Kempinski spices up Valentine’s Day with Sh5.4m offer

Nairobi’s luxury hotel Villa Rosa Kempinski has spiced up its Valentine’s Day offer with an outlandish Sh5.4 million three-day pampered stay in its presidential suite , dubbed ‘50 Shades of Valentines’.

The hotel, which got tongues wagging last year with a Sh2.34 million ‘Night of Diamonds’ offer for the presidential suite and a Sh1.44 million mini presidential suite package, said this year’s offer and pricing is informed by growing demand for luxury gifts on the day of love.

“It is not about the money, I think for many people it’s about appreciation of a good experience. Those who buy these packages know exactly how they want to treat their loved ones on a special day and are willing to go all out on luxury,” said Manish Nambiar, the general manager.

The 50-hour package is made up of a limousines convoy pick up of the guest from location of choice, champagne, two nights stay in the presidential suite, a sky city and Mara excursion and a special spa session at the Olare Mara Kempinski.

There is also a custom made set of diamond jewellery for the lady and white diamond cuff links for the gentleman all valued at approximately Sh1.4 million.

The couple will also enjoy a game drive and sundowner in the Mara before taking a helicopter back to Nairobi for a six- course meal on the hotel’s rooftop and a private dining experience in the ballroom.

Villa Rosa Kempinski on Thursday said the offer, which is available for purchase beginning Friday, had attracted six contenders by Wednesday – all of them Kenyans. 

“A number of clients have expressed interest in the offer. Most came to know of it when they called to ask what we have for this year’s Valentines,” said Mr Nambiar.

Villa Rosa is not the only outfit that is offering multi-million shilling Valentine’s Day packages this year. The Giraffe Ark Game Lodge on the slopes of Mount Kenya is offering deep-pocketed patrons a ‘Night of 1,000 Dreams’ package worth Sh1.2 million, which comes with a complementary seven days guaranteed holiday every year for the next 99 years.

READ: Valentine's Day: Taking love to new heights

The lodge will host a couple in its presidential suite for two nights, offering limo rides, a personal chef and personalised spa treatment.

The hotel, which is barely two years old, has a 60-bed capacity that sits on a 12- acre plot.

The lakeside city of Kisumu has not been left behind having put on the table a Sh500,000 Valentine’s Day package comprising of two-nights ‘Lake Romance’, accommodation at Acacia Hotel’s presidential suite, a helicopter ride around Lake Victoria and romantic dinners with a butler and chef at their beck and call.

The guests will also enjoy a luxury yatch ride from Maboko Island in the lake to Kisumu while enjoying the company of a private guitarist and complementary couples massage.

The $5 million (Sh500 million) hotel, which opened its doors to the public last year is owned by Simba Corporation, which also owns Villa Rosa Kempinski and Olare Mara Kempinski.

The Business Daily’s survey of the leisure and dining market in the past two weeks found that top class restaurants and hotels in Nairobi and its environs have prepared special menus for the lovers’ day, with advance bookings as the only way to secure a table.

Kempisnki is looking to dine more than 200 couples booked into its four restaurants during the Valentine’s weekend.

Hotel keepers said they expect bookings to peak during the holiday, and to plummet when the festivities are over, reflecting the low arrivals season for foreign tourists.

The day of love has become a high season for Kenyan hotels especially those based in Nairobi and its environs, which reported 80 to 100 per cent occupancy during the same period last year. 

Data from the Word Travel and Tourism Council shows that leisure travel, both inbound and domestic, generated 62.5 per cent of total tourism earnings or Sh238.6 billion in 2014.

“Domestic travel spending alone contributed 58.1 per cent Travel & Tourism GDP in 2014 compared with 41.9 per cent for visitor exports. The spending is expected to grow to Sh386.7 billion up from the estimated Sh233.9 billion in 2015,” says the WTTC Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2015 report.

In 2015, a survey by international audit and advisory firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) showed that Nairobi residents have the fastest growing spending on entertainment in Africa.

The Kenyan luxury goods market is estimated by New World Wealth to have expanded by 60 per cent over the past decade.