Hospitality

ALN team delivers comprehensive legal expertise in the hospitality sector across Africa and the UAE, specialising in hotel management and franchise agreements, real estate acquisitions and developments, project financing, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution to support developers, operators, investors, and brands in building resilient, high-performing assets.

The hospitality and tourism sector is one of the fastest-growing, driven by rising demand from domestic, regional, and international travellers. Yet the industry navigates its fair share of challenges, including regulatory fragmentation across jurisdictions, financing hurdles for greenfield projects, evolving franchise and management agreements, data privacy and digital distribution shifts (e.g., online travel agents), ESG and sustainability expectations, and post-pandemic recovery dynamics.

We advise on everything from boutique luxury hotels and safari lodges to large-scale mixed-use resorts and urban hospitality projects, providing coordinated pan-African solutions that blend local market insight with international best practices for commercial success and operational efficiency.

Our Hospitality Expertise

Key drivers of Africa’s hospitality include tourism recovery, AfCFTA-facilitated regional connectivity, sustainable tourism initiatives, and digital transformation in bookings and operations.

We provide integrated legal and commercial advice across Africa and the UAE to a diverse client base, including:

• International and Regional Hotel Chains and Operators
• Real Estate Developers and Mixed-Use Project Sponsors
• Private Equity, Sovereign Wealth, and Pension Funds
• Luxury and Boutique Brand Owners
• Financiers, DFIs, and Commercial Lenders
• Franchisees and Management Companies
• Governments and Tourism Boards

Our deep on-the-ground presence in tourism hotspots enables clients to secure prime sites, negotiate robust agreements, secure financing, ensure compliance, and adapt to emerging trends such as digital distribution and sustainable practices.

How We Help in Hospitality (Representative Scope)

Our seamless services cover the full hospitality lifecycle, offering tailored support for your hotels, resorts, lodges, and related projects in Africa and the UAE:

• Hotel Acquisitions & Development: Conducting due diligence, title verification, and structuring acquisitions of existing properties or greenfield sites, including land leases and development agreements.
• Management & Franchise Agreements: Drafting and negotiating sophisticated hotel management contracts, franchise agreements, technical services agreements, and white-label/brand licensing deals with international operators.
• Project Finance & Investment: Structuring debt, equity, and mezzanine financing for hotel builds/refurbishments, with expertise in security packages, off-balance-sheet models, and lender requirements for hospitality assets.
• Real Estate & Construction: Advising on construction contracts (EPC/FIDIC), permits, zoning, environmental approvals, and mixed-use integrations, including commercial, retail, and residential components.
• Regulatory & Compliance: Navigating tourism licensing, foreign investment rules, health/safety standards, liquor licensing, and employment laws specific to hospitality operations.
• Leasing & Operations: Handling commercial leases for F&B outlets, retail concessions, and property management agreements, including service charge regimes and operator performance clauses.
• ESG & Sustainability: Guiding eco-certifications, community engagement, climate adaptation measures, and ESG reporting to attract sustainable finance and meet brand/investor standards.
• Dispute Resolution: Representing clients in arbitration (ICC, LCIA) and litigation related to management agreement terminations, construction defects, franchise breaches, or regulatory enforcement.

Why Clients Choose ALN

• Pan-African Reach: Coordinated on-the-ground support across Africa’s key tourism destinations, combining local hospitality knowledge with international transaction expertise.
• Sector Fluency: Extensive track record in hotels and leisure, from boutique lodges to flagship urban hotels, enabling practical, commercially astute advice on evolving models.
• Integrated Teams: Specialists in Real Estate & Construction, Corporate & M&A, Finance, Regulatory, Tax, Employment, IP, and Dispute Resolution collaborate seamlessly to deliver end-to-end projects.
• Cross-border Delivery: Aligning African market realities with global brand standards, financing norms, and digital/privacy requirements for competitive, future-oriented hospitality ventures.

Representative transactions include advising: