Hilton Sandton (formerly Sandton Hilton) is a luxury hotel in the Sandton district of Johannesburg, South Africa. Developed by the Cavaleros Group, it was operated by Hilton Hotels & Resorts from 1997 until June 30th, 2024. The hotel was formally inaugurated on November 1st, 1997 by King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, who opened the building alongside his son Prince Harry and then-CEO of Hilton Group PLC Peter George. With more than three hundred guest rooms, extensive conference facilities and multiple dining venues, the property became a hub for business travelers and airline crew and contributed to the commercialization of Sandton’s central business district.
History During the 1990s Sandton emerged as Johannesburg’s new financial centre, and local developer the Cavaleros Group commissioned a large hotel at 138 Rivonia Road to serve the growing number of business travelers. The building was completed in late 1997 and opened on November 1st with a ceremony attended by the Prince of Wales and his son Prince Harry. 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”.
Hilton Sandton quickly established itself as one of the largest hotels in Johannesburg. It became a popular venue for conferences, product launches and social functions, attracting airline crews and corporate travelers at a time when Sandton City and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange were consolidating the suburb’s reputation as an economic hub. Over the decades the hotel hosted guests attending major events at the Sandton Convention Centre and provided meeting space for local businesses.
2024 rebranding In March 2024 it was announced that Hilton’s management agreement for the Sandton property would end on June 30, 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 July 1, 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 Cavaleros Group began a R500 million redevelopment, concentrating on the 800-seater ballroom and the 'arrival experience'.
Management and ownership Hilton Sandton was owned by the Cavaleros Group, a South African property company with assets in hospitality, commercial and industrial real estate. From its opening until 2024 the hotel was operated under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand. During this period it contributed to Hilton’s limited portfolio in South Africa, which in 2024 also included Hilton Durban, Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch and DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town – Upper Eastside.
Facilities The hotel was designed to appeal to both business and leisure travelers. According to In Your Pocket, the building is unassuming from the street but opens into a spacious lobby with an “old-world sophistication”. The property offered 329 rooms and suites, multiple bars and restaurants and an executive lounge. Dining venues included the Faces Lounge & Bar, which provided informal meeting space, and the Lotus Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar.
Conference and event facilities totaled about 920 square meters, including a ballroom capable of accommodating up to 1,000 people and several meeting rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows. A business centre on the first floor provided work spaces, while leisure amenities included a swimming pool, fitness centre and tennis courts. The hotel’s location on Rivonia Road placed it within walking distance of Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square and the Sandton Gautrain station.
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