SERENA HOTELS NEWSLETTER
December 2019
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We are counting days to usher in a fresh new decade! And as we look into setting new goals, we can’t help overlook the remarkable milestones we have made this year. Allow us to mention a few highlights this year:
Refurbishment News
- Completion of the refurbishment of Nairobi Serena Hotel.
- Completed soft refurbishments of Selous Serena Camp & Serena Mivumo River Lodge.
- The opening of our new Pan-Asian Restaurant H&S at Nairobi Serena Hotel.
Signature Experiences
- Launch of Architectural, Cultural and Conservation Tour.
- Wildlife experience continues to unrivaled with sighting of the world’s most trafficked mammal (Pangolin) at the Selous and tree climbing lions at Lake Manyara National Park.
Awards and Accolades
New Developments
- All our Kenyan Camps, Lodges & Resort in Kenya became Gold-Eco Rated.
- Serena Hotels Tanzania introduced a new Healing Earth Spa concept.
2019 has definitely set the pace for the exciting new things to look forward in 2020 such as the launch of Goma Serena Hotel, our new gem in DR Congo early next year.
Now let’s take a bow to 2019, and raise a glass to the new year!
festive season offers. |
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The most wonderful time of the year is almost here with us! While we may not have snow and mistletoe, the sun & sand, the enchanting vistas, joy and spirit in the air is magical in its very own way. What makes Christmas special is the spread of cheer and joy amongst family and friends. This is also the best time to see the beautiful settings of Africa’s most enchanting cities. ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’ is ready awe you in the impeccable beauty that it is renowned for. Nairobi, ‘The City Under Sun’ awaits to thrill you with a touch of wild just in the heart of the city. If you rather visit the destination preferred by the royals or celebrities alike, then, ‘The Pearl of Africa’ will befitting. Cultural immersion can be best experienced at Dar es Salaam- a city influenced by a fusion of cultures. Seafood lovers can indulge at an array of fresh fish directly from the Indian Ocean in Maputo, Mozambique. As you are gearing up for this delightful season, Serena Hotels has already set the celebratory tone for these festivities with our team of staff equally hard at work to make every moment count. Whether you are staying with us in these cities or visiting our facilities; sharing our festive spirit with you is what makes this time of the year special to us.
We wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
To book your stay with us, please contact our sales team: Email: cro@serena.co.ke Tel: +254 732 123 333/ +254 709 998 333 |
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This year Serena has been on a winning streak, even raising the bar higher by being in the world’s most coveted list such as CNN Travel, “7 Luxurious Hotels Loved by Royalty” and Travel + Leisure Magazine “The Top 100 Hotels in the World”. Winning five awards at the World Travel Awards was indeed momentous. Regionally, Serena Hotels has also achieved grand milestones. For instance, all Kenya properties are now Gold-Eco Rated Certified for carrying out operations eco-consciously. To cement this, Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp and Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge scooped two Eco-Warrior Awards under the “Social Impact” category. Zanzibar Serena Hotel emerged the Runner –up the Best Stone Town Hotel in Zanzibar in the Minister’s Choice Awards. The Mombasa Business Awards recognized Serena Beach Resort & Spa with an accolade for “Best Service in Tourism and Hospitality”. While Polana Serena Hotel was awarded with “Best Growth in Revenue” in hotel industry by KPMG 2019 Survey. Book your stay with us to understand why our brand keeps on winning awards and hearts of our guests.
Visit our awards page to learn more about these awards. |
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RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL IS A FORCE FOR GOOD
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Responsible travel is fast becoming second to nature as the more and more travelers opt to leave a positive impact while relishing in meaningful experiences wherever they travel. This include destinations that are more conscious of the environment they operate in as well as one that preserves the heritage and culture. Serena Hotels functions within the fundamental tenets of sustainability that focuses on innovative programs that respond to the needs of the environment, economy and communities in which it operates as well as aligned to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This is evident in how all Serena properties are keen on environmental conservation, proper waste management, water and energy efficiency, promotion and preservation of culture and community development. We have had significant success in reducing our single use plastic consumption. Since 2017, in a phased manner we have eliminated single use plastic guest amenities bottles. As result, we have avoided 230,000 miniature plastic bottles going to the landfill annually. This year, we eliminated the use of plastic straws for guest drinks and in 2020, we aim to eliminate all plastic water bottles and find an alternative eco-friendly option. Our journey and efforts to move from fossil based energy to renewable energy sources has evolved over the years with the installation of 3 solar power plants; 4 solar water heating systems; 2 Hybrid systems at several of our properties. This has resulted in the avoidance of 1,949 tons of CO2 being released into the atmosphere since installation. To extract the same amount Carbon Dioxide naturally, 150,000 trees would have to be planted in ten years. Serena believes responsible travel is a force for good and can inspire travellers to positively impact the environment.
Visit our website to make your reservation to all our Eco-rated properties and learn how you can be part of sustainability initiatives. |
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EXPERIENCES TO LOOK-OUT FOR IN 2020
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As we leave the festivities of the holidays behind, the new year brings a lot of new experiences for you to explore. While, beach and bush are quintessential to Africa, there are an array of authentic experiences every traveler ought to try out in 2020. Cultural travel is fast gaining momentum across the world and we are not left behind as our destinations are bursting with fusion of cultures beckoning to be unearthed. Not only does Serena conserve the natural settings of its specific locales but all our properties incorporate aspect of the surrounding cultures either in its design, interiors and even experiences. Cultural immersion is innate to our brand and we have a special Architectural, Cultural and Conservation Tours curated just to make you connect better with our destinations. This tour is currently being offered at Nairobi Serena Hotel, Serena Beach Resort & Spa and Kampala Serena Hotel. Indulge your taste buds with the best culinary journey with a mélange of authentic cuisine to delight in. Seafood lovers will particularly be fond of the special ‘catch of the day’ prepared at our beach destinations. Additionally, travelers can try a hand in the cooking lessons & take back home new culinary skills and recipes. Wildlife experience continues to be unrivalled with a new wave of migration to look forward to-the bird migration when the colonies of flamingos are in perfect splendor at Lake Elmenteita, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The opening of Goma Serena Hotel, in Goma also presents more thrilling experiences such as scaling the volcanic Mt. Nyirangongo that has a beautiful “Instagram-able” caldera lake on the summit.
Share with us some of the authentic experiences or bucket-list items you would like to tick off in 2020.
Facebook: serenahotels Twitter: @serenahotels Instagram: @serenahotels
Make us part of your new year’s travel goals for unbound experiences, visit our experiences page for more here. |
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