Africa’s first Hampton by Hilton hotel has officially debuted in South Africa as a four star-graded property in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Speaking at the official launch on Thursday last week (January 23), Guy Hutchinson, President: Middle East and Africa for Hilton, said: “Africa presents great development opportunities as we continue to expand and diversify the Hilton portfolio across the continent to meet every traveller’s need.
“We are proud of our legacy in South Africa, spanning almost three decades, and the debut of Hampton by Hilton Sandton Grayston is a testament to our commitment to providing world-class hospitality across the country.”
Shruti Gandhi Buckley, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader for Hampton by Hilton, said: “We are excited to celebrate Hampton by Hilton’s fifth continent debut with the milestone opening of Hampton by Hilton Sandton Grayston.
“The property is a testament to the brand’s global appeal and growth, as we look to expand across Africa over the coming years, fuelled by growing demand for quality and value-driven accommodation options.”
With the largest global hospitality pipeline of 800 hotels, Hampton by Hilton looks forward to welcoming more guests on the African continent, she added.
Hampton by Hilton Sandton Grayston General Manager Kathleen Hedges told Tourism Update the Hampton by Hilton brand has the biggest global footprint in the mid-scale category and offers the highest number of rooms.
Key source markets
As the owners of the Sandton hotel are Chinese with strong relationships in China, they expect to attract a number of Chinese visitors to the hotel, Hedges pointed out.
“Pakistan is also a growing inbound market for us.”
Additionally, the property is hoping to leverage growing interest from other African countries as well as government business, particularly with South Africa hosting the G20 Summit this year.
“We get the bulk of our business from the award-winning Hilton Honors guest loyalty programme for Hilton’s 24 hotel brands,” said Hedges.
Hilton Honors members, who book directly through preferred Hilton channels, have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of points and money for a stay, an exclusive member discount and free standard Wi-Fi.
Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app.
Focused service hotel
Hedges said the focused service hotel in Sandton addresses the developing needs of travellers by providing an affordable option for corporate and leisure guests and ensuring lower costs and higher revenue for the group.
“We are strategically located in Sandton’s central business district, which is home to several national and global companies,” she pointed out.
The 158-room hotel is only 1.8 kilometres from the Gautrain station transporting travellers to and from OR Tambo International Airport. It is also near key cultural and leisure attractions across the city such as the Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square shopping centres.
Other unique selling points include pet-friendly rooms and a free breakfast buffet with a waffle station. Although the hotel only serves breakfast, it offers a 24-hour snack menu at reception. From March this year, Hedges said the hotel will also offer a shuttle to Sandton City.
Guests seeking other tourist experiences can visit the vibrant Keyes Art Mile, an artistic and cultural hub in Rosebank, a mere 13-minute drive away. Also nearby is Constitution Hill offering historic tours that dive into South Africa’s rich heritage. Further out of the city, for nature enthusiasts willing to take a slightly longer drive, there are anthropological wonders at the Cradle of Humankind and wildlife at the Lion & Safari Park.
