Hilton, top global hospitality brand, has reached the 100-hotel milestone in its African operation. The Virginia, United States of America-based global hotel chain announced the achievement at the ongoing African Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Nairobi Kenya, where it signed Hampton by Hilton Sandton Grayston, a deal which marked the first for the brand in Africa and a milestone of 100 hotels trading or under development on the African continent for Hilton in 2019, which is its centenary year.
Speaking at AHIF 2019, Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, Development, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said 2019 has seen Hilton open four properties in Africa, entering three new markets while also further strengthening its multi-brand pipeline.
On the 100 hotel milestone, the excited Fitzgibbon said: “With this being our 100th year, reaching the milestone of 100 hotels allows us to reflect on our rich legacy of pioneering tourism on the African continent but also to look to the future. We continue to step up the pace of our growth, especially in the mid-market segment which presents a tremendous opportunity as evidenced by the rapid expansion of Hilton Garden Inn on the continent since its debut in 2016.”
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Explaining the details of the Hampton by Hilton Sandton Grayston deal, Fitzgibbon noted that the franchise agreement was signed with Afrirent Pty through its Indalo Hotels & Leisure subsidiary. Indalo, according to him, will be the operator of the 158-guest room Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Sandton, the financial capital of South Africa.
As well, the mid-market property will join Hilton’s flagship upscale Hilton Sandton, offering additional choice for travellers to the district commonly known as ‘Africa’s richest Square Mile’. Construction is scheduled to begin at the site on Grayston Drive in early 2020 with first guests set to be welcomed by mid-2021.
Hampton by Hilton serves value-conscious and quality-driven travellers at more than 2,500 properties across the world. It offers high-quality accommodation and amenities, such as complimentary WiFi, free hot breakfast, and a thoughtful service defined as Hamptonality, with guest happiness being the number one priority.
In the same vein, Hilton has enjoyed a rapid period of expansion in the focused service segment through the Hilton Garden Inn brand, which has operational hotels in six African markets and a further 10 under development. Hampton by Hilton is expected to compliment the growth and provide owners and customers with greater choice.
Aside the new signing, Hilton is bringing its lifestyle Canopy by Hilton brand to Africa, through the signing of Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof, as well as, two landmark flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties in Uganda and DR Congo.
Also, in accelerating its growth in the focused service segment, Hilton is opening Hilton Garden Inn hotels in three new countries: Hilton Garden Inn Gaborone, Botswana, Hilton Garden Inn Kampala, Uganda and Hilton Garden Inn Mbabane, Eswatini.
The brand is continuing to establish its footprint in Morocco with the opening of Hilton Tanger Al Houara Golf Resort & Spa with the Hilton Taghazout Bay due to open in 2020.
It would be recalled that Hilton launched Legend Hotel Lagos Airport, Curio Collection by Hilton in the last quarter of 2018, which also boosted the 100-hotel milestone.
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