Hilton to add 29 hotels to its chain in Africa over five years

[October 05, 2017]  NAIROBI (Reuters) - Hilton Worldwide plans to spend $50 million over the next five years to renovate and rebrand 29 hotels in Africa, it said on Thursday, joining other chains keen to tap growing business and international travel on the continent.

The logo of Hilton hotel is seen in Batumi, Georgia, May 2, 2016. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili/File Photo

One property will open in the Kenyan capital Nairobi by the end of this year and another in the Rwandan capital Kigali in 2018, it said in a statement.

There was 11 percent growth in Sub-Saharan African tourism in the past year, according to data from the U.N. World Tourism Organisation.

Hilton said the remaining additions to its 19 existing African properties would be operational within the next five years.

"The model of converting existing hotels into Hilton branded properties has proved highly successful in a variety of markets and we expect to see great opportunities to convert hotels to Hilton brands through this initiative," said Patrick Fitzgibbon, Hilton's senior vice president for development in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Earlier this week, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts said it would open six new hotels on the continent by 2020.

(Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Mark Potter)

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