Hemingways Collection, a group of 5-star luxury hotels in Kenya resumed operations in its Nairobi and Watamu resorts on Tuesday.
According to the Group’s chief executive officer Alastair Addison, both facilities are fully operational including the booking of rooms, the restaurants, spa, and other amenities.
In addition, its staff has been recalled and trained in line with the World Health Organisation’s hygiene and sanitation guidelines.
“The Covid-19 preventative measures we have adopted go above the minimum government standards to offer complete comfort and security to our guests while ensuring the unique experience of staying at Hemingways Collection is retained,” he said.
“As a group, we are positive that Hemingways Nairobi’s and Hemingways Watamu’s reopening is good news within the hospitality industry. We have been hit hard as a sector and our move to re-open charts our path to recovery. We know it won’t be easy but we are delighted to, once again, be welcoming guests to Hemingways Collection,” said Mr Addison.
However, its Ol Seki Hemingways Mara remains closed.
In 2019, Hemingways Nairobi was the only hotel in Kenya that was featured in the Africa Awards.
It was ranked 13 on Top 25 Hotels – Africa, position 14 on Top 25 Luxury Hotels – Africa (14th) and was 23rd on Top 25 Hotels for Service – Africa.
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Other facilities within the hospitality sector that have partially resumed include hotel chain, Sarova Hotels which reopened its two Nairobi Hotels, Sarova Stanley, and Sarova Panafric.
The partial reopening will see operations resume at Sarova Stanley’s Thorn Tree restaurant and Sarova Panafric’s eatery wing after the hotel chain suspended operations in all its 7 hotels and resorts in March this year, namely; Sarova Stanley, Sarova Woodlands, Sarova Whitesands, Sarova Mara, Sarova Shaba, Sarova Lion Hill, and, Sarova Panafric.
The chain announced that it would stop managing the Sarova Taita Hills Game Lodge and Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge effective July this year.
“The reopening signals the hospitality sector’s gradual recovery backed by various conducive measures by the National Government such as the extension of working hours for hotels and restaurants from the previous closing time of 5.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. daily, a move that is expected to see hotels and restaurants raking in more revenues attributed to the increase in operating hours. We expect the hospitality sector’s recovery to commence in the near term on the back of government policies aimed at cushioning the sector,” according to Cytonn Investment Analysts.
