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Burundian Liberat Mfumukeko is a new EAC Chief

By ADAM IHUCHA --- Liberat Mfumukeko is a new Secretary general of the expanding East African Community. The little known Mfumukeko replaces Richard Sezibera

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By ADAM IHUCHA

Serena Hotel chain will invest $7 million this year to transform Tanzania properties in its efforts to maintain standards.

Serena Hotel portfolio in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar includes a collection of ten up-market hotels, safari lodges and camps located in some of the most exquisite locations within the northern safari circuit, Selous game reserve in southern, Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Stone town in the Zanzibar archipelago.

The planned software and hardware infrastructural improvements for Serena Hotels within the northern and southern Tanzania would cost $3 million.

Managing director for Serena hotels in East African regional, Mahmud Jan Mohamed told tour operators in Tanzania that Dar Es Salaam Serena hotel facelift will cost $4million.

“In 2016, management will in a phased manner implement improvements wherever possible and at every guest touch point to ensure that guests are aware that Serena Hotels continues to maintain standards despite the challenges facing the tourism industry” Mr Mohamed said when touch base with tour operators in Arusha.

In northern and southern Tanzania Serena will see room’s refurbishment of its safari lodges and camps, creation of swimming pools at Mbuzi Mawe Serena camp and Lake Duluti Serena hotel.

Mr Mohamed further said that they will also add conference facility and six superior rooms at Lake Duluti Serena hotel as in Dar Serena they will upgrade arrival and reception lobby, among others.

Detailed designs are being worked on for Zanzibar Serena Hotel’s redevelopment and upgrade to cover the arrival experience, lobby, guest rooms, terrace restaurant and Maisha Spa.

“It is important to mention that as has been achieved with previous Serena Hotels refurbishment projects, the management team will continue to guide and manage the projects in a sensitive manner to ensure no disruption to guest services” he assured tour operators.

Serena Hotel’s was established in the 1970s in Kenya, expanded its brand to Tanzania and Zanzibar in 1996 and to date offers 599 rooms within the ten properties in Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Official records show that Serena Hotels Tanzania directly employs a total of 1,246 staff of which 98 percent are Tanzanians and the balance East African Citizens.

As if that was not enough, Serena Hotels Tanzania paid approximately $6.9 million in direct and indirect taxes in year 2015.

Commenting, the CEO of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, Sirili Akko commended Serena hotels for its contribution in East African tourism industry growth.

“Serena Hotels is one of key stakeholders of tourism in the region as it adds value to our industry for offering quality accommodation services to our holiday-makers” Mr Akko explained.

With a focus on product, service standards and guest satisfaction, Serena Hotels, offers quality accommodation, conference and holiday solutions in a collection of 24 up-market hotels, resorts, safari lodges and camps strategically located in some of the most exquisite and prime locations within 6 countries in the Eastern Africa region Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zanzibar.

Serena Tourism Promotion Services is the tourism arm of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), an international development agency.

AKFED is a major shareholder of TPS Eastern Africa Limited (listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange) and has majority shares in TPS, Serena Hotels.

While celebrating local artistic and cultural expressions, Serena Hotels promotes tourism potential, serves as an economic engine, are pioneers for development and growth in remote or neglected areas, are committed to developing human resources in each of these areas and are a good steward of the local environment.

Serena Hotels in East Africa and Mozambique directly employs a total of 4,380 staff and have paid approximately $18.5 million in direct and indirect taxes in year 2015.

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