Mantis to boost local hospitality sector

The Rwanda hospitality sector is set to receive a major boost following the entrance of an international hotel management company to run a local enterprise. The internationally renowned firm, Mantis, which has presence in over 70 countries in seven continents is set to take over the management of Delegations Inn Ltd, a Kimihurura-based establishment in Kigali. Delegations Inn is a medium size hotel with a capacity of about 70 suites located adjacent to the upcoming Kigali Convention Centre. Top directors of the firm recently held a week-long expedition in the country assessing the feasibility of the establishment. They also made consultations with government agencies such as the Rwanda Development Board and the City of Kigali authorities, among others, over the venture. Among the benefits the establishment is set to get following the deal is training of staff, upgrading of standards to be globally competitive and an international network that will place them favourably in the market. The firm is not entirely new to Rwanda as it previously managed Nyungwe Park. Alastair McWewn Smith, the finance director of the Mantis, told The New Times that among the reasons they are interested in the country’s enterprises is the government’s commitment in setting up infrastructure that facilitates multiple sectors. He added that the strategies, plans and goals highlighted in the Second Poverty Reduction Plan and Vision 2020 were a boost to investor confidence. The firm’s other interests in Africa are in Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Under the international brand and management, Delegations Inn will be ‘restructured’ as a world class facility with a bias towards eco-tourism. Unlike some international hotel brands that lead their partner establishments to have their services structured along their features, Mantis aims at tailor-making the establishment to exude Rwandan traits. The local establishment is projected to increase employment opportunities, markets for suppliers and to create business opportunities to other players in the hospitality sector, according to officials. John Hanna, a director at the firm, said by working with local suppliers, the partnership will see a significant size of profits remain in the country. A study commissioned by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) early this year established that despite numerous opportunities in the local tourism sector few are exploited by local suppliers and producers leading to financial leakages. Hanna said they will seek to curb the leakages through partnership with local suppliers. Along with them, he said, they plan to attract other entrepreneurs to invest in various aspects of the tourism value chain such as training. Hanna added that Rwanda faired well as a tourist destination due to its multiple tourism attractions including wildlife, conference hub facilities, as well as cultural and historic attractions. Anicet Kayigema, the proprietor of the establishment, said among the reasons he had reached out to the firm was to introduce world class services and capacities to his hotel. He added that eco-tourism being a unique approach in the Rwandan tourism circles, it would improve the diversity of the country’s tourism attractions. He noted that the move related closely to the government’s strategy of improving the service sector in the build up to achieving a middle income status. This is the third major partnership between a local hotel and an international firm. Kempinski Hotels last year took over the management Hotel des Mille Collines, while Golden Tulip Hotels a French firm took over La Palisse Hotel in Nyamata.

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Mantis to boost local hospitality sector