SERENA confident of jULY opening date

Now seventeen months into its re-construction, the Kampala Serena Hotel is on course for a grand re-opening ceremony in late June, reports Wolfgang Thome.

The property that will host the Commonwealth Heads of State and Heads of Government Summit in 2007 has been undergoing a $30million refurbishment that will raise its status to five stars.

Room capacity has been increased from 90 to 170 suites while the former single restaurant will be replaced by three - an all day coffee shop, where breakfast, lunch and dinner can be taken in high standard but informal surroundings, while two top class restaurants will be available for fine dining for lunch and dinner.

A spa and recreation facility has been developed around the new swimming pool. While the Nairobi Serena’s Maisha Health Club and Spa is arguably the best such facility in Nairobi, word has it that the Kampala Serena will be outdoing its senior sister hotel in terms of facilities, equipment and spaciousness to provide a truly 5Star treatment even in the leisure facilities of the new hotel.

Serena has a collection of over 25 properties in their stable, amongst them award winning properties like Kirawira, Zanzibar Serena Inn, Mara Serena and others, and with the addition of the Kampala Serena the East African circuit will be completing a long held vision from the 70’s, when Serena was to become a regional hotel group.

The group’s global marketing machinery has for a while now been in full swing promoting the latest addition. The group also plans to enter the safari lodge and resort sector once the new Kampala Serena has opened.