Dubai-based hotel management company Aleph Hospitality has signed a franchise agreement with Marriott International for a new Protea Hotel in Kisumu, Kenya.
Kisumu is Kenya’s third-largest city.
Aleph Hospitality will operate the new-build property on behalf of the asset owner, Bluewater Hotels and it is scheduled to open in January 2022.
Bani Haddad, Founder and Managing Director of Aleph Hospitality, said: “As Aleph Hospitality continues to expand across Africa and the Middle East, we are delighted to once again collaborate with Marriott International, following the signing of Four Points by Sheraton Monrovia earlier this year.”
Edward Guda, Managing Director, Bluewater Hotels, said the hotel marks a first for Kisumu’s burgeoning hospitality industry.
“As the hotel owner, we benefit from the reputation and distribution of a major global brand, coupled with the regional knowledge and expertise of Aleph Hospitality, known for its world-class approach to independent hotel management.”
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The hotel will feature 125 rooms with striking lake views, three food and beverage outlets, a rooftop infinity pool, gym, spa and more than 500m2 of meeting space.
Ideally positioned for domestic leisure, corporate and MICE business, Protea Hotel by Marriott Kisumu is located just 9km from Kisumu International Airport and directly adjacent to the Kisumu Yacht Club and Kisumu Impala Sanctuary.
Aleph Hospitality, which has earmarked a pipeline of 35 hotels in the Middle East and Africa by 2025, manages hotels directly for owners, either on a franchise basis for branded properties or as a white-label operator for independently-branded hotels.
According to Cytonn Investments, the increased interest in Kisumu’s hospitality sector is sparked by a vibrant tourism sector, which has shown a steady rise in tourism numbers since 2015, recording a CAGR of 5.3% in tourist numbers visiting museums, historical sites and the Impala Sanctuary, to 494,000 in 2018 from 422,700 in 2015 according to KNBS Economic Survey 2019.
“Kisumu is recognized as one of the major tourist destinations in Kenya, partly due to its numerous attractions such as Lake Victoria, national parks such as the Impala Sanctuary and its rich cultural heritage. The tourist activities have resulted in a vibrant economy boosting the hospitality and retail sectors as a result of long-stay visitors.”
