Only three hotels at Coast earn TRA’s five-star rating

Only three hotels at the Coast earned the five-star rating in the latest hotel classification by Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA).

According to the results published in a Kenya Gazette notice on August 5, Leopard Beach Resort and Swahili Beach Resort in Diani, Kwale County, and Medina Palms, Watamu, in Kilifi County, were rated as five-star establishments.

Mombasa County did not feature in the five-star rating as popular hotels such as Serena Beach Resort, Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Voyager Hotel got four-star rating.

Other four-stars included Leisure Lodge Beach & Golf Resort and Baobab Beach Resort, in Kwale, as well as Turtley Bay Beach Club and Diamond Dream of Africa, Kilifi.

Three-star hotels included Pangoni Beach Resort (Mombasa), Indian Ocean Beach Resort and Diani Sea Resort (Kwale) and Mnarani Club (Kilifi). Others were Crystal Bay Beach Resort, and Sandies Tropical Village (Kilifi), and Mombasa’s Isinya Resorts.

In the lodges category, four-stars include Sarova Shaba Game Lodge, Isiolo County, and Aberdares Country Club (Nyeri).

Four-star camps included Ashnil Samburu Camp (Isiolo), Sweetwaters Serena Camp (Nanyuki) and Samburu Intrepids Camp (Samburu) while three-stars include Mantis Mutara Tented Luxury Camp (Laikipia) and Sentrim Tsavo East (Taita-Taveta).

Three-star lodges include Samburu Simba Lodge (Isiolo), Borana Lodge (Laikipia), Serena Mountain Lodge (Nyeri), Giraffe Ark Camp Lodge (Nyeri) and Ashnil Aruba Lodge (Taita-Taveta).

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya praised the two five-star hotels from his county and also those rated four-star.

“The latest results by Tourism Regulatory Authority have shown that Diani has world-class hotels and I take the opportunity to congratulate the establishments for the good work,” said Mr Mvurya.

The governor said the county will continue to support the hotel industry by improving infrastructure, especially in the Diani resort town.

“My county government has already implemented a street lighting project in Diani and at the moment we are improving pavements for tourists to enjoy leisure walks,” he added.

Leopard Beach Resort’s general manager, Mr Mohamed Omar, was delighted with the results, saying the hotel deserved the top star rating. He attributed the rating to support from the hotel owners for financing its upgrading and staff for offering quality service to guests.

On Sunday, TRA director-general Lagat Kipkorir said the classification results were evidence that hotel standards at the Coast had degenerated.