Africa CEO Forum drives accommodation demand across Kigali

When Morgan Umuhoza started booking hotel rooms for her friends who wanted to attend the African CEO Forum in mid-May, she expected limited availability since it was still weeks away to the high-level event. “I started making reservations several days in advance, but most of the major hotels were fully booked and showed no availability for the dates I was looking at,” Umuhoza told The New Times. “Even when I called directly, I was told there was no availability.” ALSO READ: Africa CEO Forum, rare opportunity for private sector - RDB CEO As the presidential event inches closer, she said she has since turned to alternative accommodation, such as apartments and Airbnb listings. She had managed to secure a few places by April 27, but she is still searching for rooms to book. Her experience is not unique in Kigali, which has seen a surge in demand driven by an influx of business executives and senior government delegations attending the Africa CEO Forum slated for May 14-15. With around 2,800 business leaders, investors and policymakers expected from 90 countries, both high-end and mid-range hotels, as well as apartments, are reporting full or near-full occupancy. ALSO READ: Kigali set to host Africa CEO Forum in May A review by The New Times of major hotel and apartments booking platforms, front desks shows that many properties are fully booked, with most listings indicating no availability until mid-May in some cases. These include Radisson Blu, Kigali Marriott Hotel, Mövenpick, Serene Hotel, Mythos Boutique Hotel, Lemigo Hotel, Elizabeth Apartments, and Green Land Apartments. “We are fully booked for the meetings dates, and we continue to receive enquiries from people hoping to secure space, but we are already sold out,” said Happy Titian, the Assistant Supervisor at Greenland Apartments in the Kiyovu area. A good problem to have? Titian argues, however, that shortage of accommodation space for the thousands attending the Africa CEO Forum is not all bad. “It is a positive sign for the sector because it shows growing interest in Kigali as a business and events destination, and it creates more opportunities for the hospitality industry in terms of visibility, revenue, and future investment,” she said. ALSO READ: RDB boss touts benefits of Africa CEO Forum The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) says the situation reflects increased demand rather than a shortage of hotel capacity. RDB chief executive Jean-Guy Afrika said the country has sufficient infrastructure to host large-scale events and that the government is working to “ensure a smooth experience for visitors.” “We are tracking this very closely to make sure that the experience for business leaders and visitors is as good as possible. It is also the reason why the Forum is returning for the third time, because we have demonstrated the capacity to organise it well.” ALSO READ: Rwanda sets sights on doubling MICE earnings to $224m by 2028 Afrika said that Rwanda continues to invest in expanding its hospitality and conferencing capacity, including increasing the number of hotel rooms. “We have plans to continue growing both our conferencing and hospitality infrastructure, but this is not a challenge we have faced so far. Those who have registered have been mapped, and the situation is being managed effectively,” he said. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, there were about 25,300 hotel rooms in 2024, with the three districts of Kigali sharing more than half the number. While the demand continues to grow with the country's ambitions to become a Meetings, Incentives and Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) hub, this is a significant increase from about 14,000 hotel rooms reported in 2018. Rwanda Chamber of Tourism, the apex body for all private-sector tourism establishments, has previously announced a target to have 35,000 hotel rooms by 2029. Rwanda recorded 1.4 million visitors in 2023, a number expected to double by 2029, according to RDB. ALSO READ: Rwandan hotel named among TIME’s greatest places of 2026 According to Barakabuye Nsengiyunva, chairperson of the Rwanda Hospitality Association, event-driven accommodation demand is creating significant opportunities for growth within the hospitality sector. “International conferences and large‑scale meetings such as the upcoming Africa CEO Forum, not only increase the occupancy but also reinforce Rwanda’s positioning as a competitive, year‑round destination for both leisure and business travellers,” Nsengiyunva said. He added that the private sector is focusing on keeping prices fair and consistent, even when demand is high, to make the country attractive to visitors all year round. “This means businesses are not simply raising prices because there are more guests, but are instead ensuring that what people pay matches the quality they receive, supporting steady tourism growth and a strong destination image,” he said. “This approach is closely tied to the expansion of the MICE segment, which is steadily reshaping demand patterns by attracting visitors beyond traditional peak periods and helping stabilise the industry.” ALSO READ: Visitors to Rwanda now spending more Barakabuye said that the growth of MICE is particularly important because it helps reduce seasonality, ensuring more consistent business for operators, boosting investor confidence, and strengthening the entire tourism and hospitality sector. Rising demand also encourages service innovation and investment, with hospitality businesses improving product diversity, service quality, and customer experience, he said. “The growth of alternative accommodation such as serviced apartments and short‑term rentals reflects the evolution of a maturing destination and demonstrates broader market inclusion across different visitor segments,” said Barakabuye. As Rwanda continues to position itself as a high‑end, low‑volume destination, he said integrating alternative accommodation into the broader tourism ecosystem through quality benchmarks and professional operating practices would strengthen destination competitiveness and protect the country's premium brand positioning.

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Africa CEO Forum drives accommodation demand across Kigali