Starbucks Hotel brings luxury to Eldoret

With a heated outdoor swimming pool, executive suites, gym and sauna, the new Starbucks Hotel is in a class of its own in Eldoret town.

For Sh12,000 a night, a visitor can enjoy the heated swimming pool whose temperature can be regulated to one’s specifications. Its state-of-the-art conference facility undergoing final touches will host up to 500 people.

For those with children, a playground with giant bouncy castles will keep them busy as the parents enjoy the sauna. The hotel is eyeing a star rating to lure international visitors.

“With 103 guest rooms from 93 and a perfect fitness section, then we will be ripe to be star rated,” said Faith Wangari, the hotel director.

With a conference facility, more hotel rooms, a swimming pool, gym and sauna, the hotel is targeting business travellers and those looking for new locations.

10 flags

“We realised that no hotel in Eldoret can meet international standards of service delivery. We started this big hotel to close the market gap,” Ms Wangari said.

This explains the 10 flags, one for the hotel, one for the country and eight others from other nations that fly gracefully, adding beauty to the uniquely designed hotel.

“Each time a dignitary like a diplomat, an ambassador or a president visits, their county’s flag is hoisted in respect,” she said.

Ms Wangari directs me to her boss’ office— Lucy Nyambura, her mother.

At that time, Mr Wangari’s father, Johnson Mburu Karicho was away overseas sourcing for ceramic tiles and other furnishes for the ongoing construction.

For many years, the family was in the petroleum and transport business, but as competition intensified they started looking for new sources of earning money.

The family started looking for the best business idea that would be ideal for a piece of land they had bought in early 80s. The land was in a prime location, five kilometres from Eldoret airport and it was the perfect site for a hotel.

The Mburus came up with a building design. The construction began in 2011, but realised they needed more money to finish and furnish the three-storey hotel. They sold their family property and topped up the amount with a loan to actualise their dreams.

“The amount ended up exceeding Sh150 million. But we are impressed how this building turned out. Being by the roadside, it draws the attention of many travellers,” Mrs Mburu said.

The hotel was opened in April last year and has so far created jobs for 50 workers, including five family members.

Bold step

The family took a bold step to position themselves in top managerial positions, despite having no experience or training in the hospitality industry.
Mrs Mburu, 56, quit her teaching career and now manages the hotel full time.

Ms Wangari, a professional marketer is applying her knowledge in the hotel. Japhet Mburu, the first born son is the family lawyer while Mwangi Mburu has a tender to supply fresh produce to the hotel.

“When we first opened, we were taking chances on the market as we had never done this before,” said Ms Wangari.

“We were at times afraid of not getting it right in running a hotel that accommodates even international visitors. All it takes is being careful; read the volatile market trend right,’’ Mrs Mburu said.

They have brought on board an experienced general manager and a creative marketer who markets the hotel overseas.

“We decided not to concentrate on only Eldoret town,” said Ms Wangari.

Just a year after it started its operations, it has hosted prominent events including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) meeting.

So what has been their biggest headache? ‘‘Learning the industry is very difficult since it keeps changing and presenting new challenges. Just when you think you have mastered one thing, another crops up,” she says.

Working with family

Ms Wangari is excited to work with her family members. She says it’s fun leaving the house as a daughter and wearing the cap of a worker at the hotel.

“Initially, it was hard convincing my parents to buy new ideas. They were rigid and we could take more time with my siblings convincing them,” Ms Nyambura said.

As the hotel plans to be ranked, the management fears the process might take longer than expected.

“I think there is a problem facing the hotel industry as there is laxity in implementation of star rankings. Most big hotels don’t know their star rating,” said Reuben Kirui, the general manager.

Mr Kirui said the hotel is growing fast owing to the good coordination within the family.

“Everyone is faithful to their role. If we need to urgently prepare githeri dish, for instance, we are sure of getting green maize from Mr Mwangi. He plants a number of crops on his six-acre farm,” he said.