By Ogova Ondego
Published October 6, 2017
A 109-guest room hotel on Ngong Road in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, shall be known as DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham by the end of 2017.
Amber Hotel, that opened for business in 2016, is relaunching under the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand after joining the Africa Growth Initiative that will see Hilton, a leading international hospitality company invest US$50 Million in sub-Saharan Africa.
Nairobi’s Amber, alongside Kigali (Rwanda)’s 153-room Ubumwe Grande Hotel that shall be re-named DoubleTree by Hilton Kigali City Centre when it fully converts in 2018, are among the first black African hotels to benefit from Hilton’s Africa Growth Initiative
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Hilton says Amber Hotel, which is currently undergoing a series of renovations, will continue to be operated by the owner under a franchise agreement through the leadership of its current General Manager, Elisha Katam.
Hilton says it shall use the $50 million over the next five years in converting some 100 hotels with a 20000-room capacity ‘in multiple African markets into Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand, DoubleTree by Hilton and Curio Collection by Hilton.
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Patrick Fitzgibbon, Hilton’s Senior Vice President of Development in charge of Europe, Middle East and Africa, says “The model of converting existing hotels into Hilton branded properties has proved highly successful in a variety of markets and we expect to see great opportunities to convert hotels to Hilton brands through this initiative.”
Fitzgibbon says the strategy enables Hilton “to rapidly grow our portfolio and delivers returns for owners by increasing exposure of their business to more international, inter-regional and domestic travellers, and specifically to our 65 million-plus Hilton Honors members, who look to stay with us in our suite of industry-leading brands. We see huge potential here in key cities and airports, as well as allowing us to develop our offering in resorts and safari lodges.”
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He says all the hotels under the Hilton franchise “will receive all the take advantage of Hilton’s innovative technology platforms such as online check-in and the ability to choose individual rooms when booking via the Hilton Honors App.”
Hilton, that is said to be operating 19 hotels in the Sub Saharan Africa, says it has a further 29 in its pipeline.
