Hemingways Hospitality has announced its expansion into Rwanda. It has acquired Heaven Holdings Limited, which includes The Retreat, Fusion Restaurant, Heaven Restaurant and Heaven Boutique Hotel as well as destination management company Heaven Experiences Limited.
The deal sees the transition of ownership from founders Alissa and Josh Ruxin who have operated the businesses since launching Heaven Restaurant in 2008. The couple, originally from the US, moved to Rwanda in 2006 and built the brand over 17 years, training and employing more than 3 500 Rwandans and developing a portfolio of hospitality and tourism assets.
Heaven Boutique Hotel, opened in 2011, currently offers 28 rooms while The Retreat, a five-star boutique hotel, features 20 rooms including eight luxury pool villas and a fine-dining venue, Fusion.
Ross Evans, CEO of Hemingways Hospitality Group, confirmed the acquisition during a handover ceremony in Kigali.
“We are incredibly excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with and continuing to develop the talented team of hospitality professionals at Heaven and The Retreat. With our trusted reputation, deep regional experience and strong hospitality and travel network, Hemingways is well positioned to build on Heaven’s legacy while bringing a new level of excellence to Kigali,” said Evans.
