May 10, 2010 – I did not think that the Tribe Hotel’s recognition by Conde Nast Traveller as one of the best hotels was that big a deal – maybe that was because I didn’t know what the CNT was all about!
Let me share with you, the Conde Nast Traveller is a highly respected global magazine which specialises in covering the luxury travel market. It has editions in the UK and USA and Tribe Hotel made it on the hot list for both versions!
Thousands of hotels world-wide were reviewed and it has been seven years since a Kenyan hotel featured in the Hot Lists. Hot stuff, eh?
“We see this double accolade as good news for the Kenyan tourism industry as a whole. We feel a real sense of revival in the tourism industry in Kenya in 2010, and we’re delighted that Tribe is playing its part in making this country be viewed positively by all the important and discerning foreign travelling community,” said Tribe Hotel’s General Manager, Mark Somen, at a press conference held to release the impact of this recognition to the hospitality and general tourism sector in Kenya.
The magazine cited, among other things, Tribe’s elegant interior design, saying “the hotel mixes contemporary city glamour with carefully placed African art and artefacts.” CN Traveller also singled out Tribe’s “superb” standards of service.
Tribe is Nairobi’s first independent designer boutique hotel and its design is best described as ‘New York chic melds with African warmth.’
This accolade has caught the attention of the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB). Chairman Jake Grieves Cook said; “Tribe is helping Kenya’s hotel industry to be ranked at the very top level in the world and is setting high standards for other leading hotels to emulate.”
Tribe Hotel’s recognition is a boost to Kenya’s tourism industry which is currently emerging from a difficult period marked by the global financial crisis in 2009 and the post-election violence in 2008.
The hotel’s architect was at the conference as well. Mehraz Ehsani said: “From the very initial drawing board stage of design, our benchmark has always been the global hospitality industry, and this accolade establishes Tribe as one of the top properties in the world, an achievement we’re really proud of.”
Tribe opened its doors in September 2008, making it almost two years old.
“We have already earned a reputation of resetting the standards of hotel customer service and accommodation in Nairobi. We are extremely proud of what we’ve managed to achieve in such a short space of time, but for us this recognition is a spring-board for the continued development of Tribe, and the continued growth of tourism in Kenya,” said Hooman Ehsan, Director and Chief of Development at the Hotel.
The Tribe Hotel is well versed with style. For instance, an outdoor Pool vista, floating islands, an in-house 300 DVD collection and a library which contains around 2,800 books.
Set in the leafy suburbs of Gigiri, Tribe Hotel is located at the Village Market. It has quickly established itself as the destination for discerning travellers, hosting among others, luminaries from October’s MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) including Wyclef Jean and Akon. Other famous people who have experienced the Tribe include Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, and the Princess of Thailand, etc.
In an effort to reverse the notion that the Tribe is not a Kenyan affair, the hotel has launched a new campaign, under the title “We always knew Nairobi is hot, now it’s Hotter”.