TANZANIA (eTN) – Tanzania tourism will enter yet another tough business test at the end of this month when Kempinski Hotels franchise ends its management of two luxury tourist facilities in the East African safari country.
Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski in the central business district of Tanzania’s capital city of Dar es Salaam and Bilila Lodge Kempinski in Tanzania’s leading wildlife park of the Serengeti will cease to be managed by Kempinski Hotels franchise by the end of this month.
From the first day of August of this year, the two luxury tourist and business properties will continue to be operated as international luxury accommodation establishments under ASB Tanzania Limited, the partner company with Kempinski Hotels franchise.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and thanks to ASB Tanzania for the relationship in these two international luxury hotels through the past five years,” Ulrich Eckhardt, Kempinski’s Regional President for Middle East and Africa said.
“We wish them success with the two properties for the future. As one era ends, another begins as we have four openings planned for this year in the Middle East and Africa,” he added.
The Kempinski Hotel and Residences Palm Jumeirah will be the group’s first beach property in Dubai, a five-star, all-suites hotel opening this month. Kempinski adds another destination to its portfolio with the opening in October of Kempinski Resort Seychelles at Baie Lazare on Mahe Island.
A major project in Namibia will be the acquisition by Kempinski Hotel franchise of the Midgard Country Estate, following the takeover of Kempinski Mokuti Lodge three years ago.
In the Middle East, Kempinski Hotel City Center is scheduled to open its business doors in Manama, Bahrain, in September this year.
Being the longest-established luxury chain in Europe, Kempinski Hotels franchise is looking at the African continent with more investments with plans to open luxurious brands in Kenya, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Madagascar, Tunisia, Mozambique, South Africa, Mauritius, Nigeria, Angola, and Senegal.
Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski is Tanzania’s oldest and leading tourist hotel, once under the management of the government of Tanzania through the defunct Tanzania Tourist Corporation (TTC).
The Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski Dar es Salaam, or “Kili,” as it is fondly known by locals, opened its business on August 15, 2005 after the completion of a three-year rehabilitation of the former Kilimanjaro Hotel with a substantial cost of US$40 million.
Overlooking the Dar es Salaam port, the hotel boasts of 180 rooms and suites, each offering magnificent views over the Indian Ocean, and also features conference, business, and leisure facilities, making the hotel ideal for business travelers and leisure guests alike.
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