Background
The Hilton Windhoek is the Namibian capital’s first five-star hotel and opened on the 27th of May 2011.
What’s it Like?
It’s stylish, luxurious and modern, although there did appear to be a little more work to be done, before the hotel construction can be considered completely finished. For example, small things, such as dirty windows, which clearly hadn’t been attended to, along with one or two room facilities. That being said, upon arrival I was taken aback by the beautifully-designed entrance and foyer. The hotel staff were incredibly warm, friendly and accommodating, although I was a little disappointed by the service in the restaurants and bars.
Where is it?
It’s located in the heart of the business district, on the sloping plain of the Khomas Hochland Plateau. Surrounded by historic and cultural attractions, the Windhoek Hilton is positioned between the Supreme Court, Windhoek municipal buildings and Independence Avenue, near Freedom Square and is just 20 minutes drive away from Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Rooms
There are 150 rooms comprising a presidential suite, four diplomatic suites, four king executive guest rooms, eight king de luxe rooms, 22 executive rooms, 12 double rooms and 99 king rooms. The standout feature of the rooms are the large windows, which offer breathtaking views of the city and mountains. Further to that, there is a work station with Internet connectivity, although the Wi-Fi wasn’t operational just yet – instead, replaced by an Internet cable connection. The room, it seems, was designed to showcase the different functions of the various spaces in the room through the use of lighting, seen in the individual reading lights fixed to the headboard, and soft blue night lights that light your way to the bathroom, to a lit-up vanity mirror in the bathroom and individual closet lights. As mentioned, there did appear to be a few more tweaks to be made to the finishings, such as the operation of the bedside table lamp and the hotel operator system, which will, hopefully, speed up the process of calls. That being said, my room was fitted with a very comfortable king-sized bed facing a LCD flat-screen television with satellite TV channels and the seating spaces in the room were all very comfortable and made the space a relaxing environment.
Restaurants & Bars
There are five restaurants and bars. Ekipa is an all-day dining restaurant serving ‘show food’, with guests able to choose from a buffet or a la carte menu; Kalabar has a more sports bar feel about it and is available for lunch and dinner; Centrum is the hotel lobby lounge, where one can grab a coffee and light snack; D’vine Wine Bar is open for dinner and with its contemporary glass wine cellar, offers something different, in a stylish setting; Skybar is located next to the rooftop swimming pool and has stunning views, if you fancy a cocktail or cold beer after a long day of meetings, whilst relaxing with the beautiful view. As mentioned, the restaurant service wasn’t impressive, as I sat for an hour with a glass of wine, waiting to be called to my table by staff who appeared to forget about me.
Business & Meeting Facilities
The Executive Lounge, located on the ninth floor, is on offer to executive guests and refreshments and snacks are served throughout the day. Corporate travellers can make use of a choice of six meeting rooms, including a boardroom which can accommodate up to 250 guests, as well as breakout areas suitable for tea and coffee breaks. There is the support of a 24-hour business centre and the rooms come equipped with the standard audio/visual equipment.
Leisure Facilities
These include a heated 18 metre lap pool with sundeck, 24-hour gym and a wellness centre with two treatment rooms.
Verdict
The Hilton Windhoek is clearly a rough diamond. It has some stunning features, but just needs a bit more polishing and it will soon be Namibia’s brightest gem.
Contact
Address: Corner of Michael Scott and Sam Nujoma Drive, Windhoek
Tel: +264 61 296 2929, hilton.com
Nina Harms