State pumps Sh150 million into Mombasa Beach Hotel renovation

Tourists on holiday within the Watamu's Garoda Resort's beach front, enjoy a boat ride after visiting the Watamu Marine Park, July 25, 2017. The number of tourists along the Coastal beach hotels is slowly increasing as the high season continues. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD.

The Mombasa Beach Hotel will get a Sh150 million facelift courtesy of the Government.

The aim is to improve the tenancy capacity of the hotel that is owned by Kenya Safari Lodges and Hotels (KSLH), whose parent organisation is the Kenya Tourism Development Corporation. The hotel has 150 rooms.

According to the hotel's general manager, Victor Shitakha, a tender for the works has been put out and construction will start in October.

"Works will be carried out in phases and there shall be no total closure. We shall be renovating big style.

The rooms, the lounge and reception area, the swimming pools will receive a complete facelift, creating a fabulous and relaxing beach/pool atmosphere,’’ said Mr Shitakha, who also doubles up as the general manager,chief executive officer of KSLH, which also owns the Voi and Ngulia Safari lodges.

Other areas to be improved are the kitchen mains and conference rooms.

"We have already embarked on a rigorous in-house staff training to uplift standards. We shall also have a state-of-the-art water desalination plant for our hotel use,’’ he said.

The hotel used to be a must-visit resort and at one time hosted former Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) president Mobutu Sese Seko, among other big names.

Shitakha said the planned works are designed to preserve the heritage and character of the original building while giving it a contemporary new look.

“We believe protecting and enhancing the character of this iconic hotel still remains top priority and is essential for KSLH’s continued positive development and growth,’’ Shitakha said.

He added that the past couple of years have been difficult for the tourism industry, although the sector has remained resilient in the face of adverse publicity occasioned by, among others, travel advisories and insecurity concerns largely over Al Shabaab in parts of the country.

"With such substantial investment here, we are telling the travel world that Kenya and Mombasa Beach Hotel is open for business and leisure travel,’’ Shitakha said.

The interim secretary of the Tourism Professional Association, Sam Ikwaye, lauded the Government for the cash injection.

"This is very exciting news for the tourism sector in Mombasa. Due to neglect of the facility, the Government has been losing millions of shillings in revenue.

Many stakeholders, including suppliers and the huge professional workforce, were forced to exit to other destinations, depriving Mombasa of the professional touch in service,’’ he said.