Haile Hotels and resorts Inaugurate 1.9 Billion Birr Property in Debre Berhan, Unveils East Africa Expansion Plans

EBR_News Apr 23, 2026

Haile Hotels and Resorts Group has officially inaugurated its 11th destination in the historic city of Debre Berhan, investing 1.9 billion birr in a modern four-star hotel that will create permanent jobs for more than 300 people once fully operational, according to a press release from the group and remarks made at the ceremony.

The new Haile Hotel Debre Berhan features 123 guest rooms, four restaurants, a bar, six state-of-the-art meeting halls, a gymnasium, steam and sauna baths, an indoor swimming pool, massage therapy, and a traditional Moroccan bath. The hotel currently employs 200 citizens, with employment expected to exceed 300 at full capacity.

Debre Berhan, founded in 1446 during the reign of Emperor Zara Yaqob and known as the “City of Light,” is rapidly transforming into a centre of industrial tourism and knowledge, according to Mayor Bedilu Wubshet, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony. The city has registered rapid industrial growth, making the new hotel a critical addition to support business travellers and investors.

Haile Hotels and Resorts CEO Gaddisa Girma told Ethiopian Business Review that the group is actively preparing for the COP-32 climate conference scheduled for Addis Ababa in 2027. “In relation to COP-32, Haile Hotels and Resorts, including the property we inaugurated today, now boasts a total of 980 rooms.

We are currently undertaking expansion projects specifically in preparation for COP-32. For example, the Haile Grand Addis Ababa, which initially started with 137 rooms, is being upgraded with an additional 80 rooms,” he said.

Owner Haile Gebrselassie, the legendary athlete and successful businessman, revealed in an exclusive interview with Ethiopian Business Review that the group is now planning to expand beyond Ethiopia into the wider East African region.

“We have been conducting feasibility studies and other preparatory works. Although we previously conducted a study in Djibouti that did not come to fruition, we are currently working on expansion plans in other countries, including Rwanda and Gambia,” he said.

The group, a pioneer in the Ethiopian hospitality sector for over 16 years, now operates 11 hotels and resorts across the country.

Mayor Bedilu noted that the hotel has already contributed significantly to job creation and will stimulate the local economy by creating market opportunities for regional suppliers. The hotel provides the capacity to host major national and international conferences, significantly increasing tourist traffic to Debre Berhan.

“This hotel marks the opening of a new chapter for our city’s growth and tourism, a vibrant ‘Renaissance’ for Debre Berhan,” the mayor said.

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