MARKETING FIRMS HIRED TO PROMOTE UGANDA’S TOURISM

Three globally recognized marketing firms have been contracted to undertake the initiative of representing the destination Uganda and popularize Uganda Safari products to the travel markets globally.
The marketing contracts were received by the Germany’s KPRN, UK’s Kamageo and the North America’s Performance Horizon Group from the President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni at an annual cost of $1.5 million. The three (3) marketing firms are meant to support the Uganda Government regarding tourism promotion in the main originating areas including Germany, Switzerland and Austria, United Kingdom and Ireland and North American countries of Canada and United States of America with the possibility of increasing numbers that undertake safaris to Uganda.
The Ugandan President hailed the market representation strategy of the country in the key source markets. The move is guided by the general objective of positioning Uganda as the main travel destination; enhance the arrival counts, the length of stay and general expenditure while on safaris in Uganda.
However, besides the firms’ role in the tourism promotion, the project also aims at building capacity in the local tourism business to ensure that private companies compete favourably in the global travel market. The firms’ will as well support the Ugandan Foreign Missions in the respective countries to further the cause.

SERENA HOTEL KAMPALA COMMENCES SHS26 BILLION EXPANSION

The $8 million about Shs26.85 billion expansion project has been commissioned to take effect on Serena Hotels in Uganda one of the top notch accommodation units for affluent travelers on safaris and tours in Uganda.
The expansion master plan is set to be implemented in conjunction with PROPACO a French Development Agency subsidiary. Mr. Mahmud Jan Mohamed the Managing Director of Serena Hotels notes that the expansion is inspired by increased demand for hospitality service that is offered by this hotel group and the redevelopment is to enhance product positioning and enhance the guest satisfaction including those on Uganda safaris.
The expansion at Serena Hotels will include thirty six (36) guest room construction, state of the art new suite, refurbishment and redesigning of the meeting rooms and establishment of additional executive lounges and meeting rooms and most of this work commenced on the 1st March 2016 and is anticipated to end within one year period.
Considering the fact that tourism and service industry is a drive to socio-economic development, such expansion projects would definitely come along with employment opportunities where 50 workers will come into addition along with other linkages through supplies.
The current Kampala Serena Hotel was initially known as the Nile Hotel International and Conference Centre before it was assumed by the current ownership in the month of February 2004 with its eighty five (85) rooms. The Serena group refurbished the establishment at a cost of $30.5 million commencing in the month of February 2005 ending on 31^st July 2006 as the leading five star hotel in Uganda and the ideal accommodation for the top notch Uganda Safari tour undertakers.
Apparently, Kampala Serena Hotel features 152 rooms, extensive facilities for dining, Maisha Spa and Gymnasium facility, swimming pool area, meetings and conference facilities. This hotel group also runs the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa on the shores of Lake Victoria thus presenting an extended leisure circuit in Uganda.
The Kampala Serena Hotel is under public-private partnership arrangement and is hailed for employing substantive number of nationals where by 97% of its 781 employees are Ugandans.