Hilton is set to enter Zimbabwe with the signing of a 140-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Harare, marking the hospitality group's first property in the country.
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The Hilton Garden Inn Harare Highlands is expected to open in early 2029 as part of the Highlands Precinct, a mixed-use development by Terrace Africa comprising offices, retail, dining, residences, hotels and conferencing facilities.
The signing was announced at ZimReal, a property investment forum in Zimbabwe.
Harare hotel development
The hotel will be located in Harare's Highlands district, about 20 to 25km from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, with access to commercial, diplomatic and cultural areas of the city.
The property will feature rooms and suites alongside an all-day dining restaurant with a terrace, lobby café and bar, gym, pool with terrace and meeting rooms.
Carlos Khneisser, chief development officer, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said: “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.
"With Zimbabwe welcoming more than 1.7 million international arrivals in 2025 and Harare serving as a key commercial, diplomatic and regional gateway, we see strong opportunity to bring Hilton Garden Inn to a market where demand from business and leisure travellers continues to grow.
"We are proud to partner with Terrace Africa to introduce Hilton Garden Inn’s bright service, thoughtful amenities, and dependable guest experience to Harare.”
Part of Highlands Precinct
The hotel forms part of the Highlands Precinct, which Terrace Africa is developing as a mixed-use destination combining accommodation, business, retail and residential offerings.
Brett Abrahamse, director, Terrace Africa, said: “Our Highlands Precinct has been designed as a connected urban destination that reflects Harare’s growth and evolving lifestyle needs.
"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. Together, we are bringing a globally recognised hospitality brand to a destination designed for the future of the city.”
Hilton expands in Africa
The Zimbabwe signing comes as Hilton expands its African hotel portfolio. The company currently has more than 70 trading hotels and more than 100 properties in its pipeline across the continent, with more than half of those pipeline properties located in sub-Saharan Africa.
For Zimbabwe's tourism and hospitality sector, the development adds an international hotel brand to Harare's accommodation offering, with the property targeting both business and leisure travellers.
