Economy

Global hoteliers to converge on Nairobi for October forum

balala

Tourism secretary Najib Balala. FILE PHOTO | NMG

International hotel owners are set to gather in Nairobi in October for the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF), in what signals growing fortunes for the country’s hospitality industry.

The three-day hotel investment conference also brings together global hospitality investors, financiers, management companies and their advisers.

Tourism secretary Najib Balala noted that AHIF attracts the kind of people with influence and resources to make a destination successful.

“At AHIF, we will be making a compelling case for investment in the hospitality sector across Kenya. Nairobi is already the established business hub of East Africa but there is so much more potential in our country,” he said.

READ: Kenya tourism to grow 6pc annually in the next decade, global report projects

The run-up to the main event will feature a number of inspection visits to several development projects around the country.  The visits are targeted at exhibiting Kenya’s wide-ranging tourism potential and highlighting investment opportunities.

The government recently announced plans to introduce incentives, especially in land ownership, to attract international investment in the development of hotels.

“This forum will bring innovative investors who will be looking for opportunities for investment in tourism,” said Jonah Orumoi, Tourism Finance Corporation (TFC) Managing Director.