The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
Email: [email protected]

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Hoteliers optimistic of recovery

Business

By -By Philip Mwakio | Jan 05, 2013

By Philip Mwakio

Despite falling international tourist arrivals due to the harsh economic conditions affecting Kenya’s key source market, Europe, hoteliers at the Coast have embarked on renovations to spruce up their establishments in anticipation of a major recovery.

At the four star Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort in South Coast, work on room upgrades has started.

‘‘We are a historic hotel holding prime location on land famed for century old gigantic Baobab trees and border the idyllic blue waters of the Indian ocean.We are sprucing up to help meet customer demands,’’ General Manager Gomeri Kombo said.

The renovations are initially targetting 50 rooms while the second phase, which he described as major will see the putting up of a modern spa &health club and a further new 50 additional rooms.

Keep Reading business

‘‘This is not an easy undertaking as it requires enormous planning and patience,’’ he said.

‘‘We have injected a huge sum of money and are carrying out the renovations room by room to avoid disturbing our guests,’’ he added.The move by hoteliers comes even as the country’s top tourism marketer, Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) seeks to partner with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to market the port of Mombasa as a leading cruise port of choice along the East Coast of Africa.

Cruise Tourism

KTB Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa said that following the resumption of calls to the port of Mombasa by international cruise liners to Mombasa, they have deemed it fit to continue partnering with KPA to help attract more vessels to come.

Meanwhile, world’s largest hotel development tracker, STR and STR Global has reported that a total of 493 new hotels were built across Africa and the Middle East last year. The hotels now provide a record 122,942 rooms.

The September last year STR Global Construction Pipeline report said the phase of hotel construction sampled were either in under construction and final planning stages, but did not include projects at pre-planning stage.

The report says the region is expects 150 new hotels to open with 37,349 rooms.