BDC leads P700m Radisson hotel development
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday November 17, 2025 06:00
The landmark project, to be located at the BDC’s Fairscape Precinct in Fairgrounds, marks a major milestone in Botswana’s efforts to strengthen its tourism and service sectors.
The plans were unveiled in an in-depth report circulated by the BDC on the State of the Nation Address on Monday.
The upcoming Radisson Hotel will feature 150 luxury rooms, a gross building area of 13,000–16,000 square metres, nine floors, and three levels of basement parking. It will also boast a rooftop pool deck and sky lounge offering panoramic views of the city, setting a new standard for luxury accommodation in the capital.
According to the report, BDC’s wholly owned subsidiary, Commercial Holdings, has signed a Letter of Intent with the Radisson Hotel Group to operate the facility under a 20-year management agreement, tapping into Radisson’s global reputation and operational excellence.
Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world’s largest and most well-known hotel groups, with with more than 1,520 hotels and over 245,890 rooms in operation and under development around the world.
In Africa, Radisson flies its flag in 100 hotels across more than 30 countries.
Major hotel groups such as Radisson expand their reach through management contracts, where investors such as the BDC build and own hotels, which are then branded and run by Radisson, including the hotel group’s reservation and technology systems. The Hilton Garden Inn was developed under a similar arrangement between the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund and the Hilton group.
Delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Duma Boko reaffirmed government’s commitment to advancing high-impact infrastructure projects under the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) programme. He cited the Radisson development as one of the key investments propelling Botswana’s economic diversification agenda.
“The project, which will begin in April 2026 at an investment value of $50 million, is expected to create jobs directly during construction and post-construction,” he said.
The development is projected to create approximately 3,000 jobs during the construction phase and 400 permanent positions once operational. Beyond employment creation, it is anticipated to serve as a catalyst for tourism growth, attracting high-net-worth visitors who are expected to spend around P3,200 per night, thereby stimulating the local economy and associated industries.
Once completed, the Radisson Hotel will become Gaborone’s only five-star hotel, meeting the growing demand for upscale business travel, conferences, and lifestyle experiences. As a flagship hospitality project, it is set to redefine Botswana’s luxury accommodation landscape and position the capital city as a competitive regional destination for business and leisure.