DDIS ABABA, and McLean, Va.—Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of agreements to open a further two Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Nigeria, in the city of Owerri, and at Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Future growth is also expected to be fueled with the unveiling of a new modular Hilton Garden Inn hotel build solution being introduced by the company for coming African projects.
“At Hilton Worldwide, we continually seek innovative ways to develop and operate our hotels, and our latest venture is no different,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president of development, Europe and Africa for Hilton Worldwide. “Coupling this novel approach of modular design with the development prospects Africa presents, we are excited about the expansion opportunities of our portfolio on the Continent.”
Hilton Worldwide is showcasing the Hilton Garden Inn modular build prototype at Hilton Addis Ababa during the Africa Hotel Investment Forum 2014. Constructed in China by CIMC Modular Building Systems, modular guestrooms and hallways are built entirely in manufacturing plant conditions—leading to benefits of faster development, streamlined design, efficiencies of cost, as well as quality control assurances. The technology has already established itself in the U.K., with various mid-market brands growing via modular build. Hilton Worldwide brings this solution to its strategic development market of Africa for Hilton Garden Inn, which currently has nine hotels under development, confirmed for locations including: Lusaka, Uyo, Lagos, and Tanger.
Hilton Garden Inn Abuja Airport will offer 220 guestrooms and will be operated under a management agreement with Oneplus Holdings Nigeria Ltd. Expected to open in second quarter 2017, the hotel is the first property to be constructed in the vicinity of the airport some 36 kilometers from the center of Abuja. The hotel will offer 425 square meters of events space, a health club, and a lounge, bar, and grill restaurant.
Expected to open in fourth quarter 2017, Hilton Garden Inn Owerri will be located in central Owerri in a prime position for nearby corporate, government, and education organizations. Offering 150 guestrooms, Hilton Garden Inn Owerri will be operated under a management agreement with a private investor. The hotel will offer various meeting spaces, as well as fitness center and lounge, bar, and all-day dining restaurant.
Hilton Worldwide currently has 36 hotels operating across Africa, with a further 26 hotels under development. The company’s most recent opening was DoubleTree by Hilton Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. The longest serving Hilton Hotel in Africa is Hilton Addis Ababa, which opened as the first internationally branded hotel in the city in 1969.
