In 2007, Hilton signed an agreement with Grand Real Estates and Company Limited to manage a 186-room hotel within the mixed-use Airport City development.
It was originally slated to open in 2010, and there are later reports that suggest an opening in 2012, though the source of that date is unclear. Thereafter, no news at all.
Hilton’s PR department has confirmed the project is no more, telling me on email:
Currently, we do not have any property in development in Accra. We are, however, very interested in establishing a presence in Ghana and continue to seek out and review suitable opportunities for expansion.
Pressed on why the agreement came to an end, Hilton told me that it was “mutually discontinued by the parties involved,” and reiterated that the company believes Ghana “offers considerable potential as an important business and leisure destination.”
From what I can tell, the end of the agreement was barely reported at all. I can’t find any archived stories about it, and have more than one friend in the city who still believes – or still believed at time of writing – that a Hilton is on the way.
That said, the project’s demise doesn’t leave Accra short of new big-ticket openings. Still in the pipeline are Kempinski Gold Coast City in 2013 (originally 2012), Radisson BLU in 2013 and Marriott* in 2014 (originally 2010).
* Jump to the bottom of that press release for confirmation of the new opening date.
Aseda
October 15, 2012
And to think I have been bragging to foreign visitors that Hilton is coming soon to Accra, I can’t believe the project is dead. Thanks for the update.
Steve OSEI
December 2, 2012
With nearly 15 years working experience with Hilton International, it has always been my dream to return definately to Accra to join the new establishment in it’s debut. It’s a pity the project is dead.