(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon Hotels Corporation (CHC) S.A., the state-owned operator of the Hilton Hotel Yaoundé, has issued an international request for expressions of interest to shortlist a technical consulting firm that will provide owner’s representative services for the full renovation of the hotel and its adjoining shopping center.
The extensive project, covering the hotel inaugurated in 1989, aims to modernize the property and upgrade it to international five-star standards. It forms part of CHC’s Property Improvement Plan and is expected to be one of the company’s largest investments over the next two decades.
CHC said its interim Director General commissioned an architectural and technical study, already completed, due to the hotel’s aging facilities and the need to meet international standards. This followed an earlier international tender to hire a design firm to develop the renovation plan and oversee a model room prototype.
The company declined to disclose the project’s cost but highlighted the scale and complexity of the work, the adoption of innovative solutions, the use of sustainable materials, and energy-saving measures aimed at cutting operating costs while improving the guest experience.
The renovation is part of a broader national drive to revitalize Cameroon’s hospitality sector and enhance Yaoundé’s appeal to business travelers and international conferences, as several new high-end hotels have recently opened.
The project comes amid a downturn in Hilton Yaoundé’s financial performance. According to CHC, profits fell by around 20%, from 3.01 billion CFA francs in 2023 to 2.4 billion CFA francs in 2024.
CHC is also among the state-owned enterprises being prepared for a potential stock exchange listing, giving the Hilton renovation a strategic dimension ahead of any public offering.
The Hilton Yaoundé comprises a 10-storey building with about 30,000 m² of usable space, 248 rooms and suites, and five restaurants, alongside an 8,000 m² commercial complex.
The modernization reflects CHC’s determination to bring the Hilton back to international standards and prepare for a major ownership transition. By completing the upgrade before its market debut, CHC aims to consolidate the value of its flagship asset and restore the hotel’s status as an icon of Cameroonian hospitality.
Amina Malloum
