The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at the end of 2007 has led to the construction of new and expansion of hotels as more preparations go on.

Uganda boasts of a few hotels of international standards like the newly under-construction Serena Nile Hotel, Speke Resort Munyonyo, Sheraton Kampala, Hotel Equatoria, Grand Imperial, Hotel Africana, Imperial Resort Beach and Imperial Botanical Beach hotels, which provide about 1,000 hotel rooms.

There is therefore the need for at least three new hotels, or expansion of the already existing ones to provide 6,000 hotel rooms to accommodate thousands of visitors who will include at least two thousand international journalists.

Government has also joined the preparations, by paying duties and taxes on construction materials and hotel utensils like Linen and curtains, Kitchenware, air conditioning systems, washing machines, cookers, fridges and freezers, cutlery, TV sets, carpets, and furniture, which have to be engraved, printed or marked with a logo of the hotel on behalf of the hotels.

A few Hotels under construction in the heart of the city like the Golf course and work on Bujagali in Jinja is due to start.

Mr. Julius Bagonza, the Chairman of Uganda Hotel and Catering Association (UHCA) urged all hoteliers to embark on refreshment training of their staff, to ensure that they provide quality services to local and international customers especially the delegates who are going to attend the Common Wealth summit.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News

February has been baptized the month to communicate, repair and reawaken love, but one day seems to take core stage. It’s February 14 where lovers take an attempt at anything to impress their loved ones. This is where the aspect of special packages comes in. Taking a loved one out has become an inevitability. The Sheraton Hotel vies as one if those places determined to get lovers enjoy themselves this evening.

According to the Sheraton Hotel’s Director of Sales & Marketing, Ms Janet Mzigo, lovebirds will be delicacies to a special evening. Lovers will be treated to a welcome cocktail, an exquisitely prepared “5″ course menu, flickering candlelight, bottle of wine. There will also be a raffle in the Victoria Room where a lucky couple will win a flat screen LCD TV, courtesy of LG who are part of the of the sponsors. Another lucky couple will win free massage at the hotel’s Kidepo Club. At Sheraton lovers will have access to entertainment to a dance amidst the glow of candles, strolling performances as well as several door prize and gifts to be won.

Sheraton has two venues this year- The Hippo Grill and Lover’s Nest.The Hippo Grill will host the hippo breeze party and here revellers will part with Shs40,000 inclusive of a glass of wine and dinner. There will be also roses and chocolates for ladies. The affluent will take haven in the newly refurbished Victoria Room at a fee of Ushs120,000 that will entitle them to a welcome drink, nicely decorated table that will be candle light with trimmings of red rose petals, a meal starter as well as any choice of buffet for the couples.

Goldies’ man Deejay Bangi is slated to host the couples to some of the best romantic oldies this evening. Otherwise for lovers of Salsa, former WBS presenter Doreen Kayongo will thrill revellers at the Lover’s Nest with her hot and spicy Salsa dance performances. Local artiste Halima Namakula will also perform alongside her daughter from the US. “What we want this time round is to kill off those old renditions of piano, wine and food. Sheraton’s Foods & Beverages manager Gbedemah, Kwashie pointed out that this time there will be a variety of entertainment given the fact that different lovers have different choices.

BY Tanah Hadijah
Uganda Hotel News

Three Hotels are to be built in Uganda by prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud, a member of the Saudi Royal family, said the executive director of the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).

“Prince Alwaleed, who owns a multi-billion company called Kingdom Holding Company, expressed interest in building three hotels. He is the fifth richest businessman in the world and has investments in banking, entertainment, electronics, telecommunications, media, hospitality, computers and agriculture, upscale fashion, retailing, supermarkets, tourism, travel and automotive manufacturing.

The investor who met President Yoweri Museveni and government officials proposed joint ventures and a list of locations that include land at the source of the Nile and another one near Garuga on Entebbe Road have been proposed for construction.

“The Ministry of Education has resolved to relocate Shimoni Demonstration School and the teachers college to Lugogo Bypass. The investor is to construct a five-star hotel on the 15.1 acres of land,” Dr. Maggie Kigozi said.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda hotel news

Sheraton Kampala a five-star hotel has been undergoing intensive renovation. The hotel recently completed a massive renovation of its rooms, lounge and other facilities inorder to host the commonwealth meeting 2007.

Mr. Jawaid Akhtar, the hotel’s new General Manager said that enough space is needed for guests inorder to stimulate the market. We have to sit together as hoteliers and find the way out on how to handle the situation beyond 2007

The hotel has a target to have every thing ready before 2007. The Lion Bar will be converted into the Equator Bar and many more facilities are coming up such as a new bar, new meeting facility, a nightclub and more or less 100 new rooms to offer a wider range of services and high-class comfort to its guests. The renovation process has delayed due to the limited budget since Finances come from the headquarters in Dubai, but the Hotel will be ready by November 2007.

The Sheraton Kampala employees 10,000 people worldwide and is among 750 chain of hotel global hotels that provide high quality and international hotel services. Built in 1957, the hotel is one of the products of starwood, our mother company.

By Kisibo Jackie
Uganda Hotel News