Nakuru hotel investment boost

Nakuru’s thriving brand as a get-away destination has attracted new investments in the hospitality sector as investors eye a share of the business. Most recently, the town lying on the floor of the Great Rift Valley has seen construction of new hotels such as Oyster Shell, Top Cliff, Capital Hill, Amani Guest House, Hotel Bison, Olo Ika Country Lodge and Milele Resort among others.

Besides accommodation, the hotels offer conferencing facilities, making Nakuru top on the priority lists for organisations, groups and individuals seeking get-away, team building activities and conferences. Popular facilities in and around Nakuru are also planning expansions to up bed capacity, signaling renewed competition with new entrants for clientele in this niche. Lake Elementaita Country Lodge, which lies on the shores of Lake Elementaita, for instance plans to build an additional eight rooms for accommodation.

The lodge already has 62 luxury rooms that include eight cottages, eight executive rooms, 24 duplexes and 22 standard rooms. “Due to the high demand for accommodation, we have planned to construct eight more rooms to cater for our clients. We can also accommodate 700 people in our four conference halls,” said Daniel Saleng’o, the chief executive.

The lodge charges Sh15,000 a night for a cottage, Sh13,000 for executive rooms, Sh12,000 for duplexes and Sh10,000 for a standard room. Boniface Muhia, former Nakuru Business Association chairman, said the town’s central location geographically makes it a good destination for meetings and conferences. “The town has also a potential of growing more due to its room for expansion,” said Muhia, adding that this has attracted many investors in the hospitality industry.

Other players in the industry in and around Nakuru include Merica group of hotels, Hotel Bontana, Hotel Cathay, Lake Nakuru Lion Hill, Sarova Hotel, Waterbuck, Nuru Palace, Avenue Suites, Graceland, Jumuiya Guest House and Hotel Hot Springs.

Average rates for accommodation per night range from Sh4,500 bed and breakfast, Sh5,500 half-board and Sh6,500 for full board in a single room. Double room prices a night range from Sh6,700 bed and breakfast, Sh8,500 half board and Sh10,000 full board; while triple room goes for Sh7,500 bed and breakfast, Sh10,500 half board and Sh13,500 for full board.