Africa Hotel Investment Forum (ahif) Podcast

What does it take to build a hospitality brand rooted in African identity and driven by community impact? In this FHS Africa podcast episode, Matthew Weihs is joined by Tadiwos Belete, CEO and Founder of Kuriftu Resorts, to unpack his extraordinary story — from leaving Ethiopia as a teenage refugee to founding Boston Partners PLC and igniting tourism development in his home country. Tadiwos reflects on the challenges of returning to a market with decades of halted progress, and how he created a model where 83% of staff are the same people who built the resorts. He outlines his ambitious vision to expand into Uganda, Djibouti, and even Washington, D.C., with the goal of creating a truly African brand that serves both locals and global travellers. With insights into workforce development, community ownership, diaspora investment, and brand differentiation, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in Africa’s future in hospitality.