a commercial mindset, and a passion for creating lasting hospitality assets. He is based in Cape Town, South Africa and when not advising clients or scouting new sites, can usually be found on his mountain bike navigating the trails of Table Mountain.