Rwanda rising: luxury meets responsibility in the Land of a Thousand Hills
A new wave of high-end hotel openings is offering event planners more luxe options in Rwanda, without compromising on sustainability. By Ellie Evans.
As one of the world’s most popular spots to see gorillas, the East African nation has earned a reputation as a global leader in responsible tourism. Now it is finding a new niche, treading the line between luxury and conservation in a very 2026 way.
A host of new five-star hotels and a forthcoming international airport that will form the foundation for an ambitious ‘Airport City’ development are putting the capital Kigali on the map.
Last year Rwanda welcomed more than 57,000 delegates to 155 events, including major international conventions like the 13th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science, the Global AI Summit on Africa, and the ISO Annual Meeting.
It’s second only to Cape Town in the continent’s ICCA rankings - while Rwanda held the third spot in 2025 – and in July, it became the 14th member of BestCities Global Alliance’s worldwide network.
Taking a place on the world stage
Rwanda is ranked among the easiest places to do business in Africa by the World Bank and it’s home to the second-fastest growing economy in Africa.
Kigali Innovation City is connecting universities with technology companies and start-ups, and growth is evident across the city – Inzovu Mall will become the country’s largest shopping mall when it opens later this year just a short distance from the convention centre.
In April Volkswagen announced that it was expanding its activities in Rwanda to use it as a base for broader operations on the continent.
And the next generation of specialists in artificial intelligence, engineering and mathematical sciences are being trained by Carnegie Mellon University Africa and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Rwanda.
“Rwanda offers event planners more than a place to meet,” says Janet Karemera, CEO of the Rwanda Convention Bureau. “Kigali brings together a growing depth of expertise, innovation and talent across sectors, creating opportunities for delegates to exchange knowledge, build partnerships and engage with the people shaping Africa’s future.”
When it’s completed, Bugesera International Airport will boost Rwanda’s international connectivity; the first phase is expected to be operational by 2028 with an annual capacity of five million passengers. It will go hand-in-hand with a new Special Economic Zone that aims to attract industries in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, clothing, and construction materials destined for international markets
(Photo credit: Adobe Stock) Kigali Convention Centre in Ruanda, Afrika
(Photo credit: Adobe Stock) Kigali Convention Centre in Ruanda, Afrika
Speakers at the Clean Energy Conference Australia Africa 2026 Kigali
Speakers at the Clean Energy Conference Australia Africa 2026 Kigali
Rwanda map
Elevating its hotel offering
The five-star, 124-room Mövenpick Kigali opened in late 2025 and hosted the African Women in Strategy Summit in September. The main conference space can host up to 300.
Elsewhere construction is underway on Parklane Center, a 25-storey skyscraper that will include a five-star hotel with a penthouse, modern office spaces, and the country’s first 25-metre infinity pool on the 15th floor. The development will also include a bridge connecting it to Kigali Convention Centre: hopes are high for it being completed this year.
Norrsken House Kigali, a hothouse for Rwandan talent, has a number of event spaces with the rooftop terrace and lounge holding up to 50; the funky Townhall hosts 80, while the Pergola can seat 150.
And Kigali Convention Centre continues to hold its own. It provided “an excellent setting for a large international conference of over 1,200 participants, with well-equipped meeting spaces, good technical facilities and the flexibility needed for a busy programme of plenary and parallel sessions, networking activities and entertainment” for the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Forum in June 2025.
Norrsken House Kigali
Norrsken House Kigali
Mövenpick Kigali
Mövenpick Kigali
“Kigali itself is an attractive and well-organised destination for international events.
“The city is clean, safe and easy to navigate, while its strong hospitality offer and conference infrastructure make it particularly well suited to large international gatherings.
“We also appreciated the professionalism and responsiveness of the local partners and authorities, which helped ensure that the event ran smoothly.”
Lara Pandya, Team Leader Strategic Partnerships and Communications at Brussels-based Global Health EDCTP3.
Escape the city – but don’t skimp on comfort
Rwanda is cornering the market on luxury safari experiences that don’t hold back on creature comforts, offering the ideal for incentives.
Global luxury hospitality operator The Lux Collective made its Rwandan debut in June with the launch of LUX* Lake Kivu and SALT of Akagera. LUX* Lake Kivu in Rwanda’s western region has 14 rooms including a private villa and offers some incredible nature-watching experiences. SALT of Akagera, a ‘reimagined 60-key lodge’ overlooking Lake Ihema within Akagera National Park, is the world’s first SALT safari property.
The pair are the first properties in The Lux Collective’s planned five-resort Rwanda Tourism Circuit: future developments for 2028 will span Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park and Akagera National Park in what Chief Executive Officer Olivier Chavy said reflected “our commitment to regenerative tourism and to elevating Rwanda on the global luxury travel map”.
SALT of Akagera at sunset
SALT of Akagera at sunset
Case study: ‘It exceeded expectations of what an East African host city could offer’
The Sports Bar with 19 screens at the Zaria Court Kigali © 2026 Hilton
The Sports Bar with 19 screens at the Zaria Court Kigali © 2026 Hilton
The Kigali Marriott Hotel was the setting for the Kigali edition of the Clean Energy Conference Australia Africa in August. More than 200 delegates headed to the two-day event, including political figures from both continents.
This was the first time the Australia Africa Energy and Mineral Institute had hosted an event in Kigali and the organising committee said: "The Marriott gave us a slick, professional base, and the city outside it was clean, easy to navigate, and made our international delegates feel completely at ease.
"Several told us it exceeded their expectations of what an East African host city could offer. Any event planner considering Kigali should know it can absolutely handle a conference at this level, and the on-the-ground hospitality made a real difference to how smoothly things came together.
What’s new
City retreat The Pinnacle Kigali has become the first property in Rwanda to join Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The hotel, which opened in January, has nine stunning guest rooms and it’s set up to host intimate corporate events, board meetings and executive retreats: a boardroom can seat up to 16 people, while two further meeting rooms can each host eight.
The first Tapestry Collection by Hilton property in Rwanda, Zaria Court Kigali opened last summer in the Sports City district. Its 80 bedrooms boast a bold look, while its main meeting space can accommodate up to 60 theatre-style; it can also host a cocktail reception for 120 guests. Taking over the campus for a large-scale outdoor event is also an option.
Wilderness Magashi Peninsula opened at the end of 2025 in Akagera National Park and immediately earned a spot on Conde Nast Traveler's 2026 Hot List. This 4,287-hectare private wilderness features just two suites and one villa with its own exclusive piece of lake shoreline.