The agreement, signed during the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa, marks Accor’s market entry into Zimbabwe, leveraging a first-mover advantage in one of Africa’s most iconic destinations and underscoring the Group’s commitment to pioneering development in emerging markets.

Scheduled to open in 2028, the 111-key new-build property will be developed under a management agreement with Eagle Real Estate Investment Trust, a Development REIT focused on high-quality assets across tourism, hospitality, health, retail, and residential sectors.

Located in the Eagle Heights precinct, in a prime location overlooking the Masuwe River, the hotel will blend natural beauty with Novotel’s modern, family-friendly hospitality. Guests will enjoy a thoughtfully designed experience, with facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, kids’ club, all-day dining restaurant, and destination bar – designed to meet the needs of modern travellers seeking comfort, connection, and local discovery.

Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya or “The Smoke That Thunders”, Victoria Falls is not only a dramatic natural wonder but also a world-renowned hub for adventure tourism, offering white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and scenic helicopter flights.

“This signing represents a bold step forward in our development strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Maya Ziade, Chief Development Officer, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division, Middle East, Africa & Türkiye at Accor. “Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations, and we are proud to bring the Novotel brand experience to Zimbabwe for the very first time. As a first mover, we see this project as a gateway to long-term sustainable growth in the country.”

The signing signals a strategic entry for Accor into a destination with growing regional and domestic tourism and a limited presence of global hotel brands.

Bevin Ngara, Managing Director of Eagle Asset Managers, the Eagle REIT Fund Managers, added: “We are delighted to partner with Accor to bring an international standard of hospitality to Victoria Falls. This project reflects our vision of investing in transformative developments that elevate tourism and deliver value to local communities and investors alike.”

Novotel, with over 590 hotels across 68 countries and 180+ more in the pipeline, champions balanced living for both business travellers and families. As the first internationally branded Novotel in Zimbabwe, the hotel will meet the rising demand for high-quality yet accessible accommodation in Victoria Falls supporting the city’s evolution into a year-round destination for families, nature lovers, and adventure seekers.

Coming to life as more than just a place to stay, Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank showcases local music with gigs and DJ sets capturing the energy of the neighbourhood’s social scene. Following hot on the heels of Hyde London City’s opening, this property marks another milestone in Hyde Hotels’ global expansion. From its beginnings as an LA nightlife pioneer in 2005, Hyde has evolved to stand for community, creativity and that unmistakable laid-back luxe feeling.

At the heart of the transformation by Oniro Studios, is a striking new art collection that puts Joburg’s emerging creative talent in the spotlight. The reception area invites guests into the bold world of Hyde with a show-stopping wall tapestry by Liz Groble and boho-inspired lighting, bringing warmth, texture and pattern to the space. Hyde’s signature endless sofa completes the lobby, set against the backdrop of a 6m long bespoke screen with over 1,200 handmade ceramic beads.

Other artworks by rising stars such as Githan Coopoo and Hanna Noor Mahomed inject vibrancy throughout the public spaces. Guests can expect ceramic totems by Paloma standing proud in the corridors, while beaded vases from Ananta x Monkeybiz and statement pieces like Water Dixon’s gradient mirrors and Studio Kalki’s custom pieces demand Instagramworthy attention.

Guest rooms have been updated to create a serene escape for guests, blending neutral textures with earthy tones and bold patterns creating a perfect balance of comfort and style. Each room is home to a try-on wall which offers guests the opportunity to complete their outfit with items such as beautiful glass beads and woven fans. Bathrooms have been splashed with colour and pattern, creating a festival inspired, summer feel throughout.

“This makeover really captures our vision for Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank,” says Jessica Redinger, General Manager at Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank. “From our try-it-on wall showcasing local makers to our boho bathrobes and custom-curated playlists, every corner has been reimagined to bring people together. It’s that festival feeling that runs through all Hyde properties, but with a distinct South African soul. We wanted to create somewhere for visitors and locals to enjoy – whether you’re here for a power meeting, sundowners, or a weekend staycation.”

Existing eatery, Proud Mary, is one of Johannesburg’s most beloved spots for all-day dining and wine bar vibes. Looking ahead to 2025, Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank will expand its food and beverage offering with a show-stopping summer terrace. Building on Proud Mary’s established popularity, this new al fresco space will add another dimension to Rosebank’s social scene, creating the perfect backdrop for all occasions, from energising brunches to sunset cocktails.

For the business crowd, there’s seamless access to Workshop17’s slick co-working setup, complete with hot desks, private offices and meeting rooms. Guests looking for space to recharge or work out, can also take advantage of 24/7 complimentary access to the multistudio fitness suite during their stay.

The Hyde Hotel offers an excellent gym that makes it easy for guests to maintain their fitness routines while traveling for both work and leisure. Whether you’re looking to stay in shape during a business trip or keep active while enjoying some time off, the gym provides state-ofthe-art equipment, a clean and motivating environment, and plenty of space to work out.

This opening represents another step in Ennismore’s expansion across Africa. As one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality companies, Ennismore continues to bring its pioneering vision of hospitality to new markets, with Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank joining its collective of brands that are redefining modern hospitality through authentic local experiences and creative design.

Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank is part of Dis-loyalty, Ennismore’s game-changing travel and food membership. Dis-loyalty brings together more than 100 hotels and 175 restaurants and bars from 10 globally renowned brands, including The Hoxton, Mama Shelter, Mondrian and SLS. Amongst other benefits, members receive access to 50% off newly opened hotels within The Dis-loyalty Collective, meaning guests can enjoy half-price rates at Hyde Johannesburg from 4th December 2024 – 4th March 2025. Find out more about all the membership perks at Dis-loyalty.com

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As we come to terms with and settle into this new normal, it’s now become a priority to take a step back and make space to examine and reshape this landscape, to set businesses, teams and individuals up for success, despite the inevitable uncertainty we face going into 2021, says Teresa Richardson, CEO of the newly launched TMR Consulting, which specialises in behavioural analysis in the business environment.

“Our default desire after the stress of this year would be to take the path of least resistance and proceed as if the past year hadn’t happened. In reality, the immense shock to all aspects of the workplace means that it can simply no longer be business as usual and, while it’s impossible to take a firm, fixed view on how to move forward, businesses and teams can take certain steps to equip themselves to tackle the fluidity of the situation so that 2021 is an overall better year for work than 2020 was.”

One of these steps is self awareness, says Richardson, whose background in helping teams thrive in the Tourism and Travel sector has given her the practical knowledge and skills to help businesses deal with unexpected crises.

“By using behavioural profiling tools, we can help teams and leaders understand their own behaviour, as well as those around them more profoundly. You’ll understand how and why people are motivated differently and the what makes each of us unique, helping you to build and restore relationships, resolve conflicts, build teams and maximise communication.”

The focus in 2021 for leaders will be to build trust and motivate teams. “We cannot underestimate the extent to which the uncertainty of 2020 has impacted psychologically our staff and teams, who are craving security, structure, transparency and continuity – a safe space to weather the continued COVID storm,” says Richardson.

Leaders will need to deliver this security, clarity and transparency in their organisation if they have any hope of setting their teams up for success in the new year, she says.

“For your teams to become highly aligned and effective, real communication is going to be key. At the heart of this is self-awareness and the awareness of what is driving the behaviour of others. It’s a small, nuanced difference to any team or company, but behavioural science and analysis can help close the communication and structural gaps that have been caused by COVID-19 in the workplace.”