New conference facility to serve business, transit guests in Changamwe

A new conference facility has been opened in Changamwe subcounty, opening up the area to MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism.

This comes as the hospitality industry experiences growth in Mombasa County, according to stakeholders.

The Premium Inn Restaurant and Conference Centre Changamwe, located at the Airport Centre Mall in Changamwe, is strategically placed to cater to people arriving from the SGR and Moi International Airport and those who are in transit.

“If you are a tourist going to Tsavo, Diani or Kilifi, this can be a place where you can stop for lunch, tea, a break or a brief planning meeting before you embark on or continue with your journey,” Premium Inn general manager Levi Subogi said during the launch on Wednesday.

This is the second Premium Inn facility, following the opening of Premium Inn Mombasa in the CBD in 2023.

“Over the last two-and-a-half years, business has been good, and we thank God. With the leadership of Mombasa County, I think we have been able to experience growth in the hospitality industry, which has enabled us, as Premium Inn, to open a new facility,” Subogi said.

Premium Inn director Imran Noorani said that despite being a business hub, Changamwe has lacked a premium, state-of-the-art conference facility for a long time.

Most meetings have been held either in the CBD in Mvita subcounty, Kisauni subcounty or Nyali subcounty, creating a need for a similar facility in Changamwe.

“As Changamwe continues to grow as a commercial and residential hub, we identified a clear need for a modern, high-quality conference and dining facility in Mainland West.

“Premium Inn, as a brand, has filled that gap by offering professional conference facilities, exceptional dining experiences and world-class hospitality services right here in the heart of Changamwe,” Noorani said.

He said the facility will be a game changer for the area and will provide businesses, organisations, families and visitors with a convenient venue for meetings, conferences, celebrations and memorable dining experiences, contributing to the economic growth and development of Changamwe.

Subogi said: “This is a hub, Changamwe. We have a lot of companies here, and all of them hold conferences. We have now been able to bring closer to them a very good, state-of-the-art conference facility where they can converge and hold their meetings.”

The Premium Inn Conference Centre can comfortably accommodate up to 300 people at a time for meetings and has a restaurant capacity of 120.

“We have started with three conference facilities with a total capacity of 220. We are moving to the next phase, and we will put up rooms within a very short period of time,” Subogi said.

Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi said the constituency hosts some of the biggest industries in the country that help drive Kenya’s economy, including the Port of Mombasa, Kenya Pipeline Company, Moi International Airport, KenGen and the defunct refinery, all of which play a significant role in the country.

“Changamwe is the gateway to Mombasa. Nobody comes to Mombasa without passing through Changamwe,” he said.

Mwinyi said all major banks in Kenya have branches in Changamwe.

“This is an indication that Changamwe is the place to be for investors. It was necessary for us to have such a conference facility in Changamwe because most business people need a place where they can meet and discuss issues while being close to the port and the airport,” the MP said.

He said he will now move all NG-CDF planning meetings and training sessions to the new conference facility as a show of support.

There is also a major Laptrust project that will be coming up in Changamwe, involving the construction of a five-star hotel, another conference facility and affordable housing.

“That will completely change the face of Changamwe,” Mwinyi said.

“There will no longer be a need to go to town for conferences and swimming because we now have those facilities here in Changamwe,” the MP said.

Mombasa County executive committee member for Trade, Tourism and Culture Mohamed Osman said Kenya hopes to hit the five million mark in international tourist arrivals, and 10 per cent of those visitors are expected to come to Mombasa.

“That means we expect 500,000 international tourists in Mombasa by 2027, and facilities like this will greatly help boost those numbers,” Osman said.

He said the new conference facility is also a sign of confidence in Mombasa as a destination.

Changamwe MCA Bernard Ogutu said Changamwe is ripe for investment.

He said the opening of the conference facility now completes the cycle for Changamwe, which now boasts amenities available in other subcounties.

“We have had a lot of investments in Changamwe, but we lacked a serious conference facility. Now we can compete with areas like Kisauni and Nyali, which host hotels with major conference facilities,” Ogutu said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:

The Premium Inn Changamwe conference facility features a restaurant and conference centre, as well as comfortable, air-conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi; and complimentary breakfast for travellers. The conference centre offers 24-hour security, free on-site parking and a business centre.