The Pearl of Africa Hotel Kampala explained

Hotel Name:Pearl of Africa Hotel
Location:Kampala, Uganda
Pushpin Map Caption:Map of Kampala showing the location of The Pearl of Africa Hotel Kampala.
Pushpin Map:Uganda Kampala
Coordinates:0.3236°N 32.5786°W
Opening Date:1 October 2017.[1] [2]
Operator:Sovereign Hotels Group
Owner:Aya Investments Limited
Number Of Restaurants:5
Number Of Rooms:296
Number Of Suites:37
Floor Area:32000m2
Floors:24
Website:Homepage

The Pearl of Africa Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. The building, under development since 2006, was completed in June 2017, and was opened on 1 October 2017.[2] [3]

Location

The hotel is located in Central Kampala on Nakasero Hill. The building stands on a 14acres site that was previously occupied by the state's television stations. The elevation of the site is approximately 1240m (4,070feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest points in the city.[4]

Overview

Aya Investments Limited, a subsidiary of the Aya Group, has been working on the 24-story building since 2006.[5] [6] Because of cash shortages and administrative difficulties, the hotel took much longer to complete, with many missed deadlines and multiple postponements of the opening date.[7] [8] Since completion, it is the tallest completed building in the city, at 23 storeys and about 90m (300feet) in height. The building was originally developed under the Hilton Hotels brand. However, when the owners of the hotel failed to reach a licensing agreement with Hilton, the latter signed up with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group in January 2017.[9] In June 2017 the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group withdrew from the management agreement. In September 2017 a South African hotel brand, Sovereign Hotels, entered into a short term management agreement with the owners and opened the hotel in October 2017.

Construction costs

, the total construction bill for the property was estimated at US$150 million (UGX:350 billion), according to Aya Group Chairman Mohammed Hamid.[10] In September 2017, the New Vision (newspaper) reported that the Aya Group had invested USh1.75 trillion (US$300 million), into this project.[2]

Other developments

In February 2011, a restaurant kitchen design firm based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, was awarded the contract to design the food and beverage services of the hotel, including a sports bar, lobby lounge and bar, banquet facility, bakery, staff canteen, pool bar, coffee shop, and a specialty restaurant.[11] In June 2013, the Aya Group appointed FEBC International, a global hospitality, procurement, and project management company, to act as "Procurement Management Consultant for Operating Supplies and Equipment" (OS&E) services for the hotel.[12] In December 2013, the Hilton Hotels & Resorts denied rumors that they had pulled out of the deal with the Aya Group due to construction delays. They instead reiterated that they are working closely with the owners to complete the construction and open the franchise to the public.[13]

New partners

In September 2017, one month before the opening, the New Vision (newspaper) reported that the Aya Group, who own the hotel, had contracted with the Sovereign Hotels Group, a South Africa - based hotel management company, for the latter to manage the business.[2]

In September 2018, Forbes.com reported that the owners of the hotel had hired Wyndham Hotels & Resorts of the United States to manage the US$300 million 5-star establishment, effective October 2018.[14]

See also

References

0.3236°N 32.5786°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kampala . Uganda: Aya Hotel - Rezidor Hotel Chain Replaces Hilton . 18 July 2017 . . Ronald . Musoke . 6 February 2017.
  2. Web site: Sovereign Hotels takes over management of Pearl of Africa Hotel (AYA) . 30 September 2017 . 30 September 2017 . Ssejjoba . . Eddie . Kampala.
  3. Web site: Quorvus Collection gets Uganda hotel in portfolio . 18 July 2017 . Devina . Divecha . 26 January 2017. Hoteliermiddleeast.com.
  4. Web site: UTG . Profile of Nakasero Hill . Uganda Travel Guide (UTG) . 7 July 2014.
  5. Web site: Hilton Kampala Works Resume . Dorothy . Nakaweesi . 20 December 2007 . 7 July 2014 . Daily Monitor.
  6. Web site: Elias . Hilton Hotel Kampala to Be Ready Next Year . Biryabarema . 14 May 2008 . 7 July 2014 . Daily Monitor via AllAfrica.com.
  7. Web site: Hilton Hotel Set to Open In March 2013 . Michael . Mubangizi . 6 September 2012 . 7 July 2014 . The Observer (Uganda).
  8. Web site: Overcoming the Past In Lively Kampala . Baz . Dreisinger . 15 August 2013 . . 7 July 2014.
  9. Web site: 2 October 2017 . Danish based Rezidor Hotel Group takes over Aya Hotel . 30 January 2017 . Samuel . Sanya . Kampala . New Vision.
  10. Web site: Reporter . Newvision . I Juggled Business, Books At Eight Years . . 29 April 2012 . 7 July 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141108224305/http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/630693-I-juggled-business--books-at-eight-years.html . 8 November 2014 .
  11. Web site: Philadelphia Restaurant Design Company Mise Design Group, LLC Acquires Design Contract for New Hilton Hotel In Uganda . 22 February 2011 . Press Release . 7 July 2014 . PR.com.
  12. FEBC International Appointed by Aya Group of Companies for Hilton Hotel, Kampala, Uganda . 7 July 2014 . 13 November 2013 . PressReleaseNetwork.com (PRN).
  13. Web site: 7 July 2014 . Hilton In Kampala Still On Schedule . . EABW . 16 December 2013.
  14. Web site: Ugandan Tycoon Mohammed Hamid Hires Wyndham To Manage $300 Million Hotel . 15 October 2018 . 5 September 2018 . . Mfonobong . Nsehe.