KENYA – Global hospitality chain Hilton has opened its Ngong Road hotel in Nairobi dubbed Double Tree by Hilton in what it said was part US$50million plan to establish about 100 hotels in Africa over the next five years.

The hotel chain said the rebranded and reopened 109 room hotel, formerly Amber Hotel, would tap into growing tourism numbers.

“With the number of travellers visiting Kenya growing year-on-year, we are delighted to be opening the first DoubleTree by Hilton property in Nairobi in such a prime location with easy access to corporate offices and tourist attractions in Nairobi,” said Nitin Gupta, general manager DoubleTree by Hilton.

The hotel will tap key nearby attraction sites including the Karen Blixen Museum, Giraffe Centre and the David Shedrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage.

The hotel’s owners will continue to own the facility under a franchising agreement.

In addition to the new hotel, Hilton Worldwide is also upgrading the 153-room Ubumwe Grande Hotel in Kigali, set to for completion by year-end.

Hilton currently operates 19 hotels in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Kenya, the company plans to open a hotel in Upper Hill to be located at the proposed Pinnacle Tower development, a building expected to be Africa’s tallest.

Hilton Worldwide is also developing a 171-room hotel, dubbed Garden Inn near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

The hotelier will operate the US$22.7 million-facility under a management contract.

Development in Kenya’s hospitality sector is booming with the country expected to get an additional 4,000 hotel beds in the next five years.

Business Daily