[Kenya] City Blue Hotels expands into Mombasa
Born in Rwanda, open in Uganda and now in Kenya, CityBlue Hotel’s recent takeover of the landmark Creekside hotel at Tudor Point in Mombasa is a declaration of the company’s expansion plan for Africa. Founded in January 2013 with the vision of introducing much-needed world class hospitality facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa’s mid-scale hotelscape, CityBlue Hotels is already sending shock waves through the region’s hospitality industry as Africa’s fastest growing, home-grown hotel group.
In the years since it was established, CityBlue has built a reliable and passionate team of local and international professionals from the ground-up; instilling discipline, growing standards and fostering a sense of family. CityBlue’s portfolio features two sub-brands which together capture the group spirit: Urban by CityBlue; the luxury boutique division offering gourmet dining services and CityBlue Hotel & Suites, the ultimate hotel for the business traveller.
Although it has been a difficult year in Kenya for hospitality and tourism practitioners, Group CEO Jameel Verjee is confident that he will reap the benefits of this daring move. Speaking at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Kigali, Rwanda before the takeover, he said, ‘’we plan to open the rebranded CityBlue Creekside Hotel & Suites next month as the value hotel of choice for the Mombasa market, as it takes off post-election’’. Already, the growing daily occupancy rates at the Creekside hotel for the month of January indicate that the market is ready for this surprise entrance. In the last five years, January occupancy rates have never been higher. The 100 room property’s exterior design is heavily influenced by classical Moorish architecture and features among other amenities a conference hall with a maximum capacity of 300, swimming pool and fitness centre.
CityBlue Hotels also recently opened a 76 room luxury hotel in Rwanda’s Eastern district of Nyagatare near the Akagera National park and Uganda border. This move made CityBlue Hotels Rwanda’s biggest hotel group with three, including two in Kigali. Currently there are plans to grow the CityBlue Hotels footprints into three other countries across the continent.
www.citybluehotels.com