Nairobi to get new budget hotel at Gigiri’s Village Market

OWNERS OF TRIBE HOTEL AND VILLAGE MARKET EYE BUDGET HOTEL SEGMENT

Information was received from hospitality sources in Nairobi, that the owners of the hugely successful 5 star Tribe Hotel and the adjoining Village Market in Gigiri, often referred to as Nairobi’s ‘Diplomatic Zone’ for the vicinity to the sprawling UN complex nearby, have decided to build a budget hotel of 200 rooms on the property.

To be launched on completion as the Green Hill Hotel, the new venture according to one source, will aim to capture the more budget minded visitors to Nairobi and in particular those with business at the UN offices, widening the scope from the previously strictly 5 star philosophy – and the operations of the Village Market, one of Nairobi’s premier retail malls – to include what will probably be a top of the range 3 star hotel.

Green Hills Investments, the owning and operating company for the Tribe Hotel and the Village Market, have reportedly sources some 1.2 billion Kenya Shillings for the construction of the new hotel, which will however require the demolition of a section of the Village Market to make space for the new venture and additional parking plus a link to the Tribe Hotel.

The news come hot on the heels of President Kibaki’s opening of the Kenya Red Cross Society owned The Boma Hotel earlier this week, the recent launch of Kenya’s first Best Western in the Hurlingham suburb of Nairobi and the announcement of the opening of the new Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi in May this year.

A number of additional new hotel ventures promoted by among others Radisson are due to open in 2013 and 2014, while global hotel giants like Marriot – opening their first East Africa property later this year in Kigali – and Hyatt – already operating a hotel in Dar es Salaam – are all said to be keenly eyeing Nairobi for further expansion on the African continent.

Welcome news for sure for Kenya’s tourism industry and in particular the MICE segment, where additional meeting and conference venues need support through additional new beds covering all rated ranges from 5 star luxury to simple 1 star budget accommodation. Watch this space.