To further establish its presence in the city, the company will rebrand Nairobi Safari Club as Nairobi Safari Club by Swiss-Belhotel.
Embedding standards
The transition, culminating in a full takeover, is slated for 1 March 2024.
Initially, the focus will be on embedding Swiss-Belhotel International’s standards and minimal branding, with subsequent plans to refine the property’s offerings.
Standalone all-suites
Built in 1984, Nairobi Safari Club is the city’s only all-suite hotel and stands as a landmark in its central area. The four-star property boasts 146 rooms, ranging from studio, panorama rooms to executive and presidential suites.
Owned by Mukawa (Hotels) Holdings Limited, the hotel offers extensive conferencing facilities, including exclusive private rooms on the top floor.
Legacy and expertise fusion
The directors of Mukawa (Hotels) Holdings Limited, Clare Njeri Githunguri and Lilian Joy Nyagaki Githunguri, stated: “Joining forces with Swiss-Belhotel International is not just a business decision, but a commitment to elevating the Nairobi Safari Club experience and setting new hospitality benchmarks.
“The fusion of our legacy with Swiss-Belhotel International’s global expertise will craft a distinctive hospitality experience for travellers in Nairobi.”
Accelerated growth
Gavin M Faull, chairman and president of Swiss-Belhotel International, said: “As the tourism industry continues to grow in Africa, we are seeing an increased appetite for our world-class brands from hotel owners in the continent.
“Our accelerated growth trajectory in Nairobi reflects our confidence in the Kenyan market.”
Significant milestone
Laurent A Voivenel, senior vice president – operations and development, EMEA and India, and senior vice president – group human resources and talent development at Swiss-Belhotel International, added: “This is a significant milestone for us. With an eye on the changing market dynamics, we are strategically building our portfolio to inspire more guests to experience our brands and hotels.
“Nairobi Safari Club’s iconic status combined with Swiss-Belhotel’s operational excellence will undoubtedly create a unique hospitality offering in the heart of Nairobi.”
Strategic signing
This strategic signing by Swiss-Belhotel International is intended to amplify its presence in the African continent and aligns with its broader vision of capitalising on emerging markets with robust potential.
The other recent Nairobi signing was for Swiss-Belinn Nairobi, an 89-key site arriving in Q1 2024, while the 125-room Swiss-Belresort Zanzibar will open on the Tanzanian island in Q1 2025.
