Some hotels in Mombasa are enjoying brisk business thanks to the Madaraka Express train service on the new standard gauge railway (SGR) and Idd celebrations.
PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort general manager Imtyaz Mirza, said the hotel had 82 per cent occupancy bolstered by visitors who travelled to Mombasa by rail.
Of the 82 occupancy, he added, 25 per cent were guests who travelled from Nairobi to Mombasa by Madaraka Express.
“The trains bring us a lot of guests during weekends because it is an affordable mode of transport and also take shorter time to arrive in Mombasa compared to buses,” he said.
On the other hand, Mr Mirza said the hotel had been busy due to Muslims who are celebrating Idd-ul-Fitr.
“The local Muslims have boosted business as they came to our hotel for lunch, relaxation on the beach, swimming, while children had fun at the Aqua Park,” he added.
Heritage Hotels Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Hersi said Voyager Hotel had more than 90 per cent occupancy rate due to the train service and Idd celebrations.
He noted the hotel has been getting lots of guests during weekends as a result of Madaraka Express.
Mr Hersi attributed the rise in domestic bookings to the cheaper rail transport where locals are able to save cash for accommodation.
“Locals from Nairobi nowadays travel to Mombasa to enjoy their weekends as they spend only Sh700 to come here compared to Sh20,000 they used to spend on air transport,” he said.
Mr Hersi, who is also the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) chairman, said he expects hotels in Mombasa to continue enjoying booming business during weekends.
Reef Hotel's general manager, Michael Kai, said the hotel was busy as Muslims had come for lunch, swimming, resting on beach and leisure walks on the beach.
“During Idd-ul-Fitr, the hotel receives lots of guests from afternoon to evening as locals come here for lunch and beach activities,” he said.
Nyali International Beach Hotel general manager Lucy Kimani said the hotel prepared Swahili dishes to give their Muslim guests an Idd-ul-Fitr treat.
“We will also treat our Muslim visitors with Taarab music for them to celebrate Idd while there are fun events for children,” she added.
Hotels are expected to receive more international guests when the high season begins in mid-July.
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Showing posts with label Nyali International Beach Hotel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nyali International Beach Hotel. Show all posts
Friday, 30 June 2017
Tuesday, 13 June 2017
KENYA: Nyali Beach Hotel To be Refurbished In Anticipation Of More Tourists and SGR to woo tourists
Nyali International Beach Hotel in Mombasa is set to undergo renovations at a cost of Sh100 million to give the facility a facelift.
Built in 1946, the four-star property is one of the oldest hotels in Mombasa County.
According to the hotel’s general manager, Lucy Kimani, it has set aside the tidy sum for refurbishment in a bid to improve the quality of accommodation for its guests.
The hotel was last renovated five years ago.
The works will entail an upgrade of 179 rooms comprising executive suites, deluxe rooms, and rooms overlooking the gardens and villas.
The facelift will be done in phases, allowing it to still take in guests during the process.
We plan to upgrade the hotel from next month so that we can meet the needs of modern holidaymakers,” Ms Kimani told journalists at the hotel on Sunday.
Currently, she said, the hotel occupancy is averaging at between 40 and 50 per cent during the low tourist season.
However, following the launch of the standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger trains last week, the hotel is expecting its guest numbers to rise significantly when the high season begins next month.
During the high season, we expect to register between 80 per cent and 100 per cent occupancy bolstered by both local and international visitors, Ms Kimani noted.
The hotel is also marketing itself heavily to woo local tourists from the capital to take advantage of the new rail for weekend stays.
Majority of our domestic guests come from Nairobi. We are capitalising on the faster passenger trains to woo more Nairobians to Mombasa, she said, adding that it will be offering pocket-friendly packages to encourage more Kenyans to holiday at the coast.
Built in 1946, the four-star property is one of the oldest hotels in Mombasa County.
According to the hotel’s general manager, Lucy Kimani, it has set aside the tidy sum for refurbishment in a bid to improve the quality of accommodation for its guests.
The hotel was last renovated five years ago.
The works will entail an upgrade of 179 rooms comprising executive suites, deluxe rooms, and rooms overlooking the gardens and villas.
The facelift will be done in phases, allowing it to still take in guests during the process.
We plan to upgrade the hotel from next month so that we can meet the needs of modern holidaymakers,” Ms Kimani told journalists at the hotel on Sunday.
Currently, she said, the hotel occupancy is averaging at between 40 and 50 per cent during the low tourist season.
However, following the launch of the standard gauge railway (SGR) passenger trains last week, the hotel is expecting its guest numbers to rise significantly when the high season begins next month.
During the high season, we expect to register between 80 per cent and 100 per cent occupancy bolstered by both local and international visitors, Ms Kimani noted.
The hotel is also marketing itself heavily to woo local tourists from the capital to take advantage of the new rail for weekend stays.
Majority of our domestic guests come from Nairobi. We are capitalising on the faster passenger trains to woo more Nairobians to Mombasa, she said, adding that it will be offering pocket-friendly packages to encourage more Kenyans to holiday at the coast.
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