Hilton Bets Big on Africa: 100+ New Hotels, 20,000 Jobs in the Pipeline
Johannesburg, South Africa — Hilton is doubling down on Africa. On March 31, 2026, the global hospitality giant announced a record 29 new hotel signings across 15 African countries in 2025 — part of an ambitious plan to open more than 100 properties continent-wide, creating over 20,000 jobs and expanding its African footprint to 180+ hotels, both operating and in development.
The push includes market debuts in Gabon (Hilton Libreville and Hilton Garden Inn Libreville, opening 2027), Sierra Leone (Hilton Garden Inn Freetown Airport, opening later this year), and Chad (Hilton N’Djamena Toumai Palace, also opening this year). These projects reflect Hilton’s strategy to tap into emerging business hubs and growing tourism infrastructure — especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where over half of the new hotels will be located.
In Zambia, the 211-room Hilton Lusaka Pyramid — set for 2027 — will offer 4,000+ sqm of event space, positioning itself as a major MICE destination near embassies and the airport. In South Africa, Hilton Garden Inn Polokwane (2028) will serve business travelers near the city’s commercial core, while additional projects in Johannesburg and Cape Town signal continued commitment to the region.
Hilton’s expansion also spans Benin, Togo, Tanzania, Angola, and Madagascar, with brand debuts like Canopy by Hilton Zanzibar and DoubleTree by Hilton Lomé Airport. Upcoming openings this year include Hilton Accra Cantonments (Ghana) and Ava Hotel Nairobi (Kenya), marking Hilton’s entry into both markets.
“Sub-Saharan Africa remains a strategically important growth region,” said Carlos Khneisser, Hilton’s Chief Development Officer for Middle East & Africa. “We’re bringing trusted hospitality to emerging markets — supporting local economies while meeting rising demand from business and leisure travelers.”
With 70 hotels already operating and more than 100 under development across 13 brands, Hilton’s African expansion is not just about rooms — it’s about building infrastructure, creating jobs, and positioning itself at the heart of the continent’s travel and economic transformation.
