Foundations are built in concrete.
Our services are not!

Project Viability

Project Viability

Development

Development

Capital Raising

Capital Raising

Buyer Advisory

Buyer Advisory

Asset Management

Asset Management

Brokerage

Brokerage

Project Viability

Project Viability

Development

Development

Capital Raising

Capital Raising

Buyer Advisory

Buyer Advisory

Asset Management

Asset Management

Brokerage

Brokerage

Introduction

develop hotels inc is a multi-discipline company specializing in the hotel, resort and lodge industry providing expertise and services for total Development Management Supervision, Project Viability, Buyer Advisory, Project Finance Advisory, Asset Management, Owner’s Representative and Brokerage.

With more than 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, develop hotels inc brings extensive skill and experience to all aspects of hotel development along with an instinctive knowledge of Africa and Indian Ocean Islands. We understand that our owners/investors/developers have a wide range of needs in managing their projects and hotels. We provide a flexible range of skills and services from full owner’s representation to independent advisory so owners/investors/developers are able to successfully develop new hotels, reposition existing hotels, de-flagging or rebranding hotels, adaptive reuses of real estate, mixed use projects, hotel acquisitions & exits and hotel funding.

Andrew McLachlan, the founder of develop hotels inc has been directly involved in 100+ projects (5+ billion US Dollars value) across 35 different countries in Africa and Indian Ocean Islands in his career.

develop hotels inc is a multi-discipline company specializing in the hotel, resort and lodge industry providing expertise and services for total Development Management Supervision, Project Viability, Buyer Advisory, Project Finance Advisory, Asset Management, Owner’s Representative and Brokerage.

With more than 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, develop hotels inc brings extensive skill and experience to all aspects of hotel development along with an instinctive knowledge of Africa and Indian Ocean Islands. We understand that our owners/investors/developers have a wide range of needs in managing their projects and hotels. We provide a flexible range of skills and services from full owner’s representation to independent advisory so owners/investors/developers are able to successfully develop new hotels, reposition existing hotels, de-flagging or rebranding hotels, adaptive reuses of real estate, mixed use projects, hotel acquisitions & exits and hotel funding.

Andrew McLachlan, the founder of develop hotels inc has been directly involved in 100+ projects (5+ billion US Dollars value) across 35 different countries in Africa and Indian Ocean Islands in his career.

Who We Serve

  • Real estate investors that are new to the hotel, resort and lodge industry or they need to fill a gap (skill/knowledge/experience) in their own project development team.

  • High-net-worth individuals (HNWI) who want to build, buy or sell a hotel, resort or lodge.

  • Corporations or other entities that desire to build, buy or sell a hotel, resort or lodge and don’t have industry experience.

  • State owned enterprises and other public entities that need to reposition or sell a hotel, resort or lodge and don’t have industry experience.

Cape Town based, international reach!

  • Real estate investors that are new to the hotel, resort and lodge industry or they need to fill a gap (skill/knowledge/experience) in their own project development team.

  • High-net-worth individuals (HNWI) who want to build, buy or sell a hotel, resort or lodge.

  • Corporations or other entities that desire to build, buy or sell a hotel, resort or lodge and don’t have industry experience.

  • State owned enterprises and other public entities that need to reposition or sell a hotel, resort or lodge and don’t have industry experience.

Cape Town based, international reach!

Meet Andrew, the Founder

Andrew McLachlan is the Founder & Managing Director of Develop Hotels Inc. A respected developer and deal-maker, passionate about developing great hotels, resorts and lodges with more than 100+ deals under his belt (5+ billion US Dollar value) across 35 different countries in the Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone markets of Africa.

Prior to establishing Develop Hotels Inc in late 2022, Andrew’s career spans more than 30+ years in African hospitality with Hilton, Radisson Hotel Group, AfriNord Hotel Investments and Protea Hotels. Andrew has held a number of roles in hotel operations and in hotel development, including 10 years in hotel operations in a variety of managerial positions including the opening of a number of new hotels as the hotel General Manager, 2 years in corporate hotel Branding, Advertising and Communication followed by more than 20+ years in Development, establishing Radisson’s presence in Africa as Senior Vice President Development at Radisson Hotel Group and then Managing Director Development at Hilton. Andrew also held the position of Managing Director of AfriNord Hotel Investments for 9 years, a Scandinavian Investment Fund of 50 million US Dollars providing debt and mezzanine financing to hotel owners developing Radisson managed hotels in Africa.

Andrew is a South African, based in Cape Town and brings extensive experience in all aspects of hotel development along with an instinctive knowledge of Africa, a region where he has been developing hotels, resorts and lodges for over 20 years.

Andrew McLachlan is the Founder & Managing Director of Develop Hotels Inc. A respected developer and deal-maker, passionate about developing great hotels, resorts and lodges with more than 100+ deals under his belt (5+ billion US Dollar value) across 35 different countries in the Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone markets of Africa.

Prior to establishing Develop Hotels Inc in late 2022, Andrew’s career spans more than 30+ years in African hospitality with Hilton, Radisson Hotel Group, AfriNord Hotel Investments and Protea Hotels. Andrew has held a number of roles in hotel operations and in hotel development, including 10 years in hotel operations in a variety of managerial positions including the opening of a number of new hotels as the hotel General Manager, 2 years in corporate hotel Branding, Advertising and Communication followed by more than 20+ years in Development, establishing Radisson’s presence in Africa as Senior Vice President Development at Radisson Hotel Group and then Managing Director Development at Hilton. Andrew also held the position of Managing Director of AfriNord Hotel Investments for 9 years, a Scandinavian Investment Fund of 50 million US Dollars providing debt and mezzanine financing to hotel owners developing Radisson managed hotels in Africa.

Andrew is a South African, based in Cape Town and brings extensive experience in all aspects of hotel development along with an instinctive knowledge of Africa, a region where he has been developing hotels, resorts and lodges for over 20 years.

Project Viability

You want to know if your project is economically viable, and we can assist with income and development cost pro-forma that will drive your return equation.

Understanding the current and potential hotel performance within your market can be foretelling of your hotel’s performance and potential ease of market exit, if and when you decide to sell.

Understanding how your specific site fits into the market is critical to understanding the prospects of project success.

We will gauge the current competitive hotel supply and potential development pipeline.

Hotel brands all have costs associated with development, fees, and expected revenue performance. We can help you select the best balance of income potential, relative to cost. Developing a Boutique/Independent hotel may be your best course.

One of the first steps in hotel development is programming the number of guest rooms, suites, restaurant and bar outlets, as well as other amenities. We can work with you to determine the optimum programming package.

You want to know if your project is economically viable, and we can assist with income and development cost pro-forma that will drive your return equation.

Understanding the current and potential hotel performance within your market can be foretelling of your hotel’s performance and potential ease of market exit, if and when you decide to sell.

Understanding how your specific site fits into the market is critical to understanding the prospects of project success.

We will gauge the current competitive hotel supply and potential development pipeline.

Hotel brands all have costs associated with development, fees, and expected revenue performance. We can help you select the best balance of income potential, relative to cost. Developing a Boutique/Independent hotel may be your best course.

One of the first steps in hotel development is programming the number of guest rooms, suites, restaurant and bar outlets, as well as other amenities. We can work with you to determine the optimum programming package.

Development

We can provide you with the knowledge needed to reduce risk and create profitable projects while taking you through our range of development services that carry your project from an idea to your hotel opening.

ROI = NOI / Total Development Cost

We have an integrative process using data, a network of industry contacts, and “boots-on-the-ground” interviews to assist you in selecting and evaluating your potential hotel site.

Programming can include recommendations for the number of rooms and suites, room mix, size of meeting and banquet space, parking, back of house requirements, and supporting amenities.

Our guidance through the evaluation of your brand and franchise options can make a difference to your returns. The brands each have national RevPAR, development costs, and franchise fees. Selecting the available brand that will have the highest rev par relative to cost is crucial in maximizing your project return.

We can recommend hotel-specific architects, designers, general contractors, and procurement companies with proven track records.

We can quickly produce a 5-year income Pro Forma and/or facilitate “provisional” cost estimates. Our point of differentiation is the depth of operating knowledge relative to most who do this work. We understand what is behind the numbers.

The decision that will most impact your NOI is the selection of the management company, more specifically, who you approve to be your General Manager. We have selection tools that can maximize your chances of success.

We can provide full owner oversight responsibilities from predevelopment through to your hotel opening.

We can provide you with the knowledge needed to reduce risk and create profitable projects while taking you through our range of development services that carry your project from an idea to your hotel opening.

ROI = NOI / Total Development Cost

We have an integrative process using data, a network of industry contacts, and “boots-on-the-ground” interviews to assist you in selecting and evaluating your potential hotel site.

Programming can include recommendations for the number of rooms and suites, room mix, size of meeting and banquet space, parking, back of house requirements, and supporting amenities.

Our guidance through the evaluation of your brand and franchise options can make a difference to your returns. The brands each have national RevPAR, development costs, and franchise fees. Selecting the available brand that will have the highest rev par relative to cost is crucial in maximizing your project return.

We can recommend hotel-specific architects, designers, general contractors, and procurement companies with proven track records.

We can quickly produce a 5-year income Pro Forma and/or facilitate “provisional” cost estimates. Our point of differentiation is the depth of operating knowledge relative to most who do this work. We understand what is behind the numbers.

The decision that will most impact your NOI is the selection of the management company, more specifically, who you approve to be your General Manager. We have selection tools that can maximize your chances of success.

We can provide full owner oversight responsibilities from predevelopment through to your hotel opening.

Capital Raising

Hotel property financing in its simplest form is the process of gaining sufficient funds to get your hotel business off the ground – most often a mix of equity and debt, but potentially including any number of blended finance options.

Successfully raising capital is no easy task, but it can be achieved by the development of a robust and credible business plan and financial model supplemented by a unique brand concept, a targeted marketing plan, feasibility reports and more. Once all of this has been accomplished, the work of raising funding for your project really begins.

Some of the equity and debt financing options include :

  • Commercial Banks

  • Development Bank

  • Government Investment Companies

  • Family Offices

  • Private Capital Fund Managers

  • Government Grants

Hotel property financing in its simplest form is the process of gaining sufficient funds to get your hotel business off the ground – most often a mix of equity and debt, but potentially including any number of blended finance options.

Successfully raising capital is no easy task, but it can be achieved by the development of a robust and credible business plan and financial model supplemented by a unique brand concept, a targeted marketing plan, feasibility reports and more. Once all of this has been accomplished, the work of raising funding for your project really begins.

Some of the equity and debt financing options include :

  • Commercial Banks

  • Development Bank

  • Government Investment Companies

  • Family Offices

  • Private Capital Fund Managers

  • Government Grants

Buyer Advisory

Hotel acquisition comes with risks, and understanding those risks early in the process is critical in developing your price/offer. We can help identify, quantify, and plan to eliminate or mitigate these risks inherent in a hotel deal.  Let us help you navigate the acquisition process.

It is essential to understand the durability of the primary demand generators, the quality of the competitive set, and any future supply risk.

We can assist in evaluating the seller’s due diligence materials and current operating performance, including financials, property improvement plan materials, quality assurance reports, and incentives.

If changing brands is viable, we can help you think through the brand options to determine which is best for your location/property. We can also assist with reviewing the business terms of your franchise agreement.

We can evaluate the current management company’s performance, and if a change is needed, we can recommend high-quality options and assist with the new hotel management agreement.

Most hotel transactions come with a PIP, and we can oversee the entire PIP/renovation, including budget development, brand interface & negotiation, and leading the team to complete the work.

We offer a full suite of asset management services. Please see our Asset Management tab for a complete listing.

We can provide full Owner oversight responsibilities from predevelopment through to your hotel opening.

Hotel acquisition comes with risks, and understanding those risks early in the process is critical in developing your price/offer. We can help identify, quantify, and plan to eliminate or mitigate these risks inherent in a hotel deal.  Let us help you navigate the acquisition process.

It is essential to understand the durability of the primary demand generators, the quality of the competitive set, and any future supply risk.

We can assist in evaluating the seller’s due diligence materials and current operating performance, including financials, property improvement plan materials, quality assurance reports, and incentives.

If changing brands is viable, we can help you think through the brand options to determine which is best for your location/property. We can also assist with reviewing the business terms of your franchise agreement.

We can evaluate the current management company’s performance, and if a change is needed, we can recommend high-quality options and assist with the new hotel management agreement.

Most hotel transactions come with a PIP, and we can oversee the entire PIP/renovation, including budget development, brand interface & negotiation, and leading the team to complete the work.

We offer a full suite of asset management services. Please see our Asset Management tab for a complete listing.

We can provide full Owner oversight responsibilities from predevelopment through to your hotel opening.

Asset Management

Owners use us to review current property level performance in comparison to “best-in-class” metrics. We can calculate the value of any gaps in current operating performance and make “implementation-ready” plan adjustments to achieve full economic potential.

Should you consider selling, upgrading, changing brands, or changing management companies? We can help you think through these and other strategic decisions.

We can work with the brand to steer limited resources into the areas that will generate the most value and return on your capital spend.

Major hotel brands have system costs and relative RevPAR performance. We can help you select or change to the best option for your location and market. In certain high-demand markets, an independent hotel could be your best option.

Management company selection will impact your NOI more than any other decision. We can help you select the best option for your property while monitoring and influencing their performance.

We can work with your management company to ensure the annual business plan and CapEx plan target key opportunities, as well as reduce potential competitive risks.

We can coordinate with the management company to ensure timely and accurate monthly/annual reporting for your hotel(s).

Owners use us to review current property level performance in comparison to “best-in-class” metrics. We can calculate the value of any gaps in current operating performance and make “implementation-ready” plan adjustments to achieve full economic potential.

Should you consider selling, upgrading, changing brands, or changing management companies? We can help you think through these and other strategic decisions.

We can work with the brand to steer limited resources into the areas that will generate the most value and return on your capital spend.

Major hotel brands have system costs and relative RevPAR performance. We can help you select or change to the best option for your location and market. In certain high-demand markets, an independent hotel could be your best option.

Management company selection will impact your NOI more than any other decision. We can help you select the best option for your property while monitoring and influencing their performance.

We can work with your management company to ensure the annual business plan and CapEx plan target key opportunities, as well as reduce potential competitive risks.

We can coordinate with the management company to ensure timely and accurate monthly/annual reporting for your hotel(s).

Brokerage

It is important to be represented by a professional company with the skills, experience and tools to properly present the property, locate the right buyer, and help navigate through the obstacles.

We review your property to give an expert opinion of the market value. Our conclusion is based on several different factors including historical and present income trends, available financing, local market, physical condition, brand requirements and more. We recommend a price range and an appropriate strategy based on your objectives. We are committed to selling your property at the best possible price.

Our database comprises local, regional, and international buyers for every type of hospitality property. Based on a seller’s goals, we can act with varying degrees of confidentiality, from targeting a small number of qualified buyers to a broad marketing approach that includes advertising and wide dissemination of information to buyers as well as the brokerage community. We understand that no two cases are the same, which is why we tailor our services to your goals.

It is important to be represented by a professional company with the skills, experience and tools to properly present the property, locate the right buyer, and help navigate through the obstacles.

We review your property to give an expert opinion of the market value. Our conclusion is based on several different factors including historical and present income trends, available financing, local market, physical condition, brand requirements and more. We recommend a price range and an appropriate strategy based on your objectives. We are committed to selling your property at the best possible price.

Our database comprises local, regional, and international buyers for every type of hospitality property. Based on a seller’s goals, we can act with varying degrees of confidentiality, from targeting a small number of qualified buyers to a broad marketing approach that includes advertising and wide dissemination of information to buyers as well as the brokerage community. We understand that no two cases are the same, which is why we tailor our services to your goals.

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