Hotels in Kisumu record high bookings

Hotels in Kisumu City capitalised on US President Barack Obama’s visit to Kenya to cash in on visitors flocking the region.

The hotels are experiencing almost full bookings for corporate events, company parties and conferences that have been shifted to the region, away from Nairobi, which has seen most of its roads closed for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES).

Although July is usually a low season for the industry, major facilities, like the recently opened Acacia Premier is full with corporate events. The hotel, which is a four star facility, has 94 high standard rooms and a Presidential suite.

In Nairobi, main roads, including a section of Uhuru Highway, Chiromo Road and Museum Hill overpass remained closed and preserved for delegates attending the summit.

This affected other visitors to the city, who opted to book outside Nairobi.

Word has it that most customers calling hotels like Acacia in Kisumu were referred to other facilities like Imperial, the Vic, Great Lakes, St Johns Manor and Royal City hotels.

COMING EVENTS

Chairman of Western Kenya Hospitality Leaders’ Association Robinson Anyal, told The Standard that technically, Nairobi was on a holiday mood and visitors found Kisumu attractive for corporate events.

“Kisumu will be extremely busy in the next three weeks and we expect good business. Compounded with upcoming regional Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) show and National Music Festivals, the hotels will remain full,” he said.

“Prestigious schools like Riara have booked students in the top facilities like Kisumu Hotel, the Vic and Imperial hotels for the period between August 2 and 13,” he added.

At the Kisumu Hotel, which has been receiving good business (more than 50 per cent bed occupancy) for the past three weeks, Manager Felix Owiti projects an improvement in coming weeks.

“The forthcoming National Music Festivals is likely to bring a lot of activities and boost our business,” he said.

But Imperial Hotel manager Francois Van Wyk, insists little is being felt considering that a lot of activities are in Nairobi. “If some of the activities were to be held here in Kisumu, then we would get good business,” he said.