The President for Middle East and Africa says they are seeing strong interest from owners and investors to introduce new Hilton-branded hotels – and their priority is to ensure that any new development takes place in the right location with the right partners.
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With four hotels in operation and another four in the pipeline, Hilton expects to double its presence in South Africa in the next three to five years.
Hilton has four hotels in the pipeline in South Africa, reflecting continued confidence in South Africa as an attractive destination for international and domestic travellers alike.
The hotel company says that, featuring vibrant cities, natural beauty, and rich culture, South Africa’s appeal as a global travel destination continues to create exciting growth opportunities.
“We are committed to South Africa and continue to grow our portfolio across the country as we deliver industry-leading hospitality for our guests and market-leading returns for our owners,” says Guy Hutchinson, the president for the Middle East and Africa at Hilton.
He says among these is The Sterling Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, scheduled to open in Sibaya, KwaZulu‑Natal next year.
“Developed in partnership with Crown Pound (Pty) Ltd., the 111‑room hotel will be located in a rapidly emerging coastal precinct between Umhlanga and Ballito, close to King Shaka International Airport. The hotel will support leisure tourism along the Dolphin Coast while also strengthening accommodation options for business and events travel in the wider Durban area,” says Hutchinson.
Further inland, he says Hilton Garden Inn Polokwane, set to open in 2028, will form part of a mixed‑use development near the city’s established business district.
“Developed with Net Worth Properties (Pty) Ltd., the hotel is designed to support Polokwane’s growing corporate, government and mining‑related travel demand, while contributing to the evolution of the city’s commercial landscape.”
Hilton says beyond expanding accommodation choice, these developments play an important economic role, with the new hotels creating jobs during construction and operation, supporting local suppliers, and acting as anchors for surrounding commercial and property investment.
“We look forward to opening these properties in the years ahead, contributing meaningfully to tourism growth, skills development and confidence in South Africa’s property sector.”
At Hilton, we follow global best‑practice standards when entering into management agreements, with a strong emphasis on alignment, transparency and long‑term partnership from the outset.
In February, attempts to maintain a constructive partnership of the management agreement for Hilton Durban failed, with the deal coming to an end.
Importantly, Hilton says it remains confident in Durban and in South Africa more broadly, where demand remains strong across both business and leisure travel, supported by growing regional and international source markets.
The key for the company, according to Hutchinson, is working with the right partners in the right location. He says that whether their owners are local or foreign, they work closely with them, building a lasting relationship.
“As a result, in the Middle East and Africa, nearly two-thirds of our new deals are with existing owners,” Hutchinson says.
Hilton says it has a portfolio of 27 brands, and their goal is to serve travellers for any stay occasion, anywhere in the world they want to be.
“We currently operate four brands in South Africa, and just last year, we were proud to debut our Canopy by Hilton brand in the country with the opening of Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof, which has performed strongly since launch.”
The President for Middle East and Africa says they are seeing strong interest from owners and investors to introduce new Hilton-branded hotels – and their priority is to ensure that any new development takes place in the right location with the right partners.
“We have a well‑established presence in South Africa with a dedicated, locally based development team that works hand‑in‑hand with owners and their professional teams. Together, we develop hotels that deliver the high‑quality, consistent guest experience Hilton is known for globally, while ensuring our owners achieve strong returns on investment.”
The hotel group says it continues to welcome guests across the country at its four operating hotels: Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch, Hampton by Hilton Sandton Grayston, DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town-Upper Eastside and Canopy by Hilton Cape town Longkloof-offering guests a range of trusted brands across key destinations.
To support this, it says to continuously look for efficiencies across both capital and operating costs, without compromising the guest experience.
It says this includes smart design solutions, advances in technology, and leveraging Hilton’s global supply chain to secure competitive pricing for its owners.
“We also help owners source locally produced materials and supplies wherever possible, balancing cost efficiencies with positive community impact. Encouragingly, as a result, we are seeing local room rates move closer to international benchmarks, with guests increasingly willing to pay a premium for these higher‑quality stay experiences.”
Hilton says it is operating in a steadily improving economic environment in South Africa, with economic growth projected to reach 1.6% in 2026, following 1.4% growth in 2025.
It adds that tourism is a key engine of this growth. “In 2025, South Africa crossed a significant milestone, welcoming 10 million international visitors - a 17.6% increase on 2024 and the highest number on record.
The sector is estimated to sustain around 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs, and according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, tourism contributes nearly 9% of national GDP, underscoring its importance to the wider economy.”
The country’s global appeal continues to strengthen, supported by targeted initiatives to make travel easier and more accessible, says Hutchinson. He says this includes the rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system across priority markets such as India, China, Mexico and Indonesia, helping to remove friction for international travellers.
The company says connectivity is also improving through new long‑haul and regional air routes, including Qantas’ direct Perth–Johannesburg service and Air France’s daily seasonal flights to Cape Town, alongside expanded regional and domestic services.
At the same time, it says investment in tourism infrastructure is gaining momentum, while initiatives such as Siyanda, an AI‑powered travel assistant designed to enhance the visitor experience, reflect the sector’s focus on innovation.
Taken together, a stabilising economic environment, digitalisation, improved connectivity, and rising investor confidence position South Africa and Hilton’s portfolio within it spell a sustained, long‑term.
Asked about how the current US-Israel war on Iran, which has extended over the Middle East impacted the operations of Hilton broadly and in South Africa specifically, Hutchinson says that despite certain flight routes being affected, they have not seen a major business impact at their hotels in South Africa.
“While the travel industry may see some near‑term impact during periods of uncertainty, we take a long‑term view in the markets we serve-and as an agile business with more than 105 years of experience, we are prepared to navigate any challenges that may arise.”
The 2026 Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa report by W Hospitality Group released earlier this month shows that a record 123 846 rooms across 675 hotels and resorts. This represents year-on-year growth of 18.6%, or 12.2% on a same-store basis.
While the overall pipeline reflects strong continental expansion, the data show that development activity is increasingly concentrated in a small number of dominant markets.
The top ten countries now account for 79% of total pipeline rooms and more than 75% of new signings, reinforcing their growing influence on Africa’s hotel development trajectory.
Egypt leads with 45,984 rooms across 185 properties, more than one third of the entire African pipeline and over four times the number in second-placed Morocco, which has 10,606 rooms. Together, Egypt and Morocco account for more than 45% of total pipeline rooms, and their share continues to grow due to the high volume of new signings.
Egypt alone recorded 39 new deals last year and anticipates 33 openings in 2026, reinforcing its sustained development momentum.
South Africa sits at number 9 with 31 hotel developments of 4 136 with an average size of 133.
Independent Media Property