Hilton is accelerating its expansion across Africa with plans to open more than 100 hotels in the coming years, over half of which will be located in Sub-Saharan Africa, as the company deepens its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing hospitality markets. The expansion, which is expected to create more than 20,000 job opportunities, will bring Hilton’s total footprint on the continent to over 180 hotels trading and in development, reflecting a significant scale-up in investment and long-term growth ambitions.
According to Carlos Khneisser, Sub-Saharan Africa remains a strategically important region for Hilton, with strong long-term potential supported by expanding business hubs and evolving travel demand. He noted that the company is on track to deliver more than 100 hotels across the continent, reinforcing its ambition to introduce more of its brands into diverse markets while working closely with local partners to strengthen the region’s hospitality sector.
A key highlight of the expansion is Hilton’s entry into Gabon through a dual-brand development in Libreville, in partnership with FB Group. The project includes Hilton Libreville, which will feature 101 guest rooms and suites, a signature restaurant, lobby café and bar, all-day dining with a terrace, as well as an executive lounge, co-working hub, ballroom, meeting rooms, spa, fitness centre, and outdoor pool.
Alongside it, Hilton Garden Inn Libreville will offer 116 rooms and suites, a lobby shop, bar, fitness centre, and meeting facilities tailored to business and leisure travellers. Both properties are expected to open in 2027 and will be located on Libreville’s waterfront within the Baie des Rois development, offering views across the Bay of Kings and access to key commercial and leisure areas.
Hilton is also strengthening its presence in West and Central Africa with new signings in Sierra Leone and Chad. Hilton Garden Inn Freetown Airport, expected to open later this year, will mark Hilton’s debut in Sierra Leone and become the country’s first internationally branded airport hotel. Located next to the Lungi Congress Centre, the 110-room property will include a lobby café, restaurant, fitness centre, outdoor pool, and meeting rooms, forming part of a broader airport expansion project aimed at positioning the area as a hub for international business and exhibitions.
In Chad, Hilton N’Djamena Toumai Palace, developed in partnership with Société Nationale d’Exploitation Hôteliére, will signal Hilton’s re-entry into the market. Located just 600 metres from N’Djamena International Airport, the hotel will feature 243 rooms and suites, multiple dining options including a specialty restaurant, sky bar, lobby lounge, and all-day dining, alongside meeting facilities, a banquet hall, and wellness amenities such as a fitness centre, tennis court, and outdoor pool.
Southern Africa also features prominently in Hilton’s growth strategy, with new developments in Zambia and South Africa. Hilton Lusaka Pyramid, scheduled to open in 2027, will offer 211 rooms and suites, a range of dining options, an executive lounge, spa, fitness centre, and extensive meeting and event space spanning over 4,000 square metres, making it a key destination for conferences and corporate events. The hotel, developed in partnership with Zebra Manufacturing Zambia Limited, will be located in Lusaka’s Sunningdale district, providing proximity to embassies, ministries, and key commercial hubs, as well as convenient access to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.
In South Africa, Hilton Garden Inn Polokwane, expected to open in 2028, will feature an all-day dining restaurant, lobby and rooftop bars, an outdoor pool, fitness centre, and flexible meeting facilities, located within a mixed-use development near the city’s business district.
Hilton’s commitment to South Africa is further reinforced by additional projects in the pipeline, including the recently signed The Sterling Hotel, part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, alongside two other developments currently underway.
The company’s broader Sub-Saharan expansion includes new market entries and brand debuts across West, East, Central, and Southern Africa. These include Hilton Cotonou in Benin, DoubleTree by Hilton Lomé Airport in Togo, and Canopy by Hilton Zanzibar The Burj in Tanzania, as well as continued growth in key markets such as Nigeria and Ethiopia. Expansion efforts also extend to Central and Southern Africa with multiple signings in Angola, including Hilton Luanda Hotel Godinho, Hilton Garden Inn Luanda Airport, and DoubleTree by Hilton Cabinda Futila Residences, alongside developments in Madagascar with Hilton Antananarivo and Hilton Garden Inn Antananarivo.
Supporting this pipeline are several near-term openings, including Hilton Accra Cantonments, which will mark Hilton’s debut in Ghana, and Ava Hotel Nairobi, part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, representing the brand’s first property in Kenya. Currently, Hilton operates 70 hotels across Africa, with more than 100 additional properties under development across 13 brands, underscoring the scale and momentum of its expansion strategy.
As demand for quality accommodation continues to rise across the continent, Hilton’s aggressive growth pipeline signals confidence in Africa’s long-term tourism and business travel potential, positioning the company to play a leading role in shaping the region’s evolving hospitality landscape.
