International giant opening new hotel in South Africa

Hilton is expanding its footprint in South Africa with the planned 2028 opening of the Hilton Garden Inn Polokwane in Limpopo.

On 31 March 2026, Hilton announced accelerated growth across Africa, signing a record 29 deals in 2025 across 15 countries.

The global hospitality company is set to open more than 100 hotels across the continent, creating over 20,000 job opportunities and bringing Hilton’s total Africa footprint to more than 180 hotels trading and in the pipeline.

Driven by strong demand for trusted, high-quality hospitality, Hilton continues to expand its portfolio across both its full-service and focused-service brands.

This includes Hilton’s debut in Gabon and re-entry into Chad with the signing of a Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in each country, alongside the continued expansion of the Hilton Garden Inn brand.

The brand will also expand its footprint in South Africa through the Hilton Garden Inn Polokwane, which is set to open in 2028.

It will feature an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby bar and a rooftop bar, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre, alongside flexible facilities including four meeting and event rooms.

The hotel will be located within a mixed-use development close to the city’s established business district and directly opposite a retail centre.

It will provide a modern and comfortable stay for guests visiting the city for both business and leisure. The hotel is being developed in partnership with Net Worth Properties.

Hilton commented that its commitment to South Africa remains strong, with several hotel projects currently in the pipeline.

This latest signing follows the recent signing of The Sterling Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, alongside two additional hotels currently under development.

“Sub-Saharan Africa remains a strategically important growth region for Hilton,” said Hilton’s chief development officer of Middle East & Africa, Carlos Khneisser.

The region continues to show strong long-term potential, driven by expanding business hubs, improved connectivity, and increased investment in tourism infrastructure.

“As travel demand evolves, we remain on track to open more than 100 hotels across Africa, with over half located in Sub-Saharan Africa – reflecting our ambition to bring more of our brands to established and emerging markets,” Khneisser said.

“Harnessing the expertise of our local teams, we look forward to advancing this next chapter of growth alongside our partners.”

Khneisser added that Hilton will continue supporting the development of the region’s hospitality sector and delivering exceptional stays for their guests.

Hilton expands its African footprint

Hilton currently operates 70 hotels in Africa, with more than 100 hotels under development across 13 brands. This includes its debut in Gabon through a dual-brand signing in Libreville.

Set to open in 2027 in partnership with FB Group, Hilton Libreville will offer 101 rooms, multiple dining options, meeting facilities, a spa, a fitness centre, and a pool.

Alongside it, Hilton Garden Inn Libreville will feature 116 rooms, meeting spaces and amenities tailored to business and leisure travellers.

Located on Libreville’s waterfront in the Baie des Rois development, the hotels will form part of a mixed-use precinct with views across the Bay of Kings.

The group is also entering Sierra Leone with the Hilton Garden Inn Freetown Airport, which is expected to open later this year.

As the country’s first internationally branded airport hotel, the 110-room property will support growing business travel linked to the nearby Lungi Congress Centre.

In Chad, the Hilton group will re-enter the market with the Hilton N’Djamena Toumai Palace, a hotel comprising 243 rooms.

Located near key government institutions and the capital’s international airport, the hotel will include extensive dining, meeting and wellness facilities.

Meanwhile, Hilton is strengthening its presence in Zambia with the Hilton Lusaka Pyramid, scheduled to open in 2027.

The 211-room hotel will cater to business and events travel, with over 4,000 m² of meeting space and a range of leisure amenities.

These developments form part of Hilton’s broader expansion strategy across Sub-Saharan Africa, with new market entries and projects also planned in countries including Benin, Togo, Tanzania, Angola and Madagascar.

This reflects the growing demand for international-standard accommodation across the region. Hilton’s expansion across Africa will also be supported by several upcoming openings in 2026.

This includes Hilton Accra Cantonments, marking Hilton’s debut in Ghana, and Ava Hotel Nairobi, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the brand’s first hotel in Kenya.