New apartment hotel targets growing class of holidaymakers

A section of Nightingale Apartments in Shanzu, Mombasa [Photo: philip mwakio]

Nairobi; Kenya: The development of apartment hotels is gaining popularity in the hospitality industry. Investors have continued to pump millions of shillings into the sector by coming up with facilities that meet growing global visitor trends and tastes.

Kenyan born entrepreneur, Catherine Sell, who lived in the United Kingdom, chose to invest in apartment hotel concept. The concept incorporates the flexibility of long-term apartment living and a hotel stay with the usual short-term catering services.

Catherine, director at Nightingale Apartments, located in Shanzu, Mombasa North says a number of locals have embraced holidaying creating a huge market for apartments. The main selling point is the need to ensure family comfort and ambience is maintained even while away from home.

“This is just what Nightingale Apartments has done for its loyal clients who walk into the premises,’’ she told Weekend Business. The one bedroom apartments with 27 units is one among new properties that have sprout out in Mombasa North even as the tourism industry continues to suffer from a huge dip in international arrivals occasioned by travel advisories imposed by key source markets over insecurity.

Nightingale Apartments Sales and Marketing Manager, Ms Caroline Macharia says they are targeting a growing class of holidaymakers, mostly newlyweds, engaged couples and family set ups to stay with them for holiday.

Bed shortage

“We believe we have what it takes to make one’s holiday a resounding success. We are eager to tap in the lucrative East African market that has a lot of potential,’’ Ms Macharia said.

She said the hotel, with fully furnished apartments and a walking distance from the azure waters of the Indian Ocean offers private balcony overlooking its Olympic size swimming pool, spacious bathrooms, large living room with satellite television, and bedroom with double bed.

Also it has a kitchenette with cooker, microwave, toaster and utensils. A key advantage of an apartment hotel is that families get to stay together unlike in many hotels where members of a family of often accommodated in different rooms.

The concept of renting an apartment within a hotel is also popular with business travellers on extended assignments, more so those who appreciate the larger space a typical suite provides. Such can enjoy the comforts of the apartment while enjoying meals cooked in the restaurants within.

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) welcomed the development of apartment hotels in the region adding that this will go a long way in addressing the problem of bed shortage in the hotel industry. “It is a trend that is taking shape in Mombasa. Kilifi County has seen a lot of such developments come up,’’ Sam Ikwaye, KAHC Coast branch executive officer said.

While applauding the move by investors, majority of whom Ikwaye said are locals, it is prudent to ensure that the central government come up with standards to guide such developments.

 

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