NAIROBI, Kenya, July 5 -Nanyuki-based Fairmont Mt Kenya Safari Club has reopened more than two years after closure which was necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hotel which is located at the foot of Mt Kenya has opened its doors with a renewed focus on conservation especially restoration of forest cover surrounding the mountain and the protection of endangered Mountain Bongo.
Mehdi Morad, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts Country General Manager said the hotel is positive about its improved recovery noting so far it has received a good number of visitors, especially from the East Africa region.
“We are looking forward to a very good season, people have never been eager to the hotel, the hotel business is still profitable and we are now channeling more energy towards conservation,” he said.
Under the conservation plan, visitors will pay an additional fee which will be channeled into its non-profit conservancy, Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy.
So far, the property which sits within the Conservancy has planted 35,000 trees so far in partnership with the local community.
“Fairmont is deeply committed to the conservation of the critically endangered Mountain bongos and forest ecosystem, which also offers the most breathtaking landscape views of Mount Kenya’s snow peaks,” Morad said.
In addition, he says the hotel, in conjunction with the Kenya Wildlife Service, is working on making a new route to Mt Kenya which will be complete by 2023 January.
The firm had laid off 148 employees during the closure but says that most of them got jobs within its other establishment or other hotels within the hospitality sector.
It is now operating with 125 staff including former employees.
Mehda said the hotel is now focused on hiring from local communities with 50 percent of employees now sourced from counties around the Mt Kenya region.
“Our regional teams have worked closely together to ensure they provide the guests with exceptional services and facilities, more activities on-site and within the grounds, alongside the opportunity for observation of the wildlife and ecosystem of the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, to meet with customers evolving needs” added Morad.
The reopening of Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club comes just ten months after the reopening of Fairmont Mara Safari Club and two months after the reopening of Fairmont the Norfolk in Nairobi,
