Who is the person behind DHI, and why does it matter?

Every Develop Hotels Inc project is led personally by Andrew McLachlan. Clients gain direct access to more than three decades of hotel development experience across 150 hotels delivered and more than 175 hospitality projects and advisory assignments across 48 countries, representing over US$ 6 billion in project value.

Both sides of the table

Very few people in hotel development have negotiated from both sides of the table.

Andrew McLachlan has represented global hotel brands, managed investment capital, and owned hospitality businesses himself. He understands how brands think, how operators negotiate and what owners need to protect their interests.

That perspective shapes every Develop Hotels Inc assignment. It means negotiations are driven by experience, commercial decisions are grounded in reality and every recommendation is made from the owner's point of view.

Professional Experience

Andrew began his hospitality career with Protea Hotels, progressing from management trainee to General Manager before leading the group’s brand communications through its multi-brand expansion and later moved into development contributing to the group’s expansion across Africa. The operational foundation built during those early years continues to shape his approach to hotel development today.

He then spent 14 years with Radisson Hotel Group, where he established and led the group's Africa development platform. During his tenure, Radisson's African portfolio grew from a single hotel to almost 100 hotels across more than 30 countries. He also served on Radisson's Global Business Leadership Team, responsible for shaping the company's growth strategy.

Between these roles, Andrew served as Managing Director and Board Member of AfriNord Hotel Investments, a USD 50 million hospitality investment fund backed by Radisson Hotel Group and four Nordic government development finance institutions: IFU, Norfund, Swedfund and Finnfund. In that role, he evaluated investment opportunities, structured transactions and approved hotel investments with institutional capital at risk.

Andrew later joined Hilton as Managing Director of Development for Sub-Saharan Africa, leading the group's regional development strategy, negotiating management and franchise agreements and introducing new Hilton brands to the African market.

Alongside his corporate career, Andrew and his wife Evie invested in and operated their own hospitality businesses, including an aparthotel under a Protea Hotels franchise, a vida e caffè franchise and an independent guest house. That first-hand ownership experience provides a practical understanding of the commercial realities, risks and responsibilities faced by hospitality owners.

Today, Andrew brings together experience gained as a hotel operator, global brand executive, institutional investor, hospitality business owner and owner-side development manager. Through Develop Hotels Inc, that experience is applied exclusively to representing the interests of hotel owners, developers and investors.

From the back of house to the boardroom

Andrew's hospitality career didn't begin in a boardroom. It began washing pots at a country club on a South African gold mine.

From there, he built his career from the ground up, progressing through hotel operations, development, institutional investment, global brand leadership and hospitality ownership. Along the way, he has experienced the industry from almost every perspective: employee, operator, General Manager, investor, hotel owner, franchisee and owner-side development manager.

Today, that breadth of experience shapes every Develop Hotels Inc assignment. It provides a practical understanding of how hotels are conceived, financed, designed, developed, operated and, ultimately, how they create long-term asset value.

Combined project value

$6bn+

Hotels Delivered

150+

Owner-side assignments completed

175+

Countries

48+

Let’s talk about your project

Every project starts with a conversation.

Whether it's over a coffee or a video call, we'll listen to what you're trying to achieve, share an honest perspective and tell you where we believe we can add value. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you that too.

Discuss your project