Hôtel des Mille Collines has severed ties with European luxury hotel operator, Kempinski Hotels, within less than two years of signing a management agreement to operate the Kigali-based hotel.

Sacha Haguma, the marketing manager of the facility, confirmed the development, yesterday, saying the decision to terminate the agreement was amicable and in good terms for both parties.

Kempinski Hotels will cease running the business end March.

Kempinski Hotels started managing the facility in April 2014, leading it to rebrand to Hôtel des Mille Collines by Kempinski Kigali.

The hotel is owned by Mickor Investment Holdings Ltd, who will take over management.

Haguma, however, noted that despite the changes, employees would not lose their jobs.

"Services offered by the facility will not be interrupted, neither will staff at the hotel. All bookings and conferences scheduled to take place will not be interrupted either,” Haguma added.

With the skills set and systems being maintained, Haguma said clients at the facility are unlikely to notice the change of management.

The partnership had seen staff members of the hotel trained and their skills upgraded to internationally competitive levels and systems to improve service delivery.

These developments, Haguma said, will enable the facility avoid disruption in service delivery.

‘Partnerships beneficial’

On whether the international group of hotels would be seeking to manage another establishment in the country, he said such decisions are made at the group’s global level and were yet to be communicated.

The partnership with the management firm had caused excitement in the local hotel industry with expectations that it would invest in further upgrading the hotel’s facilities and profile.

Other than skills enhancement, the partnership was expected to result into major improvements in the rooms and suits, as well as major changes to the food and beverages services to reflect Kempinski’s global reputation.

Francine Havugimana, the vice-chairperson of the Chamber of Tourism at Private Sector Federation, told The New Times that such partnership agreements are beneficial if they have mutual benefits for both the management and the owner.

Havugimana said international group of hotels operating in the country help in developing the industry in several ways, including giving the industry an international profile.

Havugimana, who is also the proprietor of Impala Hotels, added that it is important to ensure that such agreements have mutual benefits for both parties for the sustainability of the partnerships.

The local hotel industry has in the recent past seen multiple international hotel brands take over the management of local enterprises.

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