Business

Ethiopia Unveils Landmark Shebele Resort in Push for Regional Tourism Hub

Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Shebele Resort in the Somali Region on Saturday, marking a major milestone in Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ambitious “Dine for Generation” (Gebeta Le Tewled) initiative. The ceremony, held in Jigjiga, was attended by Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, highlighting the project’s significance for regional diplomacy

January 31, 2026 • By Addis Insight

Culture

The Winners and Losers of Content Diplomacy: Inside IShowSpeed’s Africa Tour

The Digital Frontier of Content Diplomacy: A Comprehensive Analysis of the IShowSpeed Africa Tour (2025–2026) The “Speed Does Africa” tour, conducted between December 2025 and January 2026, represents a transformative moment in the evolution of digital media, real-life (IRL) streaming, and the global perception of the African continent. Led by Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known

January 28, 2026 • By Addis Insight

Business

Ethiopian Investment Holdings Drives $250 Million Flagship Hotel Push in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia is accelerating a shift toward active ownership of state assets, placing hospitality and luxury hotels at the center of a broader strategy to unlock value from underutilized public land and infrastructure. In a recent presentation, Dr. Brook Taye, chief executive officer of Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), said the government is moving away from passive

January 22, 2026 • By Addis Insight

Business

MIDROC Investment Group Acquires Historic Wabi Shebele Hotel, Plans Marriott Autograph Collection Renovation

Addis Ababa — MIDROC Investment Group has acquired the historic Wabi Shebele Hotel, marking a major investment in Ethiopia’s hospitality sector ahead of the country’s selection to host the 32nd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP32). Under the agreement, the hotel will undergo a comprehensive renovation and be repositioned as a Marriott Autograph Collection property,

January 21, 2026 • By Addis Insight

Culture

U.S. Suspends Diversity Green Card Lottery Following Deadly Shooting Incidents

The United States government has suspended its Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, following a recent series of violent incidents allegedly linked to a former beneficiary of the scheme. The decision was announced after a mass shooting at Brown University last week that left two people dead. The suspect, 48-year-old

December 19, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Can Addis Ababa’s Hotels Handle 25,000 Climate Conference Guests?

Addis Ababa Hotel Market Faces 25,000-Delegate Climate Conference Test Addis Ababa’s Hotel Crunch: Can the City Host 25,000 Climate Delegates? Market Analysis • Addis Insight A data-led assessment of hotel inventory, ADR pressure, and the playbook to make Climate Week work—complete with charts and tables. Addis Ababa has long punched above its weight in diplomacy.

August 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Business

Haile Hotel Shashemene Reopens After 600M Birr Expansion

Haile Hotel Shashemene Reopens After 600M Birr Expansion: 7 Big Upgrades Guests Will Love Haile Hotel Shashemene is back in business! After undergoing a large-scale renovation and expansion, the iconic hotel has reopened its doors with modern facilities, bigger capacity, and improved services. The hotel, part of Haile Hotels & Resorts Group, a subsidiary of

August 30, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Culture

DoubleTree by Hilton Arrives in Addis Ababa, Elevating Ethiopian Hospitality

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia’s capital just gained a new global landmark in hospitality. DoubleTree by Hilton has officially opened in Addis Ababa, marking the brand’s first hotel in the country and the second Hilton-branded property in the city. Built at a cost of 700 million Birr, the project took 13 years to complete — a

August 28, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Culture

Lucy and Selam’s Prague Journey: Ethiopia’s Ancient Treasures Guarded by Elite Force

Prague, Czech Republic – Two of Ethiopia’s most iconic ancestral remains, Lucy and Selam, have touched down in Europe for a rare exhibition at the National Museum in Prague, drawing global attention to Ethiopia’s role as the cradle of humankind. The fossils, flown in on a special Ethiopian Airlines flight, received meticulous care upon arrival

August 27, 2025 • By Addis Insight

Culture

Addis Ababa’s Hotel Star Ratings Updated: Only 11 Five-Star Hotels in Africa’s Diplomatic Capital

Ethiopia | May 2025 – The Ethiopian Ministry of Tourism has released the official results of its latest hotel star grading reassessment for Addis Ababa, conducted for the year 2017 E.C. (2024/25 G.C.). A total of 40 hotels were evaluated, with ratings spanning from one to five stars based on internationally benchmarked service and infrastructure

May 29, 2025 • By Addis Insight