Growing hospitality sector to get more rooms

The country’s emerging hospitality industry is on an upward growth with 16 new hotels expected over the next five years.

This will add 2,900 rooms to service the growing number of visitors coming into the country. Hotel capacity will increase by 14 per cent, according to an analysis by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

 “Kenya’s economic growth has been strong and a number of incentives on offer have contributed to a recent increase in tourists and business visitors’ arrival,” said Michael Mugasa, a Partner at PwC Kenya and the firm’s Entertainment Industry Leader.

He went on to explain that occupancy rates in Nairobi and Mombasa remained high and the average room rate was on track for another healthy gain in 2016.

“The devolved system of government has resulted in an increase in domestic travel... Urbanisation has also contributed to increased commerce,” added Mugasa.

—Mumbi Kinyua