Downturn forces Kenya hotel closure

HEMINGWAYS Watamu Hotel
has decided to close from
April 15 to November 30
due to a “serious downturn
in tourism business to the
Kenya coast,” said Alastair
Addison, ceo of Hemingways
Holdings.
“The decision was not
taken lightly, however we
are taking the opportunity to
re-look at the business model
that is Hemingways Watamu.
During the closure, work will
commence on the first phase
of the apartment project and
initially we intend to offer 18
luxury apartments for sale
and subsequent rental to the
market place,” said Alastair.
The recently refurbished
north wing of 26 luxury
bedrooms will reopen on
December 1, operating
as a boutique-style hotel.
More details on the overall
operations of the hotel will
be revealed as the reopening
period approaches.
The other Hemingways
Collection properties in
Nairobi and Ol Seki Mara are
operating as normal.