Sarova Hotels & Resorts will open a hotel in Kisumu that will operate under Sarova Imperial Hotel Kisumu. The hotel is targeting tourists and the area’s middle class who will tour Lake Victoria, animal sanctuaries or have conferences in the county.

Kisumu residents were amused by Sarova’s move to open in Kisumu as it will boost the tourism sector.

“Kisumu City is growing and we’re growing with it! We look forward to being a part of the thriving cultural & leisure scene,” the firm said in a statement.

“Having a presence in Kisumu City and in the larger Western Kenya region has always been part of the hospitality group’s growth plan. The city’s location on the shores of Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria, and the on-going modernisation of the lakefront makes Kisumu a unique destination to add to the Sarova experience,” said Sarova Hotels Kenya managing director Jimi Kariuki.

The hotel has 93 renovated guest bedrooms including suites, new meeting facilities and upgraded food and beverage outlets. Additionally, the Kisumu Imperial has been in existence for 48 years.

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Imperial Hotel general manager Michael Kamau said that they will renovate the hotel.

“We asked ourselves why we were not attracting younger people. We also realised most of the loyal clients who have been with us are aged and their spending power was getting strained, forcing us to shift our focus to younger people aged between 25 to 35,” Kamau said.