Kenyan hotels bag global luxury awards

Kenya’s oldest hospitality hotel chain, Sun Africa Hotels, bagged several awards at the 2015 World Luxury Awards held in Hong Kong last week.

Speaking to The Standard after the awards show, Sun Africa Hotels chief executive and group managing director, Rahul Sood, said they were honoured to be recognised as one of Africa’s leading hotel brands.

“We have made it for a fifth consecutive year at the World Luxury Awards, and wish to assure everybody that Destination Kenya is open for business,” Mr Sood said.

“This is also an assurance to our guests of the exemplary service and products that our hotel chain provides.’’

The hotel chain, which has a portfolio that includes seven properties, received five awards at the 2015 World Luxury Hotels Awards, including the best hotel management company in Africa for a second consecutive year.

Its newest boutique hotel, Sun Africa Beach Resort in Mombasa, was named the continent’s winner in the luxury new hotel category.

Other accolades went to its Kiboko Luxury Camp in Naivasha for being Africa’s top tented safari camp, while Sovereign Suites in Nairobi was named the continent’s best luxury suite hotel and Keekorok Lodge in Maasai Mara took the continental luxury wildlife resort gong.

Other Kenyan hotels that won awards include the Sarova Group of Hotels, which was named the continent’s best hotel brand. It also won continental awards, with Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa named the top luxury beach resort and Sarova Stanley the best luxury historical hotel. Sarova Mara received the global best luxury tented safari camp award.

Tribe Hotel scooped the continental luxury business hotel award, while Nairobi’s Sky Panari Resort, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, was voted the best hotel in the category of country winners.

The World Luxury Hotel Awards were established to celebrate service excellence in the hospitality industry.