A 2016 W Hospitality Group survey on hotel chains development in Africa revealed that there are about 1,200 more hotel rooms set to be constructed in Kampala and agreements had already been signed with famed international hotel chains such as Radisson Blu, Hilton Garden Inn and InterContinental to manage some of the new hotels. These hotels would open between 2017 and 2020, W Hospitality Group said.
This year has seen the opening of two new five-star and four-star hotels in the capital Kampala, bringing the total number of five-star facilities in the city to eight. The four-star Golden Tulip Canaan Kampala, which operates under the auspices of Golden Tulip, an international hotel chain, opened in Kampala in May, adding a total of “124 tastefully appointed rooms and suites, many of which include private balconies overlooking the lush grounds of the adjacent golf course.”
The new hotel, located in Nakasero in the city’s central business district, offers everything luxury: sleek conference rooms, a rooftop restaurant and lounge “where you can admire sweeping views over Lake Victoria”, a wellness centre and gym.
October saw the opening of the five-star Pearl of Africa Hotel, also located in the swanky Nakasero neighbourhood. The 23-storey property, which offers guests a 360 degrees view of Kampala, has amenities such as “a 740 square-metre ballroom, nine meeting rooms, two boardrooms, a business hub, three swimming pools and a cutting-edge wellness centre with a luxury spa and a fully equipped gym.”
The original plan was to make this facility Hilton Hotels’ Ugandan arm but it’s currently under the management of South Africa’s Sovereign Hotels.
Such imposing hospitality facilities, industry players say, have made Uganda a competitive meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination in the region. Uganda now boasts up to 90 graded hotels and lodges – up from less than 30 just two years ago when the tourism ministry first classified the country’s hotels.
