Falibra Group and SCF SA, operating through an economic interest grouping (GIE), have signed an agreement with Hilton to develop the DoubleTree by Hilton Conakry Kaloum. Scheduled to open in 2029, the property will mark Hilton’s entry into Guinea and strengthen the international hotel offering in the country’s capital.
Located on the Atlantic seafront in Kaloum, Conakry’s administrative and business district, the 196-room-and-suite hotel will be developed on the site of the Grand Hôtel de l’Indépendance. The project is being undertaken through a public-private partnership, following the provisional award of the hotel’s redevelopment contract to the consortium comprising Falibra Group, SCF and Hilton.
A landmark in Guinea’s hospitality heritage
Better known as the former Novotel, the Grand Hôtel de l’Indépendance opened in 1954 as the Hôtel de France before being renamed following Guinea’s independence in 1958. Designed by the LWD architectural practice, with architects Guy Lagneau, Michel Weill and Jean Dimitrijevic, the property became notable for its modernist architecture.
Substantially renovated in 1996, the hotel operated under the Novotel brand until 2013, before entering a prolonged period of decline. An earlier arrangement involving a South African company and Guinean interests was intended to oversee its refurbishment and operation. However, following a failure to comply with the project’s specifications, the property returned to the State’s portfolio.
In July 2026, Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah had identified the hotel’s revival as one of the priority projects for the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts, at a time when an international tender process was under way.
A development targeting business travellers
The future DoubleTree will target official delegations, business travellers and event attendees. Its food and beverage offering will include an all-day dining restaurant, a signature restaurant, a lobby café-bar and a poolside bar and grill.
Leisure facilities will comprise an outdoor swimming pool, a children’s pool, a fitness centre, a spa and wellness area, and a tennis court. For events, the hotel will feature a multipurpose function room, meeting rooms, an outdoor lawn for receptions and a business centre.
At a Glance
Deal: Falibra Group and SCF SA sign with Hilton for the DoubleTree by Hilton Conakry Kaloum, Guinea.
Market entry: Hilton’s debut in Guinea, with opening scheduled for 2029.
Accommodation: 196 rooms and suites on the Atlantic seafront in Kaloum, Conakry’s administrative and business district.
Redevelopment: Transformation of the Grand Hôtel de l’Indépendance, the former Novotel, which opened in 1954.
Project structure: A public-private partnership following the failure of an earlier redevelopment scheme.
Facilities: All-day dining, a signature restaurant, swimming pool, spa, tennis court and event spaces.
