Nelly
Member
Easter projections at Coast hotels now stand at 10 per cent after the new lockdown measures announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta last Friday to stem the spread of the third wave of Covid-19.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye said those who had booked for Easter holidays have had to shelve their plans due to the new restrictions.
“It is definitely not business as usual. It is a low key affair as many potential guests have rescinded their holiday plans,” Ikwaye said
He said while many hoteliers were upbeat over Easter and April holiday season, it has dawned on them that there will be no guests to attend to.
“After April, we are entering the low season with a very depressing business situation. However, we all need to work hard and ensure we flatten the curve to make sure there are no more lockdowns,” Ikwaye said.
Denis Gwaro, the general manager at Plaza Beach Hotel in Mombasa’s North Coast, said they are staring at huge losses after stocking up on hotel supplies ahead of the Easter holiday. The hotel had also recalled all staff members to work as bookings had started going up.
He said hotels have now been forced to entice locals with great offers to salvage the situation.
“We are compelled to offer very low rates to entice the local population to spend the Easter weekend in our facility,” Gwaro said.
In Naivasha, hoteliers are also counting losses after many guests cancelled their Easter weekend bookings while companies that had made reservations for workshops and seminars put their plans on hold.
Bookings in a few of the lucky facilities stand at 20 per cent with some of the facilities recording zero reservations.
Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye said those who had booked for Easter holidays have had to shelve their plans due to the new restrictions.
“It is definitely not business as usual. It is a low key affair as many potential guests have rescinded their holiday plans,” Ikwaye said
He said while many hoteliers were upbeat over Easter and April holiday season, it has dawned on them that there will be no guests to attend to.
“After April, we are entering the low season with a very depressing business situation. However, we all need to work hard and ensure we flatten the curve to make sure there are no more lockdowns,” Ikwaye said.
Denis Gwaro, the general manager at Plaza Beach Hotel in Mombasa’s North Coast, said they are staring at huge losses after stocking up on hotel supplies ahead of the Easter holiday. The hotel had also recalled all staff members to work as bookings had started going up.
He said hotels have now been forced to entice locals with great offers to salvage the situation.
“We are compelled to offer very low rates to entice the local population to spend the Easter weekend in our facility,” Gwaro said.
In Naivasha, hoteliers are also counting losses after many guests cancelled their Easter weekend bookings while companies that had made reservations for workshops and seminars put their plans on hold.
Bookings in a few of the lucky facilities stand at 20 per cent with some of the facilities recording zero reservations.