NAIROBI, Kenya June 22 – Hotel chain Hemmingways is set to re-open its Nairobi and Watamu properties, three months after closure over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tourism industry is among the worst hit in the country following the coronavirus pandemic that forced hotels to close down in March soon after the first case was confirmed in the country.
As a result, international and domestic flights were grounded following the closuse of the Kenyan airspace.
Hemmingways Collections Group CEO Alastair Addison said the Nairobi and Watamu branch is now set to resume operations on 23 June.
He said the management has put in place clear procedures to be followed in the event a positive COVID-19 case is detected in the premises in addition to training staff on health and safety protocols, as outlined by the Ministry of Health.
“As a group, we are positive that Hemmingways Nairobi and Hemmingways Watamu’s re-opening will be a breath of fresh air within the hospitality industry considering how hard we have been hit as a sector and a positive in charting our path to recovery. We know it won’t be easy but we are delighted to be welcoming guests to Hemmingways collection,” Addison noted.
While the hotel will conduct its full operations including the use of rooms, restaurants, spa and other amenities, Addisson noted that there will be limitations put in place in compliance with COVID-19 protocols issued by the Ministry of Health.
“The COVID-19 preventive measures we have adopted in our properties go above and beyond the minimum government standards to offer complete comfort and security to our guests while ensuring the unique experience of stating at Hemmingways Collection is retained,” he said.
White big hotels are allowed to operate, small restaurants are only given up to 7.30 pm.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to issue further guildelines on July 6, on expiry of the current restrictions and night curfew as well as the cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi, Mombasa and Mandera.
By June 22, Kenya had recorded 4,797 infections, with 125 deaths.
