By Ferdinand Mwongela
Long before it was reborn, the new Laico Regency Hotel was mired in controversy. Taking on the most scandalous hotel in the country and taking over the reins of ‘power’ from the controversial owners of the Grand Regency Hotel was no mean feat, but the new owners moved in swiftly and decisively, demonstrating to all that they meant serious business when it came to their latest prized acquisition.
Six months after news erupted of the controversial sale, the dust has finally settled and the hotel still stands, imposing and grand as ever. Where once stood the words ‘Grand Regency Hotel’, the signage now boldly proclaims its new owners and with it came major changes intended to raise the hotel standards to those of the Laico chain of hotels and resorts.
Laico Regency Nairobi joins 10 other five-star hotels around the continent, namely Laico Umubano in Kigali (the ‘latest’ kid on the block); Laico Lake Victoria in Entebbe, Uganda; Laico Maya Maya in Brazzaville, Congo; Laico Okoume Palace in Libreville, Gabon; Laico Karthago in Djerba; Laico L’amitie and Laico El Farouk in Bamako, Mali; Laico Ouga in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso; Laico Karthago in Hammamet and Laico Hotel des Congres in Tunis, Tunisia, the headquarters of the chain. Each departmental head of each hotel, including Kenya’s, reports to the overall operations director who is based in Tunis.
As soon as Laico got the official green light to take over Grand Regency, a new management was put in place. The services of all staff working for the Grand Regency Hotel were terminated and, depending on individual contracts, all members received a hefty retirement packages.
Restructuring plans
Consequently, an intensive recruitment drive for new staff to work for the new Laico Regency commenced. Priority was given former Grand Regency employees who had the desired professional skills and experiences. New contracts were drawn up and the dawn of a new era began.
"Being part of a global chain means that any staff member can be assigned to work in any part of the world where Laico has a hotel," explains Jennifer Wanza, the Hotel’s Communications Manager. "It also means that a client can easily transfer from one hotel in the chain to another."
Laico Regency is currently effecting ambitious restructuring plans which will change the face and dÈcor of the hotel to be in line with the chain’s corporate colours and brand, a move that Wanza lauds. "The refurbishments are long overdue," she says. "Grand Regency operated for 15 years without a single face lift. A five-star hotel must refurbish every five years!"
Evidence of the renovations is evident right from the entrance with the signage declaring the hotel’s new name (in Arabic and English). The doorman is dressed in Laico colours. At the atrium, more plants have been added to give the place a cool feeling and a notion of privacy. To my pleasant surprise, the magnificent mural of a giant Maasai earring that covers one entire wall with its bright collage of colours right from the ground floor to the 12th floor is still there. The view is still spell binding from the glass-walled lifts.
At the top most floor, the presidential suite still reigns. Sadly, the red carpet shows signs of wear and tear but Wanza quickly informs us it will be replaced soon. The suite comprises a lounge, a dining-cum-mini-boardroom, a kitchenette and the sleeping quarters from where one can access the Jacuzzi room. An adjoining room is usually reserved for the presidential guards. The presidential suite will be among the first rooms to undergo a complete overhaul.
Jazz bar
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A tour of the other rooms, which include executive suites and normal deluxe rooms, show signs of looming changes.
"We are in the process of contracting professional designers," says Wanza. While sections of the hotel are renovated, normal operations will proceed. "We plan to refurbish in phases such that one or two floors will be blocked for the renovations and once complete, they will be opened after which another floor will be blocked for the same."
Wanza says renovations are expected to continue throughout the year. The hotel’s bars and restaurants have not been left out in the facelift. At Robertos, the Italian restaurant, gardeners are busy planting a small garden. The walls already reflect the new Laico colours, which include warm brown tones and rich earthy colours.
Laico Regency is also working on a Jazz Bar which is expected to be complete by the end of this month. This is part of the hotel’s efforts to diversify focus and attract more clients, including the young, upwardly mobile group.
"The Jazz Bar will kick off with special discounted prizes," says Wanza. "One of our main attractions will be a karaoke night on Fridays."
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