ETHIOPIA: Hilton Signs To Manage DoubleTree by Hilton Addis Ababa Airport Hotel

Hilton has signed a management agreement with TAFBB Business to open DoubleTree by Hilton Addis Ababa Airport.

The 106-guestroom hotel will be developed next to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, the base for Ethiopian Airlines, which flies both domestically and to Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.

This will be Hilton’s second hotel in Ethiopia’s capital, following the first property in the city center.

As the capital of Ethiopia and the location of the African Union's headquarters, Addis Ababa is an important East African hub, Patrick Fitzgibbon, SVP of development, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said in a statement.

Fisseha Asres represented TAFBB Business during the negotiation of the project.

As Hilton Worldwide signed its first DoubleTree-branded hotel in Ethiopia, it has been developing another property in the country.

In October 2015, the hotel group agreed to manage the Hilton Awassa Resort & Spa, Ethiopia in partnership with Sunshine Business.

The companies planned to invest up to $42 million into developing the resort before construction began in late 2015 on the banks of Lake Awassa in the Great Rift Valley.

As the country’s government has been investing $55 million into developing an airport in Awassa by 2018, Hilton has planned to meet the boost of incoming tourists and its demand for accommodation with its new hotel, which is slated to open in 2020.


Tourism Observer

TANZANIA: 5.7 Magnitude Earthquake Kills 13 people Injures 203

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake has killed at least 13 people and injured 203 in northern Tanzania, the authorities say.

The quake struck close to the border with Uganda and Rwanda near Lake Victoria.

Images posted on social media showed significant damage to buildings in Bukoba, a city of more than 70,000 people where most casualties were reported.

Tremors were felt as far away as western Kenya.

"This incident has caused a lot of damage," Deodatus Kinawila, the district commissioner of Bukoba said

"For now, the situation is calm and under control," he said later.

"Some people have been discharged from hospital," he added. "We don't expect many more injuries."

The US Geological Survey says the quake struck at a depth of 10km (six miles) at 15:27 local time on Saturday (12:27 GMT).

East Africa's Great Rift Valley runs along a geological fault line but major earthquakes there are rare.

A magnitude six quake struck the Tanzanian town of Arusha, east of Bukoba, in July 2007.

TANZANIA: Why Visit Tanzania

The following are some of the reasons in brief:

• Magnificent Wildlife – Tanzania is the best country in the world in terms of high quality Game, numbers and variety.

• Wonderful scenic beauty ranging from the Great Rift Valley to the seemingly endless plains of the Serengeti.

• The biggest unbroken crater in the world – Ngorongoro Crater.

• The tallest free-standing mountain in the world – Mt. Kilimanjaro .

• The Biggest fresh-water lake in Africa and the third biggest in the world. It is also the source of River Nile – Lake Victoria .

• The longest and deepest Lake in the world – Lake Tanganyika

• The biggest Game Reserve in the world – Selous Game Reserve.

• Rich culture including some of the proudest people in Africa – Maasai. Hunter-gatherers near Lake Eyasi and the countless farming communities.

• A haven for Bird watchers with over 500 different species. Terrestrial, flying and migrant birds are in abundance. Some migrate from as far as Europe to Tanzania during different seasons.

• Wilderness Trekking through areas of amazing natural beauty accompanied by local guides lasting between 1 to 7 days.

• Mountain climbing to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro .

• Sun-bathing on the white beaches of the Spice Island of Zanzibar.

• Aquatic activities including snorkeling and diving in some of the most beautiful diving sites in the world off the coast of Zanzibar , Mafia & Pemba Islands .

• Tanzania is a Peaceful country admired by everyone for its moderate policies and a stable form of governance.

• Humble smiling people always happy to welcome visitors.

• Easily accessed by various International Airlines. These airlines are:

Kenya Airways – Daily Flights,
KLM- Daily Flights,
British Airways – 4 times a week,
Ethiopian Airlines – Daily Flights, etc