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Rwanda is among the top 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa that global hotel chains are targeting for investment by 2015.

The country is ranked seventh in terms of the number of rooms currently under construction, a new study by Lagos-based consultancy W Hospitality Group shows. Four hotels are setting up 819 rooms in Rwanda.

READ: More hotel rooms as Rwanda tourist numbers rise

The country ranks behind Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Libya and Tunisia, and ahead of Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Ghana in that order.

Cote d’Ivoire and Rwanda are the only two African countries with 100 per cent projects actively on site in the top 10 category.

Although other East African Community member states were not ranked, the study shows that 10 hotel chains plan to put up 945 rooms in Tanzania, but only 74 per cent of them are on site.

READ: Top global hotel chains eye East African market

In Kenya, five hotels plan to put up 704 rooms with 76 per cent on site, while in Uganda, three hotels plan to set up 736 rooms, but only 40 per cent are on site. Burundi has only one hotel planning to set up 120 rooms. It is already on site.

The rising demand for quality hotels in the region is attracting investors, despite the challenges they face in setting them up.

Hotels in Africa

“Africa has never been an easy place to do business. But most of the continent lacks quality hotel rooms,” said Trevor Ward, managing director, W Hospitality.

Marriott International plans to open a $60 million hotel with 250 rooms in Rwanda this year, while the Rezidor Hotel Group will open its 161-room Park Inn Kigali in the third quarter of 2014. 

READ: Global hotel brands eyeing Rwanda

The Group developed the 292-room Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre in Kigali, which is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2014 (2015).

The two are among the top 10 hotel brands that will be setting up in Africa by 2015. Radisson Blu will have 17 units on the continent taking the first position while Hilton and Park Inn will have 16 and 13 units respectively. Marriott comes in at fourth position with 10 units in the pipeline.