InterContinental takes over JKIA-based hotel
Date: April 2018
Location: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya
Name: Will be Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport (from Lazizi Premiere) – five star
PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NMG
No. of Keys: 144
Seller: Mumbai based, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, owner of 75 hotels in 50 locations in India (just 3 hotels in Africa, after the sale).
It was one of the last big acquisitions of 2016 when China’s Louvre Hotels Group, owned by Jin Jiang International, bought a majority stake in India’s Sarovar Hotels for US $50 million.
The hotel sits on a 1.5-acre plot. It features three conference rooms targeting business meetings, as well as a rooftop pool, spa, gym, coffee shop, bar, and café.
Buyer: Kiran Patel, who has appointed IHG to manage. ”Shivan Patel, Director, The Lazizi Premiere Limited: “We are delighted to partner with a strong global player such as IHG to build our presence in Nairobi.
Crowne Plaza has solidified its reputation as one of the top business hotel brands, globally and it made perfect sense for us to bring the brand to this location.
Coupled with IHG’s strong, global distribution system and best in class revenue management tools, we are confident in success of the hotel. We look forward to demonstrating the hospitality to our guests, that both Kenya and Crowne Plaza are known for.”
It is one of the two hotels at JKIA, with the other being Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport Hotel, a 172-room property under the Marriott International umbrella.
The two hotels are targeting the passenger traffic at the airport as Kenya entrenches its status as a regional transport hub.
International arrivals and departures in Kenya —most through JKIA — stood at 2.8 million last year, according to the Economic Survey 2018.
Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport Hotel will be the second under the Crowne Plaza brand in Kenya.
Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG said: “In line with our strategy to grow our presence in key markets across the African continent, we are delighted to be working with The Lazizi Premiere Limited to expand the Crowne Plaza portfolio in Kenya.
THPT Comment: IHG currently have 25 operating hotels across eight countries in Africa, and we believe they are looking at expanding their presence further by more than 27%, in 3-5 years.
First Seen: Business Daily Africa