JW Marriot, a subsidiary of the Marriot Bonvoy global portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, opened a luxurious safari lodge in River Masai Mara, Talek, within Masai Mara National Reserve dubbed ‘JW Marriott Masai Mara’.
“Fostering meaningful connections and nourishing the soul is at the heart of the JW Marriott brand, so entering the luxury safari segment is a natural next step,” said Bruce Rohr, Global Brand Leader, JW Marriott.
“Offering our guests once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a deep connection to place, JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge balances the thrill of a game drive with thoughtful opportunities to switch off and take it all in.”
JW Marriott Masai Mara consists of a restaurant, lounge bar, spa, fitness centre, photographic studio, garden, and outdoor pool.
Additionally, the hotel entails 20 private tented rooms and suites which offer different kinds of high-end amenities at different rates.
The rooms and suites are categorized into; Deluxe, Deluxe Sunset, Executive, and Ambassadorial.
The opening of ‘JW Marriott Masai Mara’ was driven by; an increased number of international visitors to the national reserve who are drawn to the spectacular natural beauty of the savannah.
Two, the opportunity to observe the “Big Five” which includes lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinoceros, and elephants, and the annual Great Wildebeest Migration, an event that happens between June and September.
The opening aligns with Marriott Bonvoy’s global expansion plan to increase its presence in Kenya, with existing franchises such as Four Points Hotels, Autograph Collection Hotels, and W Hotel.
Marriot Bonvoy Presence in Kenya |
||
| Franchise | Location | Number of Rooms and Serviced Apartments |
| Sankara Autograph Collection Hotel | Westlands | 168 |
| Four Points Sheraton Nairobi Airport | Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) | 172 |
| Four Points Sheraton Nairobi Hurlingham | Kilimani | 96 |
| JW Marriott Global Trade Centre | Westlands | 368 |
| Total | 804 | |
Source: Cytonn Research
JW Marriott becoming part of the trend towards increased investment in Kenya’s hospitality sector shows great signs of recovery and resilience of the sector in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The JW Hospitality Group’s Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa 2022 report reflects this optimistic trend, revealing that 24 global hotel brands are currently exploring opportunities to develop new hospitality facilities in Kenya.
As a result, the country is set to see the addition of 3,155 new hotel rooms from 2023 to the coming years.
Nairobi Ranked 11th Among TripAdvisor’s Top Nature Destinations
