Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa has announced Vimbai Masiyiwa and Colin Bell as the recipients of its 2026 FHS Africa Awards, recognising their leadership and impact on the continent’s hospitality and conservation tourism sectors.
Organised by The Bench, the summit will take place in Nairobi from 31 March to 1 April 2026, bringing together hospitality investors, operators and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
Masiyiwa, Co-Founder and CEO of Batoka Africa, will receive the Leadership Award, while Colin Bell, CEO of Natural Selection and former CEO of Wilderness, will be honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality Award.
The recipients will be celebrated during the event programme, including exclusive one-to-one interviews where they will share insights on their leadership journeys and the milestones that shaped their impact on the industry.
At Batoka Africa, Masiyiwa has spearheaded the development of luxury safari properties in Zimbabwe, built around conservation, sustainability and community empowerment. Under her leadership, the company has championed responsible tourism that protects biodiversity while creating economic opportunities for local communities.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the FHS Africa Leadership Award,” Masiyiwa said. “For us at Batoka Africa, hospitality is about stewardship — of land, of culture and of opportunity.”
Bell, widely regarded as a leading figure in African conservation tourism, has played a key role in developing high-end safari experiences that combine commercial success with environmental protection.
Throughout his career at Natural Selection and Wilderness, Bell has helped expand conservation tourism into new regions while strengthening partnerships with governments and local communities.
“I’m deeply grateful for this recognition from FHS Africa,” Bell said. “Hospitality at its best connects guests to wild places in meaningful ways while safeguarding those places for generations to come.”
Matthew Weihs, Growth Director at The Bench, described both award recipients as leaders who have reshaped African hospitality.
“Vimbai Masiyiwa and Colin Bell have redefined what leadership in African hospitality looks like — purpose-driven, commercially astute and deeply committed to community and conservation,” he said.
FHS Africa 2026 will feature two days of industry discussions, networking and investment dialogue, focusing on the future of hospitality development across the continent.
