Sub-Saharan Africa’s Hotel Industry Poised For Growth

Posted On Monday, 22 October 2012 11:48 Published by eProp@News
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The outlook for the hotel industry in Sub-Saharan Africa looks increasingly positive, with potential growth of 7-15% in RevPAR (revenue per available room) expected for 2012 compared with 2011 - which augurs well for the future of the industry in the region

"Compared with the same trading period in 2011, the South African STR results for July 2012 reflect an overall year to date RevPAR growth of between 9.8% for 3-Star hotels up to 12.6 % for 5-Star hotels. In addition, the July year to date occupancy of 57.7 % in South Africa compares well with America's forecast of 60% in 2012. Furthermore, in regard to South African hotels, the July 2012 PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality Outlook publication forecasts a growth of 14.4% in 2012 RevPAR, while also predicting a compound 8.7 % annual growth rate in RevPAR from 2012 to 2016."

Key Factors
Asked what the key factors were which are driving new growth opportunities in Africa, Demes said growth in RevPAR in the hotel industry, as well as the room pipeline of hotels, is strongly dependent on GDP and employment growth.

"From these statistics one can easily select the African countries that offer growth opportunities – which tend to be the resource rich countries. There are, however, also many branding opportunities for existing hotels in Africa. In America approximately 70% of all hotels are branded, while in Africa (other than South Africa) we estimate that some 35% or less are branded, and this presents an opportunity for the large and well-known South African and international operators," he said.

"Further growth opportunities for the hotel industry in Africa exist in regard to the development of affordable holiday resorts for domestic and regional holidaymakers, including timeshare developments by well-established and trusted operators.

Historically and globally, many traditional hotel companies have extended their operations into timeshare, corporate and residential apartments or condominiums. Branching into these markets allows hotel operators some protection from hotel and travel cycles."

Starwood Hotels
Demes pointed out that in 2011, as much as 13% of the total turnover of Starwood Hotels – one of the larger global hotel operators – was derived from timeshare-related trading. He says the purchase of timeshare in Africa will not only provide the owner with affordable regional and international exchange and holidays, it can also, if the model is designed properly, provide the owner with the opportunity to make an exchange through points for stays in city hotels.

Current 'buy-down' trend among consumers
Demes said that the current 'buy-down' trend among consumers in the South African hotel market has been imbalanced by severe discounting. "If we take the achieved average daily rate in South Africa's hotels and extrapolate this by a compounded rate of 6%, and then compare this to what the prevailing rates in 2012 should be, it reveals that on average 5-Star hotels are currently discounting rates by 19.4%, 4-Star hotels by 19.9% and 3-Star hotels by 12.2%.

Presently this is impacting negatively on budget hotels, whose customers are poached by higher graded hotels. This trend towards discounting is however, not sustainable as the newer hotels will need to increase rates to service debts."

Free Independent Travel
He said another trend evident in the local market is that free independent travel is increasing at the cost of standard tour operator business, while globally lead times prior to booking accommodation becoming shorter and shorter.

Importantly, Demes highlighted the fact that due to a number of important factors, certain existing hotels present the opportunity for lucrative acquisitions compared to retail and commercial.

"As mentioned, GDP growth drives the average daily rate and occupancy, as does the low availability of capital for new hotels and low room pipeline (ie fewer additional rooms planned). A further positive is that since 2007/8, hotels have been compelled to consider and dramatically increase their operating efficiencies and margins.

"After a number of highly attractive 5-Star hotel transactions, we now have a number of very attractive 3-Star hotel opportunities available with existing yields between 8-12%, and at an acquisition price that is about half of replacement value. So if one adds to this the above reasons of increased operating efficiencies, declining room pipeline, declining availability of capital for new hotels and forecast GDP and employment growth - as to why we are optimistic about increasing yields in the hotel industry in South Africa - the time is indeed right to consider acquisitions, particularly from a black empowerment point of view," added Demes.

"We also see the opportunity for a real estate investment trust structure that incorporates mid-market hotels spread across borders in a number of African countries," he said.

Source: Hospitality Trends

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