The Pearl of Africa Hotel Kampala

Last updated
Pearl of Africa Hotel
Kampala hilton nov 2010.jpg
Location map Kampala.png
Red pog.svg
Map of Kampala showing the location of The Pearl of Africa Hotel Kampala.
General information
Location Kampala, Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Coordinates 00°19′25″N32°34′43″E / 0.32361°N 32.57861°E / 0.32361; 32.57861
Opening1 October 2017. [1] [2]
Owner Aya Investments Limited
Management Sovereign Hotels Group
Technical details
Floor count24
Floor area32,000 square metres (340,000 sq ft)
Other information
Number of rooms296 [2]
Number of suites37
Number of restaurants5
Website
Homepage

The Pearl of Africa Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. The building, under development since 2006, was completed in June 2017, and was opened on 1 October 2017. [2] [3]

Contents

Location

The hotel is located in Central Kampala on Nakasero Hill. The building stands on a 14 acres (5.7 ha) site that was previously occupied by the state's television stations. The elevation of the site is approximately 1,240 metres (4,070 ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest points in the city. [4]

Overview

Aya Investments Limited, a subsidiary of the Aya Group, has been working on the 24-story building since 2006. [5] [6] Because of cash shortages and administrative difficulties, the hotel took much longer to complete, with many missed deadlines and multiple postponements of the opening date. [7] [8] Since completion, it is the tallest completed building in the city, at 23 storeys and about 90 metres (300 ft) in height. The building was originally developed under the Hilton Hotels brand. However, when the owners of the hotel failed to reach a licensing agreement with Hilton, the latter signed up with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group in January 2017. [9] In June 2017 the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group withdrew from the management agreement. In September 2017 a South African hotel brand, Sovereign Hotels, entered into a short term management agreement with the owners and opened the hotel in October 2017.

Construction costs

As of April 2012, the total construction bill for the property was estimated at US$150 million (UGX:350 billion), according to Aya Group Chairman Mohammed Hamid. [10] In September 2017, the New Vision (newspaper) reported that the Aya Group had invested USh1.75 trillion (US$300 million), into this project. [2]

Other developments

In February 2011, a restaurant kitchen design firm based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, was awarded the contract to design the food and beverage services of the hotel, including a sports bar, lobby lounge and bar, banquet facility, bakery, staff canteen, pool bar, coffee shop, and a specialty restaurant. [11] In June 2013, the Aya Group appointed FEBC International, a global hospitality, procurement, and project management company, to act as "Procurement Management Consultant for Operating Supplies and Equipment" (OS&E) services for the hotel. [12] In December 2013, the Hilton Hotels & Resorts denied rumors that they had pulled out of the deal with the Aya Group due to construction delays. They instead reiterated that they are working closely with the owners to complete the construction and open the franchise to the public. [13]

New partners

In September 2017, one month before the opening, the New Vision (newspaper) reported that the Aya Group, who own the hotel, had contracted with the Sovereign Hotels Group, a South Africa - based hotel management company, for the latter to manage the business. [2]

In September 2018, Forbes.com reported that the owners of the hotel had hired Wyndham Hotels & Resorts of the United States to manage the US$300 million 5-star establishment, effective October 2018. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

Mulago is a hill in north-central Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The hill rises 4,134 feet (1,260 m) above sea level. The name also applies to the neighborhoods that sit on this hill.

Housing Finance Bank (HFB) is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by Bank of Uganda, the national banking regulator.

DFCU Bank, registered as the Development Finance Company of Uganda Bank Limited, is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is licensed by the Bank of Uganda (BoU), Uganda's central bank and national banking regulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Social Security Fund (Uganda)</span> Quasi-government agency

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is a quasi-government agency responsible for the collection, safekeeping, responsible investment, and distribution of retirement funds from employees of the private sector in Uganda who are not covered by the Government Retirement Scheme. Participation for both employers and employees is compulsory. The Uganda National Social Security Fund is the largest pension fund in the countries of the East African Community, with total assets of USh18.58 trillion, as of June 2023.

The Ruparelia Group of Companies, commonly referred to as the Ruparelia Group, is a privately owned conglomerate in Uganda. Sudhir Ruparelia, a wealthy Ugandan businessman, is a shareholder in each of the companies in the Group.

The Aya Group of Companies, commonly referred to as the Aya Group, is a business conglomerate based in Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nakasero</span> Neighborhood in Kampala city, Uganda

Nakasero is a hill and neighborhood in the centre of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. Nakasero is important to Uganda's economy and politics, as it is home to Kampala's central business district and several government offices, including the Ugandan Parliament Buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Bank Uganda Limited</span> Commercial bank in Uganda

Absa Bank Uganda Limited, formerly known as Barclays Bank of Uganda Limited, is a commercial bank in Uganda. It is licensed by the Bank of Uganda, the central bank and national banking regulator. The bank is a subsidiary of Absa Group Limited, a financial services conglomerate, based in South Africa, with banking subsidiaries in 12 African countries and representative offices in two other African countries. Absa Bank Group, whose shares trade on the JSE Limited, was reported to have total assets in excess of US$91 billion, as of October 2019. 

Namirembe is a hill in Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. It is also a common name given to girls in several Baganda clans. Namirembe comes from the Luganda word "mirembe" meaning peace. Namirembe loosely translates into Full of Peace. Legend has it that this hill was a gathering place for celebrating peace or war victories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kampala Serena Hotel</span> Building in Kampala, Uganda

The Kampala Serena Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. The hotel is rated 5-stars by the Uganda Tourism Board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheraton Kampala Hotel</span> Building in Kampala, Uganda

The Sheraton Kampala Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, the capital of Uganda and its largest city. It is one of the three Five star hotels in Kampala, as rated by the Uganda Tourism Board in June 2015.

Imperial Royale Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, Uganda's capital city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kampala Speke Hotel</span> Building in Kampala, Uganda

Kampala Speke Hotel is a hotel in Kampala, the capital and largest city in Uganda, the third-largest economy in the East African Community.

Kampala Kingdom is a Mall and shopping complex in Kampala, Uganda's capital city.

Pension Towers is a building under construction in Kampala, the capital of Uganda and the largest city in that country.

Movement House is a building under construction in Kampala, the capital of Uganda and the largest city in that country. The building is sometimes referred to as NRM House, in reference to its largest tenant, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the ruling political party in Uganda since 1986.

Nakasero Hospital Limited, commonly referred to as Nakasero Hospital, is a private, for-profit hospital in Kampala, the capital of Uganda and the largest city in that country. The hospital is one of five private upscale hospitals in the city; the others being International Hospital Kampala in Namuwongo, Paragon Hospital in Bugoloobi, Case Medical Centre in Kampala Central Division and Kampala Hospital in Kololo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammed Hamid (entrepreneur)</span> Ugandan investor

Mohammed Hamid is a Ugandan businessman. He is the owner and chairman of the executive board of directors for the Aya Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kampala Hilton Hotel</span> Ugandan hotel

The Kampala Hilton Hotel is a hotel under construction in Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. Under development since 2018, the building is expected to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The Hilton Garden Inn Kampala, part of the Hilton Garden Inn chain, is a hotel in Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. The building, under development since 2018, was commissioned in May 2019.

References

  1. ↑ Musoke, Ronald (6 February 2017). "Uganda: Aya Hotel - Rezidor Hotel Chain Replaces Hilton". The Independent (Uganda) via AllAfrica.com . Kampala. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ssejjoba, Eddie (30 September 2017). "Sovereign Hotels takes over management of Pearl of Africa Hotel (AYA)". New Vision . Kampala. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  3. ↑ Divecha, Devina (26 January 2017). "Quorvus Collection gets Uganda hotel in portfolio". Hoteliermiddleeast.com. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  4. ↑ UTG. "Profile of Nakasero Hill". Uganda Travel Guide (UTG). Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Nakaweesi, Dorothy (20 December 2007). "Hilton Kampala Works Resume". Daily Monitor . Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Biryabarema, Elias (14 May 2008). "Hilton Hotel Kampala to Be Ready Next Year". Daily Monitor via AllAfrica.com . Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  7. ↑ Mubangizi, Michael (6 September 2012). "Hilton Hotel Set to Open In March 2013". The Observer (Uganda) . Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  8. ↑ Dreisinger, Baz (15 August 2013). "Overcoming the Past In Lively Kampala". New York Times . Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Sanya, Samuel (30 January 2017). "Danish based Rezidor Hotel Group takes over Aya Hotel". New Vision . Kampala. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  10. ↑ Newvision, Reporter (29 April 2012). "I Juggled Business, Books At Eight Years". New Vision . Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  11. ↑ Press Release (22 February 2011). "Philadelphia Restaurant Design Company Mise Design Group, LLC Acquires Design Contract for New Hilton Hotel In Uganda". PR.com. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "FEBC International Appointed by Aya Group of Companies for Hilton Hotel, Kampala, Uganda" (Press release). PressReleaseNetwork.com (PRN). 13 November 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  13. ↑ EABW (16 December 2013). "Hilton In Kampala Still On Schedule". East African Business Week . Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  14. ↑ Nsehe, Mfonobong (5 September 2018). "Ugandan Tycoon Mohammed Hamid Hires Wyndham To Manage $300 Million Hotel". Forbes.com . Retrieved 15 October 2018.

00°19′25″N32°34′43″E / 0.32361°N 32.57861°E / 0.32361; 32.57861

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.