At a Glance
- Hemingways acquires Rwanda’s Heaven Holdings, marking its first expansion outside Kenya into East Africa’s luxury tourism market.
- Deal adds The Retreat, Heaven Boutique Hotel, and premium dining/tourism assets to Hemingways’ East Africa portfolio.
- Acquisition taps rising demand for sustainable luxury travel, highlighting Rwanda’s growing eco-conscious, upscale tourism sector.
Hemingways Hospitality Group, Kenya’s leading luxury hotel and travel brand, has made a bold cross-border move with the acquisition of Rwanda-based Heaven Holdings, marking its first expansion outside Kenya and signaling rising investor confidence in East Africa’s upscale tourism market.
The landmark deal brings Hemingways into Rwanda’s fast-growing high-end hospitality scene by taking over assets that include The Retreat, Kigali’s only five-star eco-boutique hotel; Heaven Boutique Hotel; Heaven and Fusion Restaurants; and the highly rated Heaven Experiences tour operator.
With this acquisition, Hemingways not only extends its portfolio to five elite properties across East Africa, but also strategically positions itself to tap into the region’s rising demand for sustainable luxury travel in Africa—a market increasingly drawing international attention.
Elevating guest experiences across East Africa
“This is more than a geographic expansion—it’s a commitment to crafting elevated guest experiences in Africa’s most promising destinations,” said Hemingway’s Group CEO Ross Evans during the official handover in Kigali.
“Our entry into Rwanda is underpinned by the same principles that built our legacy in Kenya: exceptional service, authentic experiences, and regional expertise.”
Founded in 1988 with the flagship Hemingways Watamu on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, the Hemingways brand has evolved into a heavyweight in Africa’s luxury hospitality and travel space.
Its portfolio includes Hemingways Travel—East Africa’s largest corporate travel agency—and Hemingways Expeditions, a bespoke destination management company serving top-tier global clients.
Rwanda’s high-end tourism sector poised for rapid growth
Heaven Holdings, founded by U.S. entrepreneurs and global health experts Alissa and Josh Ruxin, helped put Kigali on the map for luxury tourism.
Their journey began with Heaven Restaurant in 2008, followed by the launch of The Retreat in 2018—a sustainably built property with 20 rooms, including eight ultra-luxury private pool villas and a farm-to-table culinary concept that has drawn accolades from international media and travelers.
The transaction was advised by Kigali-based Gahigiro Capital Ltd., marking the boutique investment firm’s first entry into the hospitality sector.
The deal underscores a growing wave of regional capital flow into Rwanda’s tourism economy, which is positioning itself as a premium destination for eco-conscious and affluent travelers.
As Rwanda cements its place as a rising star in African luxury travel, Hemingways’ entry could signal a new wave of boutique hospitality investments across the region.
