The first edition of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Egypt concluded on 11 November at the Sofitel Downtown Cairo Nile, having brought together 400+ attendees from 210+ companies, including investors, developers, hotel owners and operators, lenders, government leaders and international hospitality brands.
Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities under the theme “Where Heritage Inspires Investment,” the summit marked the arrival of the Bench’s global FHS platform in Egypt and established a dedicated meeting point for the stakeholders shaping the country’s next phase of hospitality, tourism and real estate growth.
Across 31 sessions featuring 75+ speakers, one message carried through the programme: the question is no longer whether demand for Egypt exists, but how quickly confidence can be converted into capital, completed projects and operating hotels.
Speakers pointed to Egypt’s record 19 million international arrivals and USD 18.2 billion in tourism receipts in 2025, and to the national ambition of 30 million visitors by 2030.
Discussion centred on the conditions needed to get there: air connectivity, access to finance, faster and more predictable implementation of regulation, workforce development and consistent service quality.
Investment commitments announced at the summit:
FHS Egypt served as a platform for new market commitments from leading international operators and Egyptian developers:
Radisson Hotel Group announced its ambition to reach 30 hotels, resorts, serviced apartments and branded residences in operation and under development in Egypt by 2030.
New signings include the 162-room Radisson Blu Resort El Alamein, the Radisson Collection Resort, Marsa Alam Port Venice, the 398-key Radisson Serviced Apartments Kawn 6th of October City, and the Group’s first property in the New Administrative Capital with Al Naser Developments.
Accor, El Borolossy Real Estate Development and BANN Holding, facilitated by iBrand Business Consultancy, announced the first five-star Mövenpick hotel in New Mansoura City as part of the SANA Towers project, marking Accor’s entry into the Delta region under the Mövenpick brand.
Delegates also heard the story behind the Canopy by Hilton signing at Sumu Boulevard in Mostakbal City, developed by PARAGON | ADEER with The Code, as a case study in integrating lifestyle hospitality from the earliest stage of master planning.
Misr Abu Dhabi Real Estate Investments, Brassbell Hospitality Group (BHG), and HVS Middle East & Africa came together for the signing ceremony titled “GEMing Up the Pharaohs’ Skyline.”
The agreement marks another step towards strengthening collaboration and unlocking new opportunities across Egypt’s hospitality and real estate sectors.
SAFIR Hotels announced the signing of MERSEA Hotel, in partnership with APACHE Developments and Toledo Developments.
The property will be located on the North Coast at Kilometer 76 of the International Coastal Road, approximately 10 minutes from New Alamein, adding to the region’s growing hospitality offering.
New market intelligence on Egypt
The summit also delivered a body of fresh data that reinforces Egypt’s position in the regional and global investment landscape:
The HVS Egypt Hospitality Investment & Market Sentiment Survey 2026, launched at the summit, found that 97% of respondents hold a positive outlook on Egyptian hospitality investment over the next three to five years, with 45% expecting GCC investors to be the leading source of capital and the North Coast ranked the most attractive investment destination.
STR, a CoStar Group company, ranked Egypt eighth globally for hotel demand growth in 2025 and first in Africa by total demand, with a development pipeline of around 46,000 rooms placing it ninth worldwide.
W Hospitality Group reported that Egypt accounts for approximately 27% of Africa’s hotel pipeline and nearly 40% of its rooms, with Greater Cairo alone representing 18% of the continent’s pipeline.
Accor One Living noted that Cairo now ranks fifth among cities globally for branded residential activity.
Beyond the data, the programme covered the full breadth of the market: the development of Egypt’s new cities, heritage-led regeneration in Downtown and Historic Cairo, luxury along the Nile’s “Golden Route,” year-round strategies for the North Coast and Red Sea, franchising and management models, the legal framework for branded residences, hospitality-driven workspaces, technology and AI, and the business case for sustainable development.
Ali Shahid, Chief Executive Officer, The Bench, said: “We created FHS Egypt so that the country’s opportunity could move from discussion to partnerships and investment, and over two days we saw that happen: in the commitments announced, in the data shared, and in the conversations between Egyptian developers and international capital.
The fundamentals of this market are no longer in question. The focus now is on execution, and FHS Egypt will continue to be the platform where that work moves forward.”
Matthew Weihs, Chief Development Officer, The Bench, and founder of FHS Egypt, said: “At the start of the summit we set three goals for our delegates: new insights, new knowledge and new connections.
All three were delivered. Egypt is propped up by sound long-term fundamentals, and it is here for the long term.
If you are Egyptian, you should be very proud. Thank you for making us feel so welcome here in Cairo.”
With its inaugural edition complete, FHS Egypt has established itself as the dedicated platform connecting Egypt’s hospitality, tourism and real estate leaders with regional and international capital.
Further details on the next edition will be announced in due course.
