Gunjan Sabikhi
With Serena Hotels offering unique and immersive experiences across East Africa, Mozambique, and South & Central Asia, how significant is the Indian market for inbound business and partnerships?
The Indian market continues to show strong engagement across East Africa, especially through our circuit-based safaris connecting Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, and Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge. These properties are increasingly popular with Indian families, honeymooners, and leisure travellers seeking well-curated, multi-stop journeys. We are also seeing rising interest in heritage-rich destinations, particularly at Serena Beach Resort & Spa along the Swahili coast and Zanzibar Serena Hotel on Zanzibar Island. Guests are drawn to these locations for their cultural familiarity, coastal beauty, and historical depth.
How has Serena Hotels performed in 2024 across its diverse portfolio of safari lodges, camps, resorts, and hotels?
In 2024, Serena Hotels maintained a stable performance across its regional portfolio, with steady demand across city, safari, and coastal destinations. We continued to adapt to shifting traveller preferences, with increased interest in curated itineraries and experiences that deliver greater value for money. Our focus remained on delivering consistent guest satisfaction while reinforcing operational resilience in a dynamic travel environment. These efforts have supported occupancy across key destinations.
What are your 2025 projections for occupancy, ADR, and RevPAR? What trends are shaping the industry?
We remain optimistic about 2025. Demand is being shaped by a continued appetite for circuit-based travel and culturally anchored experiences across East Africa. We are focused on sustaining value for our guests while maintaining operational agility in response to global and regional shifts. Serena Hotels long-standing investment in responsible tourism and authentic hospitality continues to serve us well in a dynamic landscape.
Are there expansion or renovation plans? And is there scope for Indian tailored offerings?
We are currently undertaking phased refurbishments at select properties, including Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, Nairobi Serena Hotel, Kampala Serena Hotel, Kigali Serena Hotel and Zanzibar Serena Hotel. These upgrades are focused on enhancing the guest experience while preserving each property’s historical and architectural integrity. In parallel, we are strengthening our appeal to the Indian market. This includes introducing tailored menu options that reflect Indian culinary preferences for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. We are also expanding cross-border itineraries that connect our properties across Kenya and Tanzania, offering culturally enriching experiences supported by seamless travel logistics.
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