Pullman Hotel Nairobi: French hospitality firm Accor to Open 1st Premium Brand in Kenya

• Pullman Hotel Nairobi will begin operations in June 2024
• Kenya has 31 hotels with a total of 4,268 rooms in the pipeline with an average room size of approximately 138 square feet.
• Pullman Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill has similarly adopted the concept of “workspitality” under the co-working spaces brand WOJO.

French multinational hospitality group, Accor will unveil its first premium Pullman branded hotel in Kenya next month. This will add to Accor’s offering in the Kenyan market, which includes Fairmont the Nofolk and Mövenpick Hotel & Residences in Nairobi among others.

According to Pullman Hotels & Resorts Director of Sales and Marketing Susan Waringa, the Pullman Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill which is set to open its doors to guests in June this year will have 162 rooms offering premium hospitality.

“We’re excited about the opening of Pullman Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill, catering to the needs of the hyper-connected business and leisure travellers. We aim to provide a comprehensive hospitality experience cantered around a blend of work and leisure,” said Waringa.

She added that the hotel boasts state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces catering to both small and large groups, setting the stage for unparalleled business and leisure experiences.

“We eagerly anticipate the opportunities ahead and are committed to collaborating with stakeholders in the hotel industry to enhance Kenya’s tourism sector. The government, particularly through the Ministry of Tourism, has been very supportive in promoting tourism, catering to both international and local tourists,” added Waringa.

Read Also: Nairobi, Mombasa hotels post improved performance in July

Pullman Hotels & Resorts is the latest hotel franchise to establish operations in the country after JW Marriott opened its second property in Kenya a month earlier.

Pullman Nairobi Upper Hill has similarly adopted the concept of “workspitality” under the co-working spaces brand WOJO.

The innovative approach combines workspace and hospitality to cater to the changing demands of modern travellers and professionals.

The hospitality industry in Kenya has been showing robust growth, especially in the accommodation and food services sector, which experienced a 26 per cent surge in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the previous year’s 17 per cent. This growth contributes significantly to Kenya’s economic development.

Pullman Hotel Nairobi: a new era

Pullman Nairobi Upper Hill’s entry into the Kenyan market reflects a new era of hospitality, appealing to discerning travellers and supporting the country’s tourism sector.

Kenya’s rich culture and natural beauty make it an appealing destination for both local and international tourists, and Pullman Nairobi Upper Hill aims to enhance this appeal with its top-notch amenities and personalized service.

Moreover, Pullman Hotel Nairobi is not just offering traditional hospitality services but also integrating the concept of “workspitality” through the WOJO co-working spaces brand.

This innovative approach combines workspace and hospitality to meet the evolving needs of modern travellers and professionals, focusing on creating a productive and collaborative work environment that prioritizes comfort, convenience, and community

Kenya’s hospitality secto’r performance

This year Kenya dropped to the seventh position in Africa among countries with the highest number of hotel rooms under development by international hotel chains.

The latest survey by Lagos-based W Hospitality Group, and the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) shows that the country dropped two positions from fifth recorded in 2023.

Kenya has 31 hotels with a total of 4,268 rooms in the pipeline with an average room size of approximately 138 square feet.

North Africa continues to dominate in new projects with Morocco and Egypt together comprising almost 31 per cent of the total for the 54 countries on the continent.

Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, top the continent on the number of hotel rooms under development followed by Ethiopia, Cape Verde, Tunisia, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria and Ghana closing the top 10.

“When analysed according by country and by the number of rooms in their pipeline, the top ten countries represent 69 per cent of the total hotels in the survey, and 74 per cent of the rooms,” reads the report in part.

The world’s largest hotel chain, Marriott International has the largest number of pipeline hotels and rooms; followed by Hilton hotel while French multinational hospitality company Accor comes third.

Over the past year, there have been significant trends in the regional hospitality sector, with North and sub-Saharan Africa experiencing a strong growth of over nine per cent.

Read Also: Africa hotel room developments: Kenya suffers blow as it drops to seventh

Additionally, there was an increase in the number of very large hotels, with the average size of the top 10 hotels growing from 723 rooms in 2023 to 770 rooms in 2024.

Resorts also saw rapid growth, with a 32 per cent increase compared to 2023. Zanzibar stood out as a particularly strong performer in this context.