UGANDA: Chartered Plane Deliveres 250 Israel Tourists For A 3 Day Tour To Uganda

A chartered plane with over 250 Israeli tourists has today landed in Uganda, for the first time since 1976.

According to the Uganda tourism board’s outgoing executive director Steven Asiimwe, the historic visit comes after negotiations with officials of the Israeli national career to begin regular flights to Entebbe.

The tourists came aboard a direct chartered flight from Israel to Uganda, the ELAL flight; the first direct flight from Israel to Uganda since the 1976 raid on Entebbe.

Commenting on the trip, Ms. Tali Yativ, the organizer and team leader of the group said that this was a first of a kind tour for the group.

This trip is a first of its kind for us and we are looking forward to a great experience in Uganda.

We are mostly pleased to see the tourist site of the Uganda old airport tower where a group of Israelis were held hostage by Uganda’s former president. We however look forward to touring more of Uganda over the next few days, Yativ said.

The group is in the country until Saturday, February 16, 2019 and will be visiting the Murchison Falls National Park, the Jewish community in Mbale and various sights in Jinja including the source of the Nile.

UTB outgoing CEO Mr. Stephen Asiimwe said that this was a remarkable development in the sector and the results of this trip will be key in increasing the number of Israeli visitors to Uganda.

“We are positive that this visit will attract more visitors from Israel and the rest of the world. The two countries have a shared piece of history and we hope to strengthen our travel trade in order to increase the number of Israeli tourist coming to Uganda,” Asiimwe said.

On a similar note, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Hon. Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu is leading a delegation from the Uganda Tourism Board and tourism private sector players in Tel Aviv, Israel to participate the (ITTM) International Mediterranean Tourism Market; a key activity aimed to foster travel trade between the Israel and Uganda.

Israel has a population of about 8 million people and a GDP of $400 billion and per capita.

Additionally, a group of Presidents of major American Jewish Organizations are currently in the country as part of a national leadership delegation to Uganda.

They will today be hosted by the Uganda Tourism Board to a cultural experience by Ndere Troupe at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

According to Mr. Stephen Asiimwe, the group has been engaged in dialogue on investment in the tourism sector and also a repeat visit to tour Uganda.

Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) is a statutory organization established in 1994. Its role and mandate was reviewed in the Tourism Act of 2008.

The Board’s mandate is to promote and market Uganda across the region and internationally, promote quality assurance in tourist facilities through training, grading and classification, promote tourism investment, support and act as liaison for the private sector in tourism development.

The broader goals of the Board are to increase the contribution of tourism earnings and GDP; improve Uganda’s competitiveness as an international tourism destination; and increase Uganda’s share of Africa’s and World tourism market.

UTB aims to create inclusive opportunities for the tourism sector through market transformation.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Kampala Serena Hotel***** Remodeled

The Kampala Serena Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. The hotel is rated 5-star by the Uganda Tourism Board.

The hotel is on Kintu Road on Nakasero Hill, in the centre of Kampala. The hotel is nestled among 17 acres (6.9 ha) of lawns and gardens.

The hotel is close to the Kampala Sheraton Hotel, Imperial Royale Hotel and Mosa Courts Hotel.

It is in the Kampala Central Division, one of the five administrative divisions of the city.

The hotel opened on 31 July 2006, after eighteen months of renovations and refurbishment at a cost of US$30.5 million.

Kampala Serena Hotel is part of the Serena Hotels Group. It has 152 rooms, including thirteen suites, one of which is a presidential suite.

During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007 in Kampala, the hotel hosted Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom for four nights.

Kampala Serena Hotel has its own helipad for easy transport between the hotel and Entebbe International Airport.

Adjacent to the hotel is the Kampala Serena International Conference Center with a seating capacity of 1,500 and multilingual translation facilities of up to nine languages simultaneously.

A member of the global luxury hotel cooperation ‘The Leading Hotels of the World‘ has for long been Kampala’s top address when business and leisure travelers come to the Ugandan capital.

Food and service add to the architecture, the ambience and the room standards, second to none in Uganda, more so as the company is proactive with regular scheduled maintenance all over the property.

Last year 36 rooms and suites were added, including a senior Presidential Suite and the new rooms are larger and more opulent in their furnishings, meeting all the needs of a seasoned and discerning traveler.

More recently was the remodeling of The Pearl Restaurant completed including the launch of Uganda’s first champagne bar and the launch event, a French Food Week, provided the setting for Kampala’s number one Hotel.

On the same level of the hotel, the mezzanine floor, where previously two meeting rooms, Turaco and Crane were found, have four board rooms been added with a seating capacity of four, six and 10 respectively.

Named Shoebill, Kingfisher, Siskins and Jacana is the tradition upheld to give such facilities the names of some of Uganda’s most spectacular birds.

The corridors of the hotel too were refurbished, despite the length of the corridors never give the feeling of being monotonous, as, besides fresh flower arrangements are works of art being displayed like wall hangings, pictures but also sculptures.

This making the walk to and from one’s room an almost artistic experience reminiscent of walking the corridors of an art gallery.

Kampala Serena Hotel corridors give a feeling of warm welcome to guests who can enjoy plenty of art pieces on display.

An Executive Lounge was created, to which holders of qualifying Serena loyalty cards and guests booking suites or paying top rates for their rooms, will have access.

A complimentary breakfast, served on the 5th floor facility between 06.30 hrs and 10.00 hrs will make way for a light lunch set up before an evening Happy Hour with canapes and a full complimentary bar and drink service will round up the day.

Tea, coffee, soft drinks and juices will be available throughout the day and the latest newspapers and news magazines will help guest to pass their time.

Easy chairs and lounge chairs invite to sit down in comfort though regular tables too are available for those guests having breakfast or lunch.

The new lounge will be officially opened very soon giving regular guests of the Kampala Serena Hotel some great pleasure.

Victoria Hall will soon be closed, the main auditorium, which will see the current technology replaced with state of the art electronic systems, audio and video, and a new roll out / roll back seating system which allows users of the facility to have the spaces rightsized to their needs.

Additional work will at that stage also be carried out at the Kampala Serena Conference Centre’s other facilities to bring it truly in line with the main hotel’s appearance of today.

The residents’ lounge, Bambara, is now only accessible for guests using their key cards, making it truly an inhouse guest facility with patrons from the city, unless accompanied and signed in by a hotel resident, then restricted to the main restaurants, The Lakes and The Explorer and of course the Mist Bar and Terrace.



Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Kampala Serena Hotel Improves

In Middle of May the new rooms and suites will be handed over by the contractors to the Kampala Serena Hotel's management, will Kampala be in for a surprise.

The 36 Suites and Executive Rooms, include a yet to be named second senior Presidential Suite, which will be larger, more luxurious and provide new levels of comfort to Serena's top rated VVIP clientele.

The 'Royal Suite' in the main hotel, named after H.M. The Queen Elizabeth II following her stay in Kampala during the Commonwealth Summit of 2007, will on opening of the new facility become the hotel's number two as the latest trends in technology, equipment, security and furnishings have been incorporated in the country's largest such suite. This new showcase will no doubt become Uganda's top hospitality offering.

Be it Heads of State, Heads of Fortune 500 companies, the who is who of high finance, movers and shakers and of course the stars of the entertainment industry from Hollywood to Nollywood to Bollywood, this will be their place to be as there simply will is no better anywhere in the country - and I say that after a sneak preview a few days ago during which the taking of pictures was not quite yet on the cards.

All other rooms in the new wing will also be larger and again include the latest technologies and layouts, for sitting rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms.

Overall will the number of rooms rise from the present 152 to 188, also reflecting the growth in demand the hotel has experienced over the past 11 years since it opened under this leading East African brand.

The upgrading and expansion of the Kampala Serena is in line with what is happening in other city hotels of the group, which is generally seen as East Africa's market leader, in terms of service, market standing but also the sheer number of properties in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Mozambique and of course Uganda.

Kigali's expansion was completed some time ago already and now it is the Dar es Salaam Serena where only last week the new restaurants and public areas were unveiled, reflecting much of the coastal architecture and designs for which this part of East Africa is so famous for.

In Nairobi too is a major refurbishment and expansion underway and again is Serena upping the game in the face of all the new competition which has sprung up over the past years and is still pushing into the Kenyan capital.

In Kampala is Carlson Rezidor set to open a Quorvus Collection branded hotel - which took its owners over 11 years of construction and then some, the same time the Serena has been in operation by the way - before CR came onboard with their expertise to put finishing touches to it and move it to the verge of opening.

Yet, the Kampala Serena Hotel will be ready for the new kid on the block, not just in terms of room offerings but also vis a vis a very refined food and service concept which can be experienced in the various F&B outlets.

Only a few days ago was the Pearl of Africa restaurant, a repeated award winner as Kampala's best fine dining venue, chosen to host the 'Gout de France' dinner which was celebrated around the world in 2.000 venues with 2.000 menus.

Chef Raphael, seen above proudly displaying the certificates awarded to the hotel and restaurant, and his team, including Sommelier Celestine, were suitably acknowledged by their French and other guests who received a culinary firework paired with great wines.

Add to all that the hospitality extended by Restaurant Manager Faussy and her team and you truly have a winning combination.

But excellence in cuisine does not end here. The Kampala Serena partakes in national and regional food competitions, stages regular international food festivals and is often host to guest chefs who come to Uganda from their home 5 star hotels and even Michelin rated restaurants.

When at the Kampala Serena they orchestrate the high art of culinary perfection, train the local chefs in the process and delight patrons with taste bud busting creations, be it at the Pearl of Africa, the Lakes or the Explorer.

I will in due course narrate my dining experiences at the Kampala Serena Hotel, one being a superb meal at the Pearl of Africa venue where Chef Raphael offered me a choice of a la carte or else their regular workday table d'hote menu.

I settled for the latter, which proved to be an excellent three course meal served in the space of one hour and a bit, perfect for top executives who are looking for a lunch venue of this kind where food excellence and service speed are a match.

My other meal was breakfast at the Lakes and indulging again by having an Egg Benedict, expertly prepared but here too, more about it in a few days or weeks, as I catch up with my writing and finish other assignments.

Meanwhile though will my eyes be glued to the calendar when sometime towards mid May the new Kampala Serena extension will open up and the attention of the contractor can then shift towards the completion of a new champagne bar and a new Executive Lounge on the 6th floor of the hotel.

Guests with a sudden craving for a Kir Royale or a glass of pink or golden bubbly will not be disappointed as Sommelier Celestine is already preparing a new section in his cellar just for that outlet.

The new lounge according to usually well informed sources, will add another dimension of hospitality for Serena's loyal clientele.

Regular Serena guests with loyalty cards, or those who are booked into the various suites, will experience an oasis of serene tranquility, in spacious and contemporary surroundings where across the day snacks and light meals will be on complimentary offer.

From breakfast to lunch to high tea and pre dinner hors d' oeuvres will those using the facility be able to still a sudden peckish feeling and a lounge concierge will be at the service of the guests with almost no task considered impossible.

There may even be a daily happy hour for guests, perhaps with the General Manager or key members of his team making an appearance to interact with guests, or maybe there will be a once a week GM's cocktail for his premium guests ... time will tell so stay tuned to this site.

All of it again shows that Serena not only maintains high service standards but is constantly pushing the envelope further, incorporating the latest trends in the hospitality industry and giving value for money to their loyal guests because service is at the very heart of Serena's corporate philosophy.

Serena's Uganda flagship, the Kampala Serena Hotel is an inspirational blend of 5-star polish, pan-African panache, social style and business reliability.
Ideally located at the very heart of Kampala, our luxury business hotel stands amidst 7.2 acres of landscaped grounds and water gardens. An oasis of cool and green, encircled by the seven hills of Kampala, this 152-room world-class hotel is the focal point of national, regional, business, political and social life.
Drawing its architectural inspiration from the abundance of Uganda's lakes and rivers, the hotel has been created around a central water theme, which manifests itself both in the extensive water gardens and in the hand-carved panels and shimmering mosaics with which it is decorated.
Inspirationally styled as a Kampala showcase for Ugandan art, this unique 5-star hotel offers; an international conference centre, a garden auditorium, a roof-top terrace, a rock-sculptured pool terrace, three restaurants, two bars and the Moorish palace of the ‘Maisha Mind Body and Spirit Spa'.
GETTING THERE
The hotel is situated in central Kampala, 40 kilometres from Entebbe International Airport.

FACILITIES
- Wide selection of rooms and suites: all with AC, satellite TV, Wi-Fi and voice-mail
- Bambara Residents' Lounge with Bedouin Terrace
- The Lakes, all-day brasserie
- The Mist, cocktail bar
- The Explorer, Italian bistro
- The Pearl of Africa, fine-dining experience
- The Sesse Pool Terrace bar and café
- Panoramic roof terrace for private cocktails and social events
- Garden auditorium
- Extensive swimming pool area with rock-built waterfall
- The Maisha Mind Body and Spirit Spa
- Running track in the grounds and golf course (nearby)
- Hair and beauty salon
- International Conference Centre to seat 1,500
- VIP entrance, helipad, dedicated car park, full security
-Wide range of incentives options
- Business Centre, travel desk, taxi and limousine service
- Wedding planning service
- Gift Shop, news-stand and travel requisites kiosks

UGANDA: SGS Awards Serena Hotels

Both Serena properties in Uganda, the Kampala Serena Hotel and the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort, were earlier this week handed their certification from global inspection giant SGS for passing the stringent audit on food safety excellence.

It is understood that the two hotels scored 87 and 85 percent pass marks respectively, giving patrons of the two properties the assurance that the globally highest standards are being applied and maintained when the kitchen teams prepare those delicious meals.

Mr. Ronald Watsiera delivered the two awards to Serena’s Country Manager Mr. Anthony Chege, who is also the General Manager of the Kampala Serena Hotel and to Mr. Frankline Nyankundi, the General Manager of the new Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort. During the brief handover ceremony did Ronald then say: ‘We extend our heartiest congratulations for successfully undergoing the rigorous audits and certification to SGS HOSPTALITY EXCELLENCE PROGRAM standard. Our auditors have witnessed sincere dedication to food safety management controls and continuous improvement and today we recognize your achievement.

Uganda is now operating in a global village and our hospitality industry is part of the extended global supply chains where adherence to global food safety standards is paramount. Your leadership in attaining SGS Hospitality Excellence Program, for the players in the entire food value chain and specifically in the hospitality and tourism industry, sets unmatched example to the region.

The Kampala Serena Hotel and the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort are market leaders in tourism and it is leveraging the country as a unique tourist destination in the region, hospitality will be very crucial, to pass this requirement through the value chain and set yourselves ahead of competition. We appreciate your choice to trail this path of success with a truly global leader like SGS in order to benefit from our experiences in other fast

economies. The SGS Hospitality Excellence Program is an SGS globally registered food safety surveillance

scheme that can be tailored to most food operations including hotels, restaurants, general catering, fast food operations, retail outlets and convenience stores. Robust and yet flexible, it can encompass all aspects of food hygiene and safety in these environments. The scheme can be applied to operations of varying complexity and risk, which allows businesses under the same ownership to be compared in a measurable way. The aim of the scheme is to support establishments to understand how to apply practical, 'hands-on' solutions to food safety & hygiene matters.

These solutions and their methods are key to fostering the principles that will build a positive food safety & hygiene culture within your establishment. The SGS Hospitality Excellence Program provides benchmark for the food operator to be measured against, and can form the basis of an award or performance measurement scheme. The frequency of audits is determined by previous audit performance, with prior agreement with the client.

Team members become more aware of the operating standards, which ultimately enhances service quality. Discerning guests can recognize the impact of the SGS Hospitality Excellence Program, which is likely to influence future buying decisions. SGS has one of the largest global networks of food specialists to undertake SGS Hospitality Excellence Program audits, operating to a documented system with strict quality control procedures applied in each country.

Both properties were in the grading and classification exercise, carried out by the Ministry of Tourism and the Uganda Tourism Board, earlier this year certified as 5star hotels and are broadly perceived as market leaders in the business hotel and resort market. With some 24 properties across Eastern Africa is Serena the undisputed market leader in terms of locations, service quality and operational standards.