Firm taps into counties with hotel in Juja

**Artists impression of the proposed Selian Hotel & Spa in Juja**

Kiambu County is set host a new 70 room hotel, Selian Hotel & Spa, which will open for business in the first quarter of 2016.

Mr Fred Maina, Chief Executive Officer of Icon Hotel Group Africa (IHGA), the brand focused in hospitality management with footprint across East Africa, said that they are tapping into potential that exists in counties.

“We are devolving hospitality to the county level. And Selian Hotel & Spa is the beginning as we hope to spread out to other counties going into the future,” Maina said.

The company has identified the vast untapped potential in hospitality leisure and tourism, opportunities that counties present. “We hope to leverage on our regional expertise to develop hospitality solutions for our target markets within Kenyan counties,” he said.

He said in their strategy, they will deploy video conferencing/telepresence in meeting conference rooms and high-speed internet access in all areas within the hotel. In addition there will be a wellness centre and spa.

He announced that to grow their brand, they are looking at possibilities of partnering with various counties, institution or individuals in joint ventures.

“In such co-operation, we shall provide project design, construction and post commissioning management expertise and markets, while partners will provide the land where we can then invite the participation of financial partners,’’ he said. Maina said that buoyed by prospects of a resilient Kenyan tourism industry, they are confident about the future of Kenyan tourism sector.

“Through our diverse hospitality activities we intend to be among the front runners in driving the emerging hospitality transformation in Kenya and around the region,” he said.

IHGA is also involved in hotel management and consultancy services in Tanzania’s tourism capital of Arusha, Tanga and Kigali, Rwanda.

In Tanzania, IHGA through its hospitality management and consulting subsidiary Icon Hotels & Resorts Tanzania (IHRT), has been involved in the development of key hotel projects like the Palace Hotel and the about to be completed four star Parrot Hotel opening in November this year.

At the coastal town of Tanga, they are working with King Fisher Beach & Conferencing Resort in Pangani and the exclusive mountain resort, Magorotto eco-lodge. In Kigali, Rwanda they are working with La Pallise and Grand Legacy Hotel.