Boom for hotels as more couples wed, firms organise staff parties
Tourists at Serena Beach Hotel in Mombasa on November 10, 2018. Hotels are enjoying booming business, thanks to the wedding peak season that starts from August and a rise in corporate end-year parties and bridal and baby showers. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Most couples wed in December, a season known for merry making.
- The hospitality industry is cashing in on the sandy white beaches to attract more international and local tourists.
- Demand for venue and catering services will surge in the next one month.
Hotels are enjoying booming business, thanks to the wedding peak season that starts from August and a rise in corporate end-year parties and bridal and baby showers.
Most couples wed in December, a season known for merry making.
“The boom has given local hoteliers massive business opportunities as many prefer Mombasa as a holiday destination. The peak wedding season in Kenya begins in August to December,” PrideInn Westlands general manager, Mr Andrew Makau, said.
He noted weddings and corporate end-year events are some of the activities which have been keeping hotels busy in Nairobi, a season when majority of holiday-makers prefer coastal destinations.
SANDY SANA
At the Coast, the hospitality industry is cashing in on the sandy white beaches to attract more international and local tourists.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye said the region is also enjoying booming business from end-year parities.
“Our products have always been intact. We normally sell the beach product, we have culture and weather that we sell. Corporates are also coming in for end-year parties, we also have couples coming for their weddings,” Mr Ikwaye said. The region is also capitalising on conferences.
HISTORICAL PRODUCTS
“Coast has a very excellent historical products like Fort Jesus, the Gede Ruins and many others. The coastal cuisine has also been packaged as a product attracting many people,” Mr Ikwaye added.
Despite Mombasa attracting more holiday-makers compared to Nairobi, Mr Makau said in the capital the industry is enjoying good business as a result of the weddings, bridal showers, baby showers and corporate end-year activities. Mr Jackton Amutala, the Nairobi regional manager at PrideInn Hotels said the number of weddings increase with December being the peak.
According to him, demand for venue and catering services will surge in the next one month as couples seek to do their weddings before the year ends.
“Since October, our hotel has been hosting at least two weddings each weekend. In December, we may hit over four weddings. We are also sourced to provide catering services," he said.
