ATTA Certifies Kenya’s Diani Reef

Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa is now a certified official member of Africa Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA).

The new certification will give the luxury beach resort an edge to boost its business in terms of attracting more tourists from UK, across mainland Europe and the African continent.

ATTA, a renowned marketing organization for hoteliers and travel agents, gives credibility to its members through referrals and boosts businesses by providing a pool of networks for tourism centres.

The organisation is also known for lobbying for friendly policies and rates for its members at the highest levels of government and their respective agencies.

According to Bobby Kamani, the Managing Director, Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa, joining ATTA will enhance exposure of Diani Reef whilst attracting more international tourists, thereby allowing the hotel to foster new relations with emerging markets whilst nurturing existing relations with traditional markets:

“As Diani Reef, we believe that this a good strategy toward connecting to one of the most prominent international pool of networks for tourists. This will help us increase our sales significantly but also put our hotel on the global map for tourists to visit.”

Commenting on the upcoming Easter Holidays, Kamani said the bookings are currently at 70 percent with more people planning for their weddings and honeymoons at that time.

He also expects the remaining 30 percent of vacancies to be filled up by last minute bookings.

He commended the Kenya Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism for their continued proactive marketing initiatives of making Kenya attractive for both international, local and regional travelers:

“You can see the Magical Kenya Open Golf event brought in many international and local attendees owing to its European Tour status. This is a sign that the marketing initiatives by KTB and Ministry of Tourism continue to put Kenya on the map for higher tourism revenues.”

Source: AWS & AllAfrica

 

Kenya maintains top tourist destination status

Kenya once again stamped its authority as a favourite tourist destination of choice when it scooped several awards in the prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA) Africa and the Indian Ocean region whose gala award ceremony was held in the Port City of Durban , South Africa.

WTA acknowledges ,rewards and celebrates excellence across all key sectors of the travel , tourism and hospitality industry.The awards are recognised globally  as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence and  are this year marking 25th year since inception.Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa was voted the best beach resort in Africa with the iddylic Diani Beach being recognised for the fifth year running as Africa’s best beach.

Another of Diani’s jewel, the Leopard Beach Hotel and Residence was named as Africa’s leading family resort.

Manda Bay in Lamu county won the best private island resort award in Africa.

Speaking to The Standard,  an elated Diani Beach Resort & Spa Managing Director, Mr Bobby Kamani said that they are ecstatyic  to have been chosen as the winner for Africa’s Leading  Beach Resort for 2018.

“We are greatful that our efforts in upgrading  our product as well as enhancing our service levels  have been recognised by clients who have  voted for us,” Kamani said.

Kamani said that they  remain highly indebted to those who voted for them .

He added that Diani Reef Hotel, a heritahe hotel has made significant improvement in the product and invested considerable time ,efforts and resources into training its incredible team members .

“In addition, a state of the art of conference facility which is the largest has also been an added benefit to conference delegates visiting the region,” he said.

Other notable winners from Kenya included the national carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ) which was named as Africa’s leading airline in both business and economy class,Satguru Travel & Tourism ( Africa leading business travel agency, Ol Pajeta Conservancy ( Africa leading conservation company) and the Aberdare County Club as leading Green Hotel.

Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club ( Africa leading hotel ) , Palacina The Residence & Suites ( Leading Hotel residence), Villa Rosa Kempiski, Nairobi (leading Luxury hotel), the Maasai Mara National Park ( leading national park), Olare Mara Kempiski( leading luxury tented camp).

Pollmans Tours & Safaris got the top award of Africa’s leading tour operator while Bonfire Adventure maintained its grip on the award list after being named Africa’s leading travel agency.

Nairobi’s five star hotel  The Stanley was voted as Kenya’s leading hotel.

All the regional winners will now compete for the ultimate global prize whose finals are scheduled for Lisbon, Portugal in November, 2018.

Source: AWS & The Standard 

IAAF awards Kenya’s Iten world heritage Status

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has declared the town of Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County as a global heritage site.

During a dinner in Yokohama, Japan last weekend, the IAAF’s President Lord Sebastian Coe handed the Rift Valley town the “IAAF Heritage Plaque” which celebrates towns important to global athletics history.

The head of IAAF’s Heritage Department Mr Chris Turner termed the recognition as something that is in the heart and soul of athletics.

“This recognition is really about something that’s in the heart and soul of athletics,” Mr Chris Turner said.

“The fact that so many athletes come from one area and train in one area, and that many athletes have gone to Iten and live there – a place where athletes go, a home of champions – is one of the reasons why we recognized Iten with this plaque,”

“It’s like when you think of the javelin, you think of Finland or when you think of the discus, you would probably go to Germany. The same way with distance running, you think of Iten.” Turner added.

Iten, which is commonly referred to as the “home of champions”, is the source of world-class athletes who have ruled in major athletics competitions across the globe.

The town, which is 2400 metres above sea level, is the home of the two-time world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat and former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang.

Marathon legends Mary Keitany, Florence Kiplagat and Lornah Kiplagat similarly hail from this Home of Champions which provides a conducive environment for training.

The actual Heritage Plaque will be handed to the Elgeyo Marakwet County and Athletics Kenya authorities next year as IAAF is under rebranding currently which may affect the design of the plagues issued out.

Due to global recognition, residents of Iten are now optimistic of more developments in the town.

The Elgeyo-Marakwet County Deputy Governor Wesley Rotich encouraged investors to set up business ventures in Iten as the town is now ripe for investments due to its new status.

“We want to encourage investors to come to Iten. Iten now is ripe for investment, and they should come and invest in the hospitality sector here by setting up facilities such as sports camps or hotels because Iten will attract even more people of different nationalities,” Rotich said.

The IAAF Heritage Department plays a role of preserving the legacy of athletics, its heroes and heroines, their artefacts, and the documents, videos and photographs that portray them thus inspiring the present stars and fans and those of the future.

Source: AWS & The Standard