Pride Inn Group plans to add tented camps and lodges to its growing property brand

Pride Inn Hotels Managing Director Hasnain Noorani (middle), flanked by among others the and General Manager Flamingo by Pride Inn hotel Victor Shitakah (left) and Shanzu Pride Inn Paradise Hotel General Manager Mohammed Omar (right) addresses the Media at the Shanzu Paradise Beach Resort. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

Kenya's fastest growing hotel group, Pride Inn Hotels is eyeing investment into prime national parks in the country as it seeks to grow its foot prints in the next five years.

Speaking at the Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort in Shanzu, Mombasa yesterday, Group Managing Director, Mr Hasnain Noorani said that they are looking for opportunities within nature conservation areas to invest in luxurious tented camps or lodges.

''As we aspire to grow our presence in the country, we are also keen to set camp within some idyllic parks. This will largely depend on availability of opportunities in these areas,'' Noorani said.

He said that they are ready to take up wholly or go into managerial status of properties in their new expansion drive which is underway.

He used the occasion to paint a positive picture of April holiday and Easter booking occupancies that stand at over 90 per cent.

Noorani who is also the chairman of the Kenya Coast Tourism Working Group said that Pride Inn Group is looking at adding 10 new properties to its growing number of hotels.

He said that Kenyan tourism was picking up well and that interest by foreign tourists to visit Kenya was increasing.

''When we pitched camp at the recently concluded ITB tourism fair in Berlin, Germany, there was considerable interest in destination Kenya by tour operators and tourists alike . This is clear indication of Kenya's popularity as a long haul destination of choice,'' he said.

Noorani who was accompanied by senior managers of Pride Inn Hotels who included Coast Regional Manager, Mr Victor Shitakah, Mr Mohamed Omar (General Manager Pride Inn Paradise Resort ) and Joy Morai (Sales and Marketing Director-Pride Inn Paradise ) at the same time lauded the government for investing in support infrastructure that are a boost to tourism growth.

He said that they have seen tremendous growth in number of domestic tourists arriving at the Kenyan Coast by the modern Madaraka Express on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and those flying on Low Cost Carriers (LCC) flights down to the Coast.

On his part, Shitakah  who is also the chairman of the Kenya Coast Tourist Association (KCTA) said that destination Mombasa was poised for more business fortunes once the new cruise ship terminal at the Port of Mombasa is complete.

'' We are banking on increased cruise ship calls once the new terminal is complete later in the year. What an opportunity for Mombasa as cruise ships will also be extending their port stays from just a few hours to more than a day here,'' Shitakah said.

Mohamed on his part reiterated that they have all what it takes to attract any meeting be it local or international at Pride Inn Convention Centre.