With only days to go before opening, the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa, Africa’s leading hospitality trade event, returns to Cape Town with 100 exhibitors, 10+ workshop sessions, live features and executive panel discussions designed to help visitors source products, gain practical insights and build new business relationships.
The official opening will include Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, City of Cape Town, who will deliver the keynote opening. His participation underscores the expo’s importance to Cape Town’s broader business and tourism landscape, while adding momentum to what is expected to be a busy and high-impact show.
“Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa comes at a time when the industry is looking for practical solutions, stronger partnerships and real-world insights that support business growth,” said Margaret Peters, Event Director, Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa. “The Leadership Workshops, in particular, are designed to empower decision-makers with strategic foresight, giving hospitality leaders the tools, insights and confidence to think ahead, make informed decisions and position their businesses for long-term success. Alongside sourcing opportunities, live experiences and high-level Executive Think Tank sessions, the expo offers real value for anyone looking to connect, learn and do business in one place.”
Executive ‘think tank’ panel series
A key draw card for this year’s programme is the Executive Think Tank Panel discussions, a series of high-level sessions designed to give hospitality leaders practical intelligence on the forces reshaping hospitality in Africa. The sessions will move beyond broad trends and focus on actionable ideas for operators, owners and suppliers working in an increasingly competitive and fast-changing market.
One of the headline topics, “Beyond the hotel – The rise of frontier markets,” will explore where future demand in African hospitality is likely to come from, how emerging and high-growth markets are reshaping the sector and what local and regional brands need to do to scale sustainably across the continent. The discussion will also examine how hospitality businesses can build resilience in a capital-conscious environment while responding to evolving guest expectations, digital transformation and sustainability demands.
Other Executive Think Tank sessions will include “Hidden Risks and Operational Blind Spots” brought to you by Santam, which will focus on practical risk management in hospitality, from deferred maintenance and fire protection to staff training and guest safety.
The programme will also feature “Sustainability in Hospitality” brought to you by Kwikot, exploring how water conservation, waste reduction, renewable energy and local sourcing can support both environmental responsibility and stronger commercial performance.
In addition, visitors can look forward to “The Future of Payment Tech: What Every Hospitality Leader Needs to Know”, brought to you by iVeri Payment Technologies, which will look at digital payment innovation, security, guest convenience and the payment lifecycle in modern hospitality operations.
Lastly, the Executive Think Tank session on AI in Hospitality, brought to you by Cassava Technologies, will examine how artificial intelligence, cloud ecosystems and secure connectivity can improve guest experience, streamline operations and reveal new revenue opportunities for hospitality businesses across Africa.
Feature highlights
The show floor will also showcase a range of special activations and brand-led experiences. Nestlé and Santam are among the partners being highlighted, while visitors can look forward to a cooking-led feature by Bidfoods as well as a mixology experience presented by DaVinci Gourmet. These features are designed to create a more immersive visitor experience, giving attendees more to see, taste, learn and discuss during their time at the expo.
In collaboration with the Hotel & Hospitality Expo, Bidfood brings you Chefs Connect, a dedicated demo cooking space designed as a live, high-energy culinary experience. Experience a continuous programme of live chef demonstrations, Bidfood’s private label and exclusive brands in application, and hospitality solution showcases, brought to life by leading chefs and industry experts across the three days.
Between sessions, join SA Food Stories watch parties hosted by Nicci Robertson, paired with interactive engagement and prize giveaways, creating a dynamic flow of learning, inspiration and reward throughout the day.
Bringing together 5,000+ visitors, the expo is designed to deliver a practical, high-value experience. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover new products, meet exhibitors with a wide range of hospitality categories, strengthen supplier relationships and keep pace with the latest hospitality trends. Visitors will make meaningful business connections in one place and explore product showcases, tastings, live features and expert-led sessions built around practical value rather than passive browsing.
Registration is free, making this an easy last-minute decision for hospitality professionals, buyers and decision-makers across the sector who want direct access to suppliers, practical ideas and fresh industry insights.
Secure your place now at www.thehotelshowafrica.com and join the hospitality sector in Cape Town from 10–12 June 2026, daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
