Aleph Hospitality has been appointed to take over the management of 26 ONOMO-branded hotels across 14 African countries, marking the largest third-party hotel management portfolio transaction in the region to date.

The announcement was made during FHS Africa in Cape Town on 18 June 2025. The Dubai-based hospitality group will officially assume operations on 1 September 2025.

The deal was concluded with African Hotel Development, owner of the ONOMO brand and a key player in the continent’s lifestyle hotel sector. The move forms part of African Hotel Development’s strategic shift to focus on brand building and asset management, while accelerating the growth of its ONOMO portfolio. The group has set a target to double the brand’s footprint over the next five years.

“This partnership reflects our decision to separate operations from ownership and brand development,” said Julien Renaud, CEO of African Hotel Development. “It allows us to retain full strategic control over the ONOMO brand while enabling faster expansion, especially in the upscale segments ONOMO Allure and ONOMO Collection.”

For Aleph Hospitality, the agreement significantly expands its African footprint and effectively doubles its portfolio, bringing the company closer to its target of managing 50 hotels by the end of 2025. The group plans to open four new regional offices and implement cluster operations in key markets such as Kenya and Morocco, where it already has a presence.

“Africa has always been central to our growth strategy,” said Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality. “We are proud to be selected to manage the ONOMO portfolio and are committed to delivering value for guests, owners, and partners.”

The partnership strengthens Aleph Hospitality’s position as the leading independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa, while enabling African Hotel Development to sharpen its focus on brand expansion and premium offerings.