We estimate that the hotel chains in the survey currently have approximately 87,400 rooms operating with their brands in Africa, with almost exactly the same number in North Africa (43,300) as in sub-Saharan Africa (44,100). But when one considers that there are only five countries in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt), the opportunity in the other 48 countries on the continent is obvious. Africa is receiving increasing attention from the international chains, who see clearly the need to fill the gaps in their coverage, and some, like Rezidor, Accor and Marriott, are now taking the plunge and locating development directors in Africa itself