Hoteliers urged to showcase Rwandan culture

Hoteliers have been advised to showcase the African culture in their hotels through furnishings and food as one way of attracting visitors and promoting Rwanda’s beauty. Bonaventure Uwimana, the proprietor of Luxury Hotel, noted that there was need for Hotels and restaurants to take a leading role in promoting Rwanda’s culture as one way of promoting tourism. “We must give our hotels an African touch so that people who come to visit and stay in the country can have something unique to tell when they go back home,” he said during the official launch of Luxury Hotel on Friday in Kimironko. Dennis Karera, Chairman of Rwanda Hotels Association, had earlier said that hotels need to provide quality services and ensure customer care to improve and attract more visitors in the country. Uwimana noted that he decided to challenge other hoteliers by using African wood designs and furnishings to set a new pace in the hospitality industry where Hotels will strive to improve service delivery and provide incentives to clients. “We are increasing the number of rooms and good services in the hospitality sector which is key to our tourism,” he added Diana Achieng, the General Manager of the Hotel, said they will have a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, massage and sauna and rooms that will range from deluxe, simple, standard, suite and family rooms that all have steam bath-Jacuzzi. Gordon Ochieng, a Kenyan, believes that supplementing room services with incentives like free internet, telephones and steam bath, will help customers feel the value for their money and also attract local people to use the services rather than depending on foreigners. dan.ngabonziza@newtimes.co.rw