Grand Hyatt Victoria Falls The Kingdom to Open in Zimbabwe in 2027 with More than Two Hundred Rooms, Bringing its Luxury Hospitality and New Tourism Experiences Near Iconic Waterfall

The luxury tourism industry in Zimbabwe will receive a major boost following the announcement by Hyatt Hotels Corporation to launch the Grand Hyatt Victoria Falls The Kingdom sometime towards the end of 2027. The hotel chain will convert a pre-existing hotel facility at the heart of Victoria Falls with a complete redesign. This hotel is anticipated to mark the second Hyatt hotel in Zimbabwe after Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles was launched earlier.

This upcoming hotel will feature 245 guestrooms, three restaurants, wellness amenities, and ample conference facilities, among other facilities. It will have guests just steps away from the Victoria Falls rainforest and the renowned natural site in Africa.

Hyatt Secures a Landmark Victoria Falls Management Agreement

The development follows a management agreement between a Hyatt affiliate and an affiliate of Albwardy Investments LLC. Rather than constructing an entirely new resort, the partners intend to reposition an existing hospitality landmark under the Grand Hyatt brand. Hyatt expects the property to reopen in the final months of 2027, although the exact opening date has not yet been confirmed.

The signing represents another stage in the group’s African expansion and gives Hyatt access to one of Zimbabwe’s most internationally recognised leisure destinations. It also expands the range of participating properties available to members of the World of Hyatt loyalty programme.

Historic Property Prepares for a Complete Transformation

The building has operated within the Victoria Falls hospitality landscape for several decades. It was originally constructed in 1966 and underwent redevelopment in 1999. The latest programme will introduce a much broader transformation covering design, accommodation, guest facilities and public spaces. Hyatt plans to align the property with the Grand Hyatt brand’s emphasis on large-scale experiences, distinctive architecture and premium service.

The renovation will need to preserve the property’s established identity while creating a contemporary hotel capable of meeting the expectations of international leisure travellers, conference organisers and loyalty members visiting Zimbabwe after 2027.

Victoria Falls Location Gives the Hotel Exceptional Appeal

The property’s strongest advantage will be its position in the heart of Victoria Falls town. Hyatt states that guests will be approximately a five-minute walk from the Victoria Falls rainforest, reducing the need for lengthy road transfers to the principal attraction. The hotel will also sit close to restaurants, guided excursions, cultural experiences and regional safari connections.

This compact location could allow travellers to combine waterfall visits with dining, shopping and organised activities during relatively short stays. Hyatt also describes the property as the closest hotel to the entrance of Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwean side.

UNESCO Status Strengthens the Destination’s Global Importance

Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls is recognised by UNESCO as a transboundary World Heritage Site shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia. UNESCO describes it as the world’s greatest sheet of falling water and highlights its exceptional geological formations, basalt gorges, spray, mist and rainbows.

The protected property extends across 6,860 hectares, including Victoria Falls National Park and part of Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe. The waterfall spans approximately 1,708 metres and reaches an average depth of about 100 metres. This extraordinary natural setting gives the Grand Hyatt project a destination advantage that very few urban or resort hotels can replicate.

The Smoke That Thunders Remains Zimbabwe’s Tourism Icon

The waterfall is widely associated with the name Mosi-oa-Tunya, commonly translated as The Smoke That Thunders. The continuous spray supports a distinctive riverine rainforest and creates the dramatic mist visible around the gorge. Zimbabwe’s official tourism authority promotes the destination for its rainforest viewpoints and range of adventure activities, including rafting, bungee jumping, river cruises and guided tours.

Visitors can also access wildlife experiences and regional safari routes. The planned hotel will therefore operate within a destination offering far more than a single sightseeing stop, strengthening its potential for multi-night leisure stays.

Two Hundred and Forty-Five Rooms Will Support Premium Demand

Grand Hyatt Victoria Falls The Kingdom is expected to contain 245 guestrooms following the refurbishment. The accommodation will be supported by a grand lobby lounge, three food and beverage venues and a mixture of leisure and hospitality facilities. The room count positions the project as a substantial full-service hotel rather than a small safari lodge or boutique property.

Its scale should allow the hotel to serve organised tour groups, independent travellers, business delegations and event attendees. However, Hyatt has not yet released final room categories, interior designs, opening rates or reservation dates, meaning travellers will need to wait for further development announcements.

Spa and Dining Plans Target Experience-Led Travellers

The hotel is expected to include a spa, fitness centre and multiple dining venues. These facilities will allow guests to combine destination exploration with wellness and resort-style services. The three planned restaurants or dining concepts could also become important evening venues within Victoria Falls town, particularly for visitors returning from daytime waterfall tours, safari activities or river excursions.

Hyatt has not yet disclosed the culinary themes, operating hours or whether any venues will showcase Zimbabwean ingredients. Nevertheless, the announced mix indicates that the property is being designed as a complete hospitality destination rather than simply a base for visiting the falls.

Large Event Facilities Could Expand Business Tourism

Plans include approximately 1,800 square metres, or 19,375 square feet, of meeting and event space. This capacity could strengthen Victoria Falls’ position within the regional conferences, incentives and corporate events market. Delegates would be able to combine formal meetings with UNESCO heritage visits, cultural programmes and safari extensions.

The property could also host private celebrations, business gatherings and destination events. Its potential success in this segment will depend on final venue configurations, technology, air connectivity and group pricing. Even so, the proposed meeting capacity makes the hotel relevant to both Zimbabwe’s leisure economy and its broader business tourism ambitions.

Airport Access Supports International and Regional Travel

Hyatt expects the hotel to be around a 20-minute drive from Victoria Falls International Airport. The airport serves as the principal aviation gateway to the resort area and is recognised by Zimbabwe’s civil aviation authorities as one of the country’s major international airports. Zimbabwe has invested in upgrading Victoria Falls International Airport to support tourism and additional airline services.

Convenient airport access will be especially important for international travellers arriving with fixed safari itineraries or limited connection times. It may also assist conference groups and regional visitors combining Victoria Falls with destinations elsewhere in Southern Africa.

Grand Hyatt Will Become Zimbabwe’s Second Hyatt Property

The opening will expand Hyatt’s national presence beyond Harare. The group entered Zimbabwe in 2024 through Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles, which became the country’s first Hyatt-branded hotel after an extensive renovation. That property operates from a historic building in the capital and includes more than 300 rooms, dining venues, wellness facilities and meeting space.

Grand Hyatt Victoria Falls The Kingdom will give the brand a second, destination-focused location. Together, the two properties could provide travellers with a Hyatt-linked itinerary connecting Zimbabwe’s commercial capital with its leading natural attraction.

World of Hyatt Members Gain a New Leisure Destination

When the hotel opens, World of Hyatt members are expected to be able to earn and redeem programme benefits during eligible stays. This could improve the property’s visibility among international travellers who select hotels through loyalty points, elite benefits and established brand standards.

Victoria Falls has traditionally attracted safari travellers, tour groups and adventure visitors, but the Grand Hyatt affiliation may broaden its appeal among luxury leisure customers and corporate guests. The loyalty connection could also encourage travellers already visiting Hyatt properties elsewhere in Africa to add Zimbabwe to longer regional itineraries.

Refurbishment Could Reinforce Victoria Falls Tourism Growth

The project has the potential to generate wider tourism value by upgrading an existing landmark rather than leaving the property outside the international premium market. Construction, hotel operations, supply contracts and guest spending could support local employment and tourism businesses, although Hyatt has not published investment totals or projected staffing numbers.

The hotel may also increase demand for local guides, transport providers, restaurants and cultural experiences. Its greatest contribution will depend on how effectively the final operation connects international hospitality standards with Zimbabwean culture, local sourcing and responsible management near a sensitive World Heritage landscape.

Travellers Should Wait for Confirmed Opening Details

The hotel is still a development project and not operational. Therefore, visitors should refrain from considering the late 2027 period as a sure opening date until Hyatt issues reservations, rates, and completion dates. The design of rooms, culinary experiences, event spaces, and loyalty rewards can change during the renovation process.

With regard to operations, the hotel will offer a unique combination of Grand Hyatt accommodation, proximity to the rainforest, ease of access from the airport, and safari tours in the region. With respect to Zimbabwe, this signing is one more step for Hyatt in Africa.

Image Source: Hyatt