by: Michele Vollaro | April 2, 2024
Kenya plans to open 31 new hotels by the end of the year, with a total of 4,268 rooms, signaling the continued recovery of the tourism and hotel sector as visitor numbers increase.
This represents an increase from the 25 new establishments opening in 2023, according to W Hospitality Group’s Hotel Chain Development Pipeline Africa report. Ongoing and planned construction will add 4,268 rooms, exceeding last year’s 3,729 units.
In 2023, Marriott International Group opened the 20-room JW Marriot Lodge in Maasai Mara, while Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts opened its 128-room serviced suites in Nairobi. Additionally, Thailand’s Dusit International reopened the 100-room Dusit Princess Residences Westlands and CityBlue’s c3 opened the 15-room Cowrie Shell Residences in Mombasa.
The increase in investment in hospitality follows the sector’s recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the new openings expected this year are the Kwetu Nairobi and the Curio Collection by Hilton in the Gigiri area of the city. The JW Marriott Hotel is the latest addition to Nairobi’s hotel portfolio, becoming the tallest hotel in the city at 35 floors.
The increase in tourist arrivals, from 1.48 million in 2022 to 1.95 million in 2023, reflects growth of 31.5%, with positive implications for the local economy, including increased revenue, job opportunities and overall development of the tourism sector.
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