Two existing properties at the heart of Hyatt’s development in Southern Africa
Thierry de Jaham has announced his move to Hyatt, where he has served as Cluster General Manager since August 2026.
His appointment forms part of a strategy to transform two hotel assets in distinct markets: Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, and Victoria Falls, a major tourism destination in Zimbabwe.
The US hotel group intends to reposition the properties under two of its international brands: Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt.
Both projects involve the renovation of existing hotels rather than the construction of new properties. They encompass infrastructure modernisation, enhancements to the service offering and the preparation of hotel teams for new operational standards.
In total, 419 rooms and suites are involved.
Zambia | Hyatt Regency Lusaka The Pamodzi: A phased transformation through to March 2027
In Lusaka, the former Pamodzi Hotel is undergoing a renovation programme designed to support its repositioning under the Hyatt Regency Lusaka The Pamodzi brand.
The property will feature 174 rooms and suites, three restaurants, three bars, modernised meeting facilities and a wellness centre.
More than 200 employees are involved in preparing for this new phase.
Renovation work is taking place while the hotel continues to welcome guests.
According to information provided by the property, the works currently affect selected public areas and several guestroom floors.
Construction is being carried out during working hours and may cause noise disruption. Access to certain facilities is temporarily restricted.
The swimming pool, in particular, is unavailable until further notice.
The hotel expects renovations to be completed by March 2027, while seeking to minimise disruption to guests staying at the property.
Another important distinction is that The Pamodzi is not currently participating in the World of Hyatt loyalty programme.
This should be distinguished from the announcement of its repositioning under the Hyatt Regency brand. The available information does not specify when the property might join the programme.
The March 2027 timeline refers to the anticipated completion of renovation works and does not necessarily represent an official opening date.
Zimbabwe | Grand Hyatt Victoria Falls The Kingdom: 245 rooms and a focus on events
In Zimbabwe, Thierry de Jaham is simultaneously overseeing the transformation of the Kingdom Hotel, which is set to become Grand Hyatt Victoria Falls The Kingdom.
The property comprises 245 rooms and suites, three restaurants, three bars, extensive swimming pools and a wellness centre.
The project also places considerable emphasis on meeting and event facilities, which are expected to rank among the largest in this part of the continent, according to Thierry de Jaham.
Located in Victoria Falls, the hotel benefits from the international appeal of a destination associated with the famous waterfalls and Southern African tourism circuits.
Its repositioning under the Grand Hyatt brand is intended to strengthen its presence in the upscale leisure tourism and business events segments.
Unlike The Pamodzi, no precise deadline for completion of the renovations has been announced in the information currently available.
More than 20 years with Accor, including extensive experience in Africa
Before joining Hyatt, Thierry de Jaham spent more than 20 years in various leadership positions at Accor, notably in hotel general management, portfolio oversight and international development.
From March 2021 to March 2025, he served as General Manager of Accor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while also managing Pullman Kinshasa.
His responsibilities included hotel operations, development projects, renovations, human resources and commercial strategy.
According to his professional background, this period was notably marked by the opening of three new hotels and the partial renovation of Pullman Kinshasa.
Previously, he led Accor’s operations in Côte d’Ivoire alongside his responsibilities as General Manager of Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire, a position he held from September 2013 to February 2021.
This landmark property, comprising 423 rooms and suites, represented a complex hospitality operation combining accommodation, food and beverage, conference facilities and events.
His career also includes serving as Vice President Operations, Accor Egypt, overseeing 12 hotels representing approximately 2,700 rooms and more than 2,600 employees.
Earlier, he held general management responsibilities in Algeria and Tunisia, as well as commercial and development roles for Accor across Africa.
Experience in restructuring and owner relations
Beyond hotel management, Thierry de Jaham has dealt with a range of challenges involving asset transformation and portfolio optimisation.
In French Polynesia, where he served as Sofitel Regional Director between 2011 and 2013, he was notably involved in restructuring the hotel portfolio and in strategic decisions concerning the closure and disposal of a property.
In Egypt and North Africa, his responsibilities also included relationships with property-owning companies, the evolution of management agreements and development strategy.
His international experience additionally extends to Spain and Portugal, where he managed the activities of Accor Services, which subsequently became Edenred.
Thierry de Jaham is a graduate of ESCP, where he studied international project management. He also studied political science and economics at the University of Montreal.
LTH Analysis | Renovating operating hotels: A delicate challenge for Hyatt
Thierry de Jaham’s remit extends beyond bringing two hotels into Hyatt’s portfolio.
It involves delivering two repositioning projects in distinct commercial environments while managing the operational constraints specific to each property.
In Lusaka, maintaining hotel operations during construction requires a careful balance between service continuity, guest satisfaction and progress on the renovation programme. Temporary restrictions on access to facilities, particularly the swimming pool, make this exercise especially sensitive.
At Victoria Falls, the challenge will centre more on upgrading a tourism asset and developing its potential in the meetings and events market.
The Pamodzi’s current non-participation in World of Hyatt also demonstrates that hotel repositioning can take place in stages, without all the brand’s commercial benefits necessarily becoming available immediately.
For Hyatt, the success of these two projects will be measured as much by the quality of the property transformations as by the teams’ ability to manage the operational and commercial transition.
The investment amounts, contractual arrangements with property owners and definitive dates of integration into the respective brands have not been disclosed.
At a Glance
Executive: Thierry de Jaham.
Position: Cluster General Manager, Hyatt.
Appointment: August 2026.
Base: Lusaka, Zambia.
Projects: Hyatt Regency Lusaka The Pamodzi and Grand Hyatt Victoria Falls The Kingdom.
Combined inventory: 419 rooms and suites.
Lusaka: 174 rooms and suites, 3 restaurants, 3 bars, meeting facilities and wellness centre.
Lusaka renovation: Ongoing in selected guestrooms and public areas.
Expected renovation completion: March 2027.
Lusaka swimming pool: Temporarily unavailable.
World of Hyatt: The Pamodzi is not currently participating.
Victoria Falls: 245 rooms and suites, 3 restaurants, 3 bars, swimming pools and wellness facilities.
Previous group: Accor.
Previous senior roles: General Manager Accor DRC, General Manager Accor Côte d’Ivoire, General Manager Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire, VP Operations Accor Egypt.
Investment amounts: Not disclosed.
LTH perspective: Managing renovations while maintaining hotel operations is a central challenge in the repositioning of existing assets under international brands.
