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Acacia Premier joins list of Kisumu hotels
The Buzz Bar within Acacia Hotel in Kisumu. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO
The captivating view of Lake Victoria from atop the deck of the luxurious four-star Acacia Premier Hotel gives one the impression of a high class environment not in the leafy suburbs of the lakeside town but right in the center of the action.
While here, you will forget that you are in the middle of the central business district of this usually hot town as the classy lounge area with a coffee shop makes you feel at home away from home even as a breeze from the lake cools you down.
The bustling sounds of the town, which was created as a Kenya railways terminal, dissipate the moment you step into this latest addition in the hospitality industry.
Swimming pool
On the second floor is a swimming pool, a spa, gym with a bar and grill that complement the serene feel of the breathtaking panoramic view of the lakeside town.
The proximity to the airport, just 10 minutes away when traffic is light, is yet another advantage that the new facility boasts of.
From the rooftop deck, a view of the rapidly growing Riat and Kajulu hills adds to the experience of the stunning Kisumu sunset which can also be sampled from the Buzz Bar, which is said to have the greatest collection of premium spirits in this part of the country.
“Kisumu is ready for a place like this. We have not seen a hotel of this calibre and which offers the same services in this town” said Nazir Khamisa, chief hospitality officer of Simba Corporation which owns the hotel.
Acacia Premier, a sister to Nairobi-based Villa Rosa Kempinski and Olare Mara Kempinski, is looking at edging out its rivals in the class of four-star hotels with its superior service.
With 94 rooms of various sizes, including a presidential suite, the hotel should be on your list of places to visit when in town.
The rooms range from Sh15,500 per person per night for the standard rooms to Sh56,000 for the presidential suite. The rest are charged depending on the advantages they offer for the panoramic view in the five-floor suite block.
The $5 million (Sh450million) hotel which opened its doors to the public last month is the perfect place for business negotiations, among other hospitality services.
Talking to Khamisa, during a visit to the facility recently, he said that their aim is to raise the bar in the hospitality industry in the region.
He said for a long time, the choice when it came to luxury accommodation was confined to one or two hotels apart from the many guest houses dotted around the town. Today, visitors have more choices on where to stay in comfort. Khamisa said it’s for the competitors to follow suit.
“We set foot here to raise the bar in the Western circuit just like we did with our other properties. The Vila Rosa Kempinski and Olare Mara Kempinski have received several awards including the prestigious world travel awards.”
He said that the interest of the Simba Corporation in Kisumu stretches beyond just making money to giving guests who may sample its facilities a treat of their lifetime.
“We pride ourselves in making sure that we provide the best possible facilities and service in the price points and category of the hotels that we are going to build,” he said.
Apart from the presidential suite, Acacia Premier also has an executive lounge, one boardroom, conferencing and banqueting facility with a capacity to hold 200 people.
With its conference facilities, tantalising cuisine and laundry services, Acacia promises to raise the profile of Kisumu both locally and internatonally.
Impala Park
Robinson Anyal, the marketing manager of the hotel, describes the high end hotel as ideal for both business and leisure travellers.
“It is fitted with a modern health club and gymnasium which sets this property apart from the rest in the industry in western Kenya,” he said.
He says the nearby Impala Park, which is less than 10 minutes away is just but one of the many local attractions one can visit. Visitors can also take a day tour to nearby attractions like Kakamega Forest and Kit Mikayi in Kisumu, among other short trips within the region.
Other tourist sites include the Equator Point in Maseno and other beautiful sights that stretch to parts of the Rift Valley which the hotelier says are within reach of visitors who only need to make a request to be driven there at a small fee.
Khamisa says despite the numerous travel advisories that have kept tourists away from the Coast, there are still many unexploited, high potential areas in Nyanza and the whole western region which have a lot to offer the discerning visitor.
