Idea uk

Cape Sierra Redevelopment

The redevelopment of the 18-acre site of the old Cape Sierra Hotel in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Cape Sierra Hotel

IDEA is currently constructing a new contemporary five-star hotel on 10 acres of the site. Construction started in 2014 but has been delayed twice: once by the Ebola Epidemic in Sierra Leone and latterly by the Coronavirus Global Pandemic. We now expect to open the hotel in 2021. 

Once completed, the hotel will be known as the Hilton Freetown Cape Sierra Hotel. It has been constructed to the exacting brand standards of Hilton Hotels and will be managed and operated by Hilton Worldwide under the flagship “Hilton” Brand. The hotel facilities will comprise 200 guestrooms, seven food & beverage outlets (including an Executive Lounge), tennis courts, 40m long outdoor swimming pool with an infinity edge, fully equipped gym, on-site medical facilities and a multipurpose conference / banqueting facility for 500 guests.

The Central Utility Complex​

IDEA is currently constructing a fully integrated Central Utility Complex (CUC) that will provide the several required utility services to all facilities on the Cape Sierra Site.

These services include:

(i) Potable Water Generation
(ii) Trigenerated Services of Electrical Power + Chilled Water Provision (for the air-conditioning) + Hot Water Provision
(iii) Sewage Disposal;
(iv) Wastewater Treatment.

The CUC will be fully operational by the time the hotel is completed.

Additional Development

As shown on the Masterplan (shown in the Photo Gallery), IDEA is currently constructing ten ocean-facing contemporary Villas, a block of 92 Serviced Apartments, a Sports and Leisure Club and a Commercial Hub that will house a medical centre, retail units and serviced offices. Construction of the Show Villa started and will be completed in 2020.

The remaining 9 Villas will be built after the Show Villa such that they will all be ready by the time the Hotel is opened to the public. The buildings in the wider complex will be constructed to the same exacting specification of the Hotel, but will not be part of the hotel inventory. However, the tenants, guests and visitors to this complex will be able to benefit from the range of amenities offered by the hotel.

  • Customer Experience

    Together with its partner – Hilton Worldwide, IDEA is looking to manage the entire experience of all hotel guests whilst in Sierra Leone and this includes 24 x 7 uninterrupted provision of all utilities to the hotel.  In addition to the stay at the Hilton Hotel, customer benefits will also include airport transfers to and from the hotel and comfortable in-country transportation (whether by road or by sea).

  • Employment

    We are looking to provide between 200 and 300 direct jobs at the hotel and when you factor in the tourism multiplier effect, this could mean a further 600 indirect jobs in the economy.

  • Contribution to GDP

    The hotel activity is expected to add in excess of $30m annually to Sierra Leone’s GDP.

  • Environmental Sustainability

    The hotel benefits from various innovations that reduce its carbon footprint. These include reduced consumption of water (which is generated and recycled on site) in the showers and faucets, no gas based air-conditioning system, approximately 40% reduction in base case consumption of electricity; and measures to minimise food waste in the kitchens.

  • Customer Experience

    The CUC is not permitted to provide utilities to private individuals or companies outside the curtilage of the Cape Sierra Site. Consequently, the only customers of the CUC are the Hotel and the other facilities on the site. Because of the design and the level of built in redundancies, all facilities on the site will receive 24x7 uninterrupted utility supply and a dedicated management service with quick response times to address faults.

  • Employment

    IDEA is looking to provide between 5 and 10 direct jobs at the CUC .

  • Contribution to GDP

    The CUC activity is expected to add in excess of $2m annually to Sierra Leone’s GDP.

  • Environmental Sustainability

    The CUC benefit from various innovations that reduce its carbon footprint. These include recycling of water, the optimised synergies of a trigeneration system and a Building Management System which allows it to reduce/manage operating costs to correlate to the volume of utilities being demanded by the facilities.

  • Customer Experience

    As in the case of the Hotel, IDEA is also looking to manage the entire experience of all visitors to the Cape Sierra complex whilst in Sierra Leone and this includes 24x7 uninterrupted provision of all utilities. Customer benefits will include airport transfers to and from the hotel and comfortable in-country transportation (whether by road or by sea) and will also be able to benefit from the use of all hotel amenities and room service.

  • Employment

    IDEA is looking to provide between 100 and 150 direct jobs at the complex. When you factor in the tourism multiplier effect, this could be accompanied by a further 100 indirect jobs in the economy.

  • Contribution to GDP

    Economic activity is expected to add in excess of $10m annually to Sierra Leone’s GDP.

  • Environmental Sustainability

    As with the hotel, the complex benefits from various innovations that reduce its carbon footprint. These include reduced consumption of water in the showers and faucets, no gas based air-conditioning system, approximately 40% reduction in base case consumption of electricity.

Project Gallery

Cape Sierra Hotel

IDEA is current constructing a new contemporary five-star hotel on 10 acres of the site.  Construction started in 2014 but has been delayed twice: once by the Ebola Epidemic in Sierra Leone and latterly by the Coronavirus Global Pandemic. We now expect to open the hotel in 2021. 

Once completed, the hotel will be known as the Hilton Freetown Cape Sierra Hotel. It has been constructed to the exacting brand standards of Hilton Hotels and will be managed and operated by Hilton Worldwide under the flagship “Hilton” Brand. The hotel facilities will comprise 200 guestrooms, seven food & beverage outlets (including an Executive Lounge), tennis courts, 40m long outdoor swimming pool with an infinity edge, fully equipped gym, on-site medical facilities and a multipurpose conference / banqueting facility for 500 guests.

  • Customer Experience

    Together with its partner – Hilton Worldwide, IDEA is looking to manage the entire experience of all hotel guests whilst in Sierra Leone and this includes 24 x 7 uninterrupted provision of all utilities to the hotel.  In addition to the stay at the Hilton Hotel, customer benefits will also include airport transfers to and from the hotel and comfortable in-country transportation (whether by road or by sea).

  • Employment

    We are looking to provide between 200 and 300 direct jobs at the hotel and when you factor in the tourism multiplier effect, this could mean a further 600 indirect jobs in the economy.

  • Contribution to GDP

    The hotel activity is expected to add in excess of $30m annually to Sierra Leone’s GDP.

  • Environmental Sustainability

    The hotel benefits from variations innovations that reduce its carbon footprint. These include reduced consumption of water (which is generated and recycled on site) in the showers and faucets, no gas based air-conditioning system, approximately 40% reduction in base case consumption of electricity; and measures to minimise food waste in the kitchens.

The Central Utility Complex​

The CUC is not permitted to provide utilities to private individuals or companies outside the curtilage of the Cape Sierra Site. Consequently, the only customers of the CUC are the Hotel and the other facilities on the site. Because of the design and the level of built in redundancies, all facilities on the site will receive 24x7 uninterrupted utility supply and a dedicated management service with quick response times to address faults.

  • Customer Experience

    The CUC is not permitted to provide utilities to private individuals or companies outside the curtilage of the Cape Sierra Site. Consequently, the only customers of the CUC are the Hotel and the other facilities on the site. Because of the design and the level of built in redundancies, all facilities on the site will receive 24x7 uninterrupted utility supply and a dedicated management service with quick response times to address faults.

  • Employment

    IDEA is looking to provide between 5 and 10 direct jobs at the CUC .

  • Contribution to GDP

    The CUC activity is expected to add in excess of $2m annually to Sierra Leone’s GDP.

  • Environmental Sustainability

    The CUC benefit from various innovations that reduce its carbon footprint. These include recycling of water, the optimised synergies of a trigeneration system and a Building Management System which allows it to reduce/manage operating costs to correlate to the volume of utilities being demanded by the facilities.

Cape Sierra Villas

IDEA is currently constructing ten ocean-facing 5-Bedroom Villas contemporary five-star hotel. Construction of the Show Villa started and will be completed in 2020. The remaining 11 Villas will be built after the Show Villa such that they will all be ready by the time the Hotel is opened to the public. The Villas are being constructed to the same exacting specification of the Hotel, but will not be part of the hotel inventory. However, the guests at the Villas will be able to benefit from the range of amenities and amenities offered by the hotel.

  • Customer Experience

    As in the case of the Hotel, IDEA is also looking to manage the entire experience of all hotel guests whilst in Sierra Leone and this includes 24x7 uninterrupted provision of all utilities to the Villas. Villa customer benefits will include airport transfers to and from the hotel and comfortable in-country transportation (whether by road or by sea) and will also be able to benefit from the use of all hotel amenities and room service.

  • Employment

    IDEA is looking to provide between 20 and 30 direct jobs at the Villas and when you factor in the tourism multiplier effect, this could be accompanied by a further 20 indirect jobs in the economy.

  • Contribution to GDP

    The Villa activity is expected to add in excess of $2m annually to Sierra Leone’s GDP.

  • Environmental Sustainability

    As with the hotel, the Villas benefit from various innovations that reduce its carbon footprint. These include reduced consumption of water in the showers and faucets, no gas based air-conditioning system, approximately 40% reduction in base case consumption of electricity.

Current Projects

The MAPE Project

A new multi-functional conurbation and coastal resort in Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom, Sierra Leone.

Asset Leasing

The provision of a wide range of moveable assets to all IDEA projects.