The Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) has unveiled a major project designed to elevate the country’s hospitality investment strategy. A new 150-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel and a modern wellness facility will be built within the existing Hilton Addis Ababa compound in the heart of the capital.
Estimated at approximately $55 million, the landmark project aims to enhance the city’s accommodation capacity and expand world-class services by maximizing existing assets. This development further reinforces Addis Ababa’s strategic standing as an international hub for diplomacy, business, and tourism.
The Development & Hotels Company—a subsidiary of EIH—currently owns the historic 5-star Addis Ababa Hilton Hotel property, which features 372 rooms alongside extensive conference and leisure spaces.
Placing the Hilton Garden Inn on this historic site forms part of EIH’s broader vision to optimize commercial holdings and advance national economic goals. Acknowledging the hospitality industry’s pivotal role in tourism, the government continues to attract domestic and foreign direct investment to drive sector competitiveness.
Addis Ababa is set to host the landmark COP32 climate summit in November 2027, welcoming thousands of global leaders, government representatives, delegations, and observers.
With an unprecedented influx of visitors anticipated, the city’s demand for high-end lodging, modern conference infrastructure, and auxiliary services will peak. The new Hilton Garden Inn and wellness facility are positioned as vital solutions to meet this surge, serving as a testament to the nation’s robust hosting capabilities.
EIH confirmed that the project scope entails constructing a modern Hilton Garden Inn adhering strictly to global brand standards.
The design-and-build contractor appointed for the project is Elmi Olindo Contractors PLC, while ZIAS Architecture and Engineering will serve as the project consultant, with target completion set for October 2027, just ahead of COP32.
Established in Eritrea in 1937 before expanding to Ethiopia in the mid-1960s, Elmi Olindo navigated major historical disruptions—including the nationalization of its assets by the Derg regime in 1980—prior to its re-establishment in 1991. Backed by over eight decades of expertise, the Grade-1 general contractor has delivered landmark national projects such as Halala Kela, Wonchi Lodge, the ET-302 Memorial Park, and Eagle Hills.
Co-consulting firm ZIAS Architecture and Engineering, founded in New York in 2006 with a branch in Addis Ababa, brings extensive international acumen. The firm has previously managed design, construction supervision, and contract administration for the U.S. government, the Ethiopian government, and leading private investors across the health, education, and aviation sectors.
