Hilton signs on for Canberra debut with 184-room Manuka hotel

Hilton will enter the Canberra market in early 2027, after signing a franchise agreement with ICC Development Group for the 184-room Hilton Canberra Manuka.

The hotel will operate under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand at 15-17 Franklin Street in the Manuka precinct, directly opposite Manuka Oval. 

It is a private investment by Mrs. Sotiria Liangis OAM AM, a prominent Greek-born Canberra commercial property developer, businesswoman, and philanthropist, who started started Liangis Investments in 1967.

The property will offer eight suites within its 184 rooms, with standard rooms measuring 32 to 45 square metres. Guests will have access to an executive lounge, an all-day dining restaurant and bar, fitness and wellness facilities, a sauna and a pool.

The hotel will also focus on events and will feature a ballroom and a multifunction space that can be split into four separate rooms, designed for everything from executive meetings to private celebrations. The wider development will also include ground-level retail, additional dining venues and a cinema.

Location, target market and economic impact

The hotel is positioned to serve government, corporate, diplomatic, sporting and leisure travellers.

Canberra Railway Station is about 1.5 kilometres from the site, while Canberra Airport is roughly 7 kilometres away. Parliament House, the Parliamentary Triangle, the embassy district and the Barton business precinct are all nearby, as are the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia and Questacon. 

The project is expected to create around 100 to 120 full-time, part-time and casual jobs. It is also anticipated to drive visitor spending and demand for local suppliers, including restaurants, cafes and retailers.

Jonathan Jackson, 11th November 2026