Hilton Sandton

Hilton Sandton
The Prince of Wales gesturing at a bronze opening plaque beside two men in dark suits; a choir stands on a staircase behind
The Prince of Wales unveiling the plaque at the hotel's opening, 1 November 1997
Former namesSandton Hilton
General information
Location138 Rivonia Road, Sandton (Johannesburg Region E), Johannesburg, South Africa
Opening1 November 1997
OwnerThe Cavaleros Group
OperatorHilton Hotels & Resorts (1997–2024)
Minor Hotels (2024–present)
Other information
Number of rooms329

Hilton Sandton (formerly Sandton Hilton) is a luxury hotel in the Sandton district of Johannesburg, South Africa. Owned by the Cavaleros Group, it was operated by Hilton Hotels & Resorts from 1997 until 30 June 2024. The hotel was opened on 1 November 1997 by King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by his son Prince Harry. The 329-room hotel had conference facilities and several restaurants and bars, and became a hub for business travellers and airline crews. Since 1 July 2024 the property has been managed by Minor Hotels as NH Sandton.

History

The hotel at 138 Rivonia Road opened on 1 November 1997 in a ceremony attended by the Prince of Wales and his son Prince Harry. The Sandton Times described it as marking the entry of one of the first international hotel brands into Sandton. In his speech the prince quipped that he was unaccustomed to opening hotels and asked guests to forgive him if he did not “do it in the approved fashion”.

Sheikh Hasina meeting Xi Jinping at the hotel, 23 August 2023

Hilton Sandton was one of the largest hotels in Johannesburg. It was used for conferences, launches, dinners and celebrations, and by airline crews and business travellers. On 23 August 2023, during the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a bilateral meeting at the hotel.

2024 rebranding

In March 2024 it was announced that Hilton’s agreement with the hotel's owner would end on 30 June 2024, concluding a 26-year association. Hilton confirmed that its contract with the ownership would expire and thanked staff and guests for their contributions. The Cavaleros Group subsequently signed a partnership with Minor Hotels to convert the property to the NH Collection brand. Minor Hotels would begin managing the former Hilton Sandton from 1 July 2024, initially operating the hotel as NH Sandton before undertaking a refurbishment and rebranding it as NH Collection Sandton. The refurbished hotel was expected to retain 329 rooms and suites and would include two bars and restaurants, an executive lounge, conference facilities, a gym and a swimming pool.

In April 2026 renovation work began on the hotel, by then trading as NH Johannesburg Sandton, starting with its 800-seat ballroom and ten meeting rooms; the first phase was reported complete in July 2026.

Management and ownership

Hilton Sandton was owned by the Cavaleros Group. From its opening until 30 June 2024 the hotel was operated under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand.

Facilities

The hotel was designed to appeal to both business and leisure travellers. According to In Your Pocket, the building is unassuming from the street but opens into a spacious lobby with an “old-world sophistication”. The hotel had 329 rooms. Dining venues included the Faces Lounge & Bar, which provided informal meeting space, and the Lotus Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar.

Conference and event facilities totalled about 920 square metres, including a ballroom capable of accommodating up to 1,000 people and several meeting rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows. A business centre was upstairs from the lobby, and leisure amenities included an outdoor swimming pool, a 24-hour gym and a floodlit tennis court.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "End Of An Era: Hilton Sandton Bids Farewell Mid-2024". Sandton Times. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2025. Situated at 138 Rivonia Road, the Hilton Sandton was inaugurated in 1997 by none other than King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, accompanied by a youthful Prince Harry.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Roaming Office – The Hilton Sandton". In Your Pocket. May 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2025. Opened in 1997 by King Charles III, at the time the Prince of Wales, the Hilton Sandton embodies a traditional hotel experience with a contemporary feel… The Hilton Sandton's lobby … is one of old-world sophistication.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Motsoere, Gloria (7 July 2024). "Sandton Hilton under new management and being rebranded and upgraded". Business Day. Retrieved 7 November 2026. The luxury hotel on 183 Rivonia Road is being rebranded as NH Collections Sandton and will be managed by international hotel chain the Minor Hotels Group on behalf of its owners, the Cavaleros Group.
  4. ↑ "Sheikh Hasina holds bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping". Prothom Alo. Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2026. The meeting was held at the Hotel Hilton Sandton in the evening on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit.
  5. ↑ "Sandton to lose its Hilton hotel". The South African. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2025. Initially, the hotel will operate as NH Sandton. However, it will undergo a major refurbishment before being rebranded as NH Collection Sandton. The NH Sandton will feature 329 rooms and suites, two bars and restaurants, an executive lounge, conference facilities, a gym, and a swimming pool.
  6. ↑ Tore, Iuliia (2 July 2026). "NH Johannesburg Sandton Completes Major Upgrade of Meetings & Events Facilities". Russian Tourism News. Archived from the original on 2 July 2026. Retrieved 7 November 2026. The first phase of the renovation, which commenced in April 2026 – focused on a full-scale transformation of the hotel's 800-seater Ballroom, along with its ten dedicated meeting rooms.

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