Global hospitality group Hilton to make its debut in Zimbabwe

Global hospitality group Hilton is set to make its debut in Zimbabwe after signing an agreement with Terrace Africa to develop the Hilton Garden Inn Harare Highlands, marking the first Hilton-branded property in the country.

The announcement, made at ZimReal, Zimbabwe's leading property investment forum, will also introduce Hilton's upscale focused-service Hilton Garden Inn brand to the Zimbabwean market.

The hotel is expected to open in early 2029 and will form part of the Highlands Precinct, a mixed-use development by Terrace Africa that will bring together offices, retail outlets, restaurants, residences, hotels and conferencing facilities.

Located in one of Harare's established residential and diplomatic areas, the development is approximately 20 to 25 kilometres from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. The hotel is expected to provide convenient access to the capital's major commercial, diplomatic and cultural destinations.

Carlos Khneisser, Hilton's Chief Development Officer for the Middle East and Africa, said the company's entry into Zimbabwe represented an important milestone in its expansion across the continent.

"Entering Zimbabwe marks an important milestone in Hilton's continued expansion across Africa and reflects our confidence in the country's long-term hospitality potential," Khneisser said.

He said Zimbabwe recorded more than 1.7 million international arrivals in 2025, while Harare's position as a commercial, diplomatic and regional gateway presented an opportunity for the company to serve growing demand from business and leisure travellers.

"We are proud to partner with Terrace Africa to introduce Hilton Garden Inn's bright service, thoughtful amenities, and dependable guest experience to Harare," he said.

Hilton Garden Inn Harare Highlands will comprise 140 rooms and suites, targeting both business and leisure travellers seeking upscale accommodation at an accessible price point.

The hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant with a terrace, a lobby café and bar, a gym and swimming pool with a terrace, as well as meeting rooms.

The facilities are designed to provide guests with spaces to work, meet, dine and relax within the hotel.

Terrace Africa Director Brett Abrahamse said the partnership with Hilton represented a major milestone for the Highlands Precinct and reflected the developer's vision for the area.

"Our Highlands Precinct has been designed as a connected urban destination that reflects Harare's growth and evolving lifestyle needs," Abrahamse said.

"Partnering with Hilton to introduce its first hotel in Zimbabwe is a defining milestone for the precinct and reinforces our ambition to create high-quality, mixed-use environments that serve residents, businesses and visitors alike."

He said the development would bring an internationally recognised hospitality brand to a destination designed to support Harare's future growth.

The signing adds to Hilton's growing presence across Africa. The hospitality group currently has more than 70 trading hotels and over 100 properties in its development pipeline across the continent, with more than half of the pipeline properties located in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Hilton Garden Inn Harare Highlands is expected to further strengthen Harare's accommodation offering while adding an internationally recognised hotel brand to Zimbabwe's tourism and business hospitality sector.