“Harare Shines Bright”: Hilton Garden Inn to Open 1st Hotel in Zimbabwe

• Hilton Hotel signed a deal to open its first property in Zimbabwe, marking a historic entry into the country
• The Hilton Garden Inn will be built in Harare's Highland Park Precinct in partnership with Terrace Africa
• The new hotel is expected to open its doors in early 2029 as Harare's hospitality sector grows

Harare is set to welcome its first Hilton hotel. The global hospitality giant has signed a deal to build a Hilton Garden Inn in the Highland Park Precinct, in partnership with property developer Terrace Africa, with the doors expected to open in early 2029.

The signing marks a significant milestone for Zimbabwe's tourism and hospitality industry when compared to South Africa with 10 Hilton Hotels. Hilton, one of the world's most recognised hotel brands, has chosen Harare as its entry point into a market it has never operated in before. The Highland Park Precinct, located in one of the capital's established suburbs, is emerging as a high-profile mixed-use development that is drawing serious investor interest.

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Nick Schiesman Museyamwa shared the news on Facebook on 27 August 2026, describing the development in enthusiastic terms: "The future of Highland Park Precinct in Harare is shining bright like a diamond."

According to the Herald Online, the Hilton Garden Inn deal is a landmark moment for Zimbabwe, as no Hilton-branded property has ever operated in the country. The agreement between Hilton and Terrace Africa signals growing confidence in Zimbabwe's economy and its potential to attract international business travellers and tourists alike.

The Highland Park Precinct is being developed as a modern urban node, and the addition of an internationally branded hotel is expected to raise the profile of the area considerably. Terrace Africa, the local development partner driving the project, has been positioning the precinct as a destination for commerce and lifestyle investment. See the post about the development below:

Zimbabwe tourism on the rise

The announcement comes at a time when Zimbabwe's tourism figures have been climbing. Harare, as the country's capital and commercial hub, stands to benefit most from international hotel brands choosing to establish a footprint there. A Hilton presence is likely to attract corporate travellers, conferences and events that previously required visitors to stay in neighbouring countries with more established hotel infrastructure.

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With an opening target of early 2029, construction and development planning are expected to begin in the coming years as the Highland Park Precinct continues to take shape.

Other Briefly News stories about Zimbabwe

• A Zimbabwean woman’s early morning garden routine spotlighted the demanding reality of rural life in Zimbabwe amidst the backdrop of over 108,000 returnees from South Africa.
• Facts about a South African truck driver who shared a TikTok video of his walk-through in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city, showcasing its impressive cleanliness and infrastructure.
• A South African content creator walking in Gweru, Zimbabwe, praised the city's cleanliness compared to parts of South Africa.

Source: Briefly News