John Seifert Architects to create new Hilton for Aya Investments
Hilton Hotels Corporation has signed a management agreement for a new hotel in Kampala, Uganda with Aya Investments Uganda Limited. Aya Investments has extensive interests in property and value added manufacturing and operates three modern wheat mills, a regional transportation fleet and the import and export of general commodities. The agreement, will see the creation of a 272-bedroom hotel by John Seifert Architects on a 15 acre plot of land on Nakasero Hill. The hotel is scheduled to open at the end of 2007.
Facilities will include three restaurants, two bars, a 500m2 Ballroom and 14 meeting rooms. In addition, the hotel will feature indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, fitness area, tennis, squash and landscaped gardens.
Commenting on the signing, Wolfgang M. Neumann, Hilton's Area President for Europe & Africa said, "Hotel development in Kampala is accelerating thanks to the growing demand of international and domestic tourism both in and out of Uganda." The hotel, alongside the Hilton Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and the Hilton Nairobi in Kenya, will expand the group's presence in East Africa to three hotels.
The announcement comes at a time when hotel developers and investors are showing increased interest in Africa.
Recent UNTWO figures showed the continent leading the way in international tourist arrivals, with growth of 8.1%, compared with 4.5% globally. Where international hotel groups have traditionally addressed the region alongside Europe, the Middle East, or both, various groups are now looking to locate dedicated development functions in Africa itself. External investment is coming from the likes of India's Taj hotels, and the Middle East's Kingdom Hotel Investments, as well as China.
Other new openings for 2007 on the continent include a Sheraton in the Gambia, a Radisson SAS in Nigeria, and a Kempinski in Djibouti.
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