Hoteliers warm up to teleconferencing

By FREDRICK OBURA

The hotel industry is warming up to new technologies in boosting conferencing tourism. 

The sector is banking on the virtual technology to boost tourism fortunes. The ministry of tourism says conference tourism stakes a claim of up to 10 per cent of all tourists coming to the country.

Efforts such as face-lifting facilities like the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, sporting and marketing of the country  abroad in non traditional markets have turned around the industry’s fortunes, making Kenya a destination of choice for international meetings.

Serena and Tribe Hotel have launched separate partnerships with various Internet Service Providers in an effort to introduce teleprescence technology in their conference menu. “Kenya is now served by more than three submarine fibre optic cables, this is an opportunity that could be used to add value to local conferencing activities,” said Tribe Hotel General Manager Michael Flint.

“Fibre that comes with faster Internet speeds, could be used for virtual meetings to help companies save on costs and fight environmental degradation through carbon emission,” he said. AccessKenya Group in partnership with Polycom last week deployed the first High Definition  teleprecence solution at Nairobi’s Tribe Hotel. The telepresence solution is a technology that allows for a feeling of real presence in virtual meetings.

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Meet virtually

The solution allows people in different offices around the world to meet virtually via video call and transact business irrespective of distance. “In this time of high inflationary pressures and high cost of doing business, companies are looking to reduce overheads incurred on utility and concessional expenses such as travel,” said Kris Senanu, AccessKenya Group managing director.

“The teleprescence technology provides a unique opportunity for any business to achieve this all year round,” he said.  Flint said Tribe Hotel look at positioning itself as a conference destination within the region and beyond.“The high capacity Internet via the submarine fibre cable addresses challenges previously faced in launching teleprescence in the country and puts local hotels at a better position of using the new technologies.”

“It is now time for the country to diversify its tourism portfolio from the game to conferencing, hotels should take advantage of high capacity internet to market Kenya as a conferencing destination,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the Telepresence technology saying it’s a worthwhile investment for the hotel and will go a long way in growing the hotel’s conferencing portfolio.

 “This solution not only positions us as a premier conference facility, but also gives our visitors an experience they may not get anywhere else in this part of the market,” he said.

Signs that conference tourism is on a steady recovery path are evident with bookings for international conferences reaching optimal levels, and participants exceeding the available bed capacity in Nairobi.

This has convinced the State on the viability of establishing conference centres in other major cities in Kenya in the long run.

“In today’s climate, customers across East Africa are looking at better ways to conduct business, keep a firm control on costs, and get more productivity,” said Bob Collymore, Safaricom chief executive officer d last year.