Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KIGALI66
2007-01-24 05:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:
Serena Hotels helps validate the Rwandan potential
how-toVZCZCXYZ0012 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHLGB #0066 0240550 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 240550Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3679
UNCLAS KIGALI 000066
SIPDIS
INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
TREASURY FOR DO/JWALLACE, USDOC FOR ITA/SMATHEWS, USTR FOR DWEINER,
OPIC FOR RO'SULLIVAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV BFIN ETRD ELAB KTDB PGOV RW
SUBJECT: Serena Hotels helps validate the Rwandan potential
UNCLAS KIGALI 000066
SIPDIS
INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
TREASURY FOR DO/JWALLACE, USDOC FOR ITA/SMATHEWS, USTR FOR DWEINER,
OPIC FOR RO'SULLIVAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV BFIN ETRD ELAB KTDB PGOV RW
SUBJECT: Serena Hotels helps validate the Rwandan potential
1. SUMMARY. The Serena Group signed a 30-year concession to manage
the two largest Rwandan hotels -- the Kigali InterContinental Hotel
and the Kivu Sun Hotel, beginning February 1 2007. The hotels will
be relaunched following an extensive refurbishment under Serena
branding, marking another attempt to expand the potential of the
Rwandan tourism market. END SUMMARY.
2. The Serena Group is due to take over the operations of Kigali
InterContinental Hotel and Kivu Sun Hotel on February 1, 2007. The
hotel group has entered into a long term lease agreement with the
GOR for the operation and management of the two hotels. The
agreement was signed on January 9 2007 by the Minister of Finance
and Economic Planning James Musoni and Serena Hotels Managing
Director Mahmoud Jan Mohamed, in the presence of Prime Holdings
Chairman, John Mirenge. (Note: Prime Holdings is the GOR parastatal
that currently owns and manages the hotels.)
3. The Kigali InterContinental, a 104-room five-star hotel will be
renamed Kigali Serena Hotel. The Serena Group agreed to make a
capital investment of USD 9.5 million, and to construct 50
additional guest bedrooms, a modern health and fitness centre, and a
general upgrade of the hotel facilities.
4. The 72-room four-star Kivu Sun Hotel located on the shores of
Lake Kivu close to the border with Democratic Republic of Congo,
will be renamed Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. The Serena Group plans to
develop Lake Kivu Serena Hotel into a top quality spa facility.
5. COMMENT. The Serena Group's investment is yet another attempt by
the GOR to revitalize its hotel ownings and set them up on a
profitable basis. Serena is a respected hotel chain (as was the Sun
hotel chain before it) and its investments have proven to be
catalysts for increased investments in the countries in which they
operate (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Uganda).
ARIETTI
SIPDIS
INFO AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/C
DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
TREASURY FOR DO/JWALLACE, USDOC FOR ITA/SMATHEWS, USTR FOR DWEINER,
OPIC FOR RO'SULLIVAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV BFIN ETRD ELAB KTDB PGOV RW
SUBJECT: Serena Hotels helps validate the Rwandan potential
1. SUMMARY. The Serena Group signed a 30-year concession to manage
the two largest Rwandan hotels -- the Kigali InterContinental Hotel
and the Kivu Sun Hotel, beginning February 1 2007. The hotels will
be relaunched following an extensive refurbishment under Serena
branding, marking another attempt to expand the potential of the
Rwandan tourism market. END SUMMARY.
2. The Serena Group is due to take over the operations of Kigali
InterContinental Hotel and Kivu Sun Hotel on February 1, 2007. The
hotel group has entered into a long term lease agreement with the
GOR for the operation and management of the two hotels. The
agreement was signed on January 9 2007 by the Minister of Finance
and Economic Planning James Musoni and Serena Hotels Managing
Director Mahmoud Jan Mohamed, in the presence of Prime Holdings
Chairman, John Mirenge. (Note: Prime Holdings is the GOR parastatal
that currently owns and manages the hotels.)
3. The Kigali InterContinental, a 104-room five-star hotel will be
renamed Kigali Serena Hotel. The Serena Group agreed to make a
capital investment of USD 9.5 million, and to construct 50
additional guest bedrooms, a modern health and fitness centre, and a
general upgrade of the hotel facilities.
4. The 72-room four-star Kivu Sun Hotel located on the shores of
Lake Kivu close to the border with Democratic Republic of Congo,
will be renamed Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. The Serena Group plans to
develop Lake Kivu Serena Hotel into a top quality spa facility.
5. COMMENT. The Serena Group's investment is yet another attempt by
the GOR to revitalize its hotel ownings and set them up on a
profitable basis. Serena is a respected hotel chain (as was the Sun
hotel chain before it) and its investments have proven to be
catalysts for increased investments in the countries in which they
operate (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Uganda).
ARIETTI