Serenity is Nairobi Holiday Inn's biggest secret

Apr 22, 08 | 1:57 am

It takes you about ten minutes to drive from the city centre past the just renovated National Museums of Kenya for a cup of cappuccino at the outdoor restaurant.

With the breeze wafting from the trees by the side of the pool, everything here simulates a relaxed countryside.

Then, there are the whispering palm trees swaying, bamboo bushes and a variety of fish swimming in a pond. This conjures up the coastal scenery and its all at the Holiday Inn Nairobi.

Nestled in the city's Parklands area along Parklands Road, Holiday Inn is set on 12 acres of a well manicured garden, which has over the years defied the fast pace of the city's expansion to remain a serene country hotel in the city.

Formerly the Mayfair Court Hotel, the establishment is a major landmark. Even after being refurbished, it still retains the colonial architecture that inspired it original design. The waxed brick floors and white washed walls still look fresh.

The hotel's story goes back to the 1940s just after the Second World War. Retreating to normalcy, European settlers who had participated in the war were finding their way to Kenya in large numbers.

This was because that unlike when they left for the war, they were not returning home alone this time. Others they had met during the war were joining them too.

In this scenario, the number of visitors arriving in the country looking for somewhere to settle or adventure was growing fast. Though the Norfolk - established in 1906 - had established itself as the hotel for the settler community, there was still need for more hotel space.

That's the gap that Mayfair Court Hotel - now Holiday Inn filled. Still standing in the Parklands area - a popular shopping and residential suburb close to the city - the hotel's lush gardens and well kept lawns offer fresh air, and relaxing moments away from the city's hustle and bustle.

In the early days, the hotel mainly served Nairobi residents out to relax in the city suburbs and those visiting the Muthaiga area. It initially had only 40 rooms.

Mayfair Court Hotel closed in the 1980s and the building hosted the United States International University (USIU).

It is from these humble grounds that USIU was born locally and many pioneer students recall with nostalgia their stay at Mayfair.

At the Holiday Inn, most of the meals are served in the outdoor restaurant with soft music in the back ground played by a live band. The staff are clad in green and khaki uniforms. There are simple African motifs painted on the walls to constantly remind patrons that they are in Africa.

When the hospitality industry was caught up in the post-election crisis early this year, many hotels had to shut down due to lack of patrons. However, Holiday Inn did not.

"We mostly rely on local corporate clients," says Mr Paul Norman, who manages the facility on behalf of Southern Sun Hotels and Resorts based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This does not mean that they never suffered at all. "Most business conferences that were to happen in January and February did not go on," he says.

Currently, the hotel is returning to normalcy. In March last year, the hotel recorded 80 per cent occupancy while this year, it recorded 65 per cent. In April last year, it had 67 per cent occupancy while this year it has already hit 80 per cent in bookings.

"Most businesses are playing catch up by holding all the meetings that were postponed last year. We are very busy," says Mr Norman.

In anticipation for more business - especially in the coming years - Holiday Inn has been refurbishing its facilities.

In one of the rooms, a huge bed awaits, several paintings hang on the wall and there is a captivating picture of the Masai Mara by Mike Story, which shows cracked earth that resembles river tributaries. The picture transports the guest to Maasai land without paying an extra coin.

There is even a pillow menu, which offers guests a variety that includes feather soft, orthopaedic, anti-allergic and even feather medium pillow.

Even with all this extravagance, the rooms charge rates that are comparatively high. The cheapest room goes for $260 a night while the most lavish goes for $372. The latter is a double junior suite.

Source: allafrica.com