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Global hospitality giant to open 140-room Hilton Garden Inn at Highlands Precinct by 2029
Hilton has announced its first foray into Zimbabwe, signing an agreement with Terrace Africa to develop a Hilton Garden Inn property in Harare’s upmarket Highlands district, marking a significant milestone in the country’s hospitality sector.
The 140-room hotel, scheduled to open in early 2029, will form part of the Highlands Precinct, a mixed-use development bringing together offices, retail outlets, dining establishments, residences and conferencing facilities. Located approximately 20 to 25 kilometres from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, the property sits within one of Harare’s established residential and diplomatic neighbourhoods, providing convenient access to key commercial and cultural destinations across the capital.
The announcement, made at ZimReal – Zimbabwe’s premier property investment forum – comes as the country’s tourism sector shows robust growth, with international arrivals exceeding 1, 7 million in 2025.
Carlos Khneisser, Chief Development Officer for Middle East and Africa at Hilton, described the move as a defining moment for the company’s African expansion strategy.
“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,” Mr Khneisser said. “With 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.”
The property will feature modern amenities including an all-day dining restaurant with a terrace, a lobby café and bar, a gym, a pool with terrace, and meeting rooms, designed to offer business and leisure travellers upscale yet affordable accommodation.
Brett Abrahamse, Director of Terrace Africa, said the partnership would elevate the Highlands Precinct’s standing as a connected urban destination.
“Our Highlands Precinct has been designed to reflect Harare’s growth and evolving lifestyle needs,” Mr 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. Together, we are bringing a globally recognised hospitality brand to a destination designed for the future of the city.”
The signing builds on Hilton’s strong momentum across Africa, where the global hospitality company currently operates more than 70 trading hotels and has over 100 in the pipeline, with more than half located in Sub-Saharan Africa. The award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand boasts more than 1,100 hotels across 65 countries and territories worldwide.
Terrace Africa, established in 2011, has delivered over US$230 million worth of property projects across Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa, and serves as the Asset Manager of the ZSE-listed Tigere REIT.
