CHICAGO (September 26, 2018) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) today announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Kanha Limited for the first Hyatt-branded hotels in Nairobi, Kenya. Hyatt Place Nairobi/Westlands and Hyatt House Nairobi/Westlands will be comprised of 233 guestrooms total and are both expected to open in early 2020.
The Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands are rooted in extensive consumer research indicating that guests seek stylish, comfortable, seamless experiences that accommodate their lifestyles and familiar routines. To embody this, the two brands offer casual hospitality and purposeful service in a smartly designed, tech-forward and contemporary environment.
With 173 spacious guestrooms, Hyatt Place Nairobi/Westlands hotel will bring the brand’s intuitive design, casual atmosphere and practical amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and 24-hour food offerings, to guests who are looking for a relaxing and uncomplicated place. Hyatt House Nairobi/Westlands will offer 60 apartment-style suites with fully equipped kitchens, providing guests with the spaces and places that help make them feel more at home. Together, the two hotels will offer an array of shared services and amenities, including more than 7,500 square feet (700 square meters) of meeting space, a restaurant and bar, and a swimming pool. The hotels will be located in one of the most prominent mixed use developments in the heart of the Westlands. The area has already seen significant growth, including increased premium office space, entertainment venues, prominent retail centers, and food and beverage outlets.
“It’s no secret that we have been looking for the right development opportunities for Hyatt in Kenya for some time. Nairobi is the hub of East Africa and this landmark opportunity is only the beginning of Hyatt’s growth in this area,” said Tejas Shah, Hyatt’s regional vice president of development in Africa. “The launch of the first Hyatt Place and Hyatt House dual-branded hotels will contribute to the growing need for flexible, select service hotels and meeting rooms in one of the city’s key business districts.”
“We are excited and proud to be working with Hyatt and to be bringing the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands to Kenya. With our diverse experience in real estate and construction we are well poised to deliver on the need for select service and extended stay hotels in the new business district of Nairobi where travelers will seek a bridge between a hotel and a home,” said Kanji Patel, Chairman of Kanha Limited.
As one of the fastest growing economies in East Africa, Kenya is one of Hyatt’s principal areas of focus. Sustained investment in the travel industry, including the recent multi-million-dollar expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, means the country is expected to see double-digit growth in the tourism sector this year and further afield1. Similarly, the laying of infra-red cables for faster internet connectivity, as well as a large and diverse talent pool, is accelerating growth in the business environment and driving demand for diversified accommodation.
For more information on the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands, please visit hyatt.com/whysettle.
The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.
About Hyatt Place
Hyatt Place, a brand of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, combines style, innovation and 24/7 convenience to create a seamless stay with modern comforts. There are more than 312 Hyatt Place locations in Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras, India, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Thailand, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States. For more information, please visit hyattplace.com. Join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram, and tag photos with #HyattPlace and #WhySettle.
About Hyatt House
Hyatt House, a brand of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, launched in 2012 and offers more than 85 locations throughout the United States, China, Germany, Mexico, Turkey, and Puerto Rico. Inspired by extensive research into guest experiences, Hyatt House hotels offer services, amenities, upscale spaces and a casual, comfortable environment that reminds guests of home. For more information, please visit hyatthouse.com. Join the conversation on Facebook, and tag photos with #HyattHouse and #WhySettle.
About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 14 premier brands. As of June 30, 2018, the Company's portfolio included more than 750 properties in more than 55 countries across six continents. The Company's purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and growth strategy and is intended to attract and retain top colleagues, build relationships with guests and create value for shareholders. The Company's subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences, vacation ownership properties, and fitness and spa locations, including under the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Andaz®, Hyatt Centric®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Hyatt Residence Club® and exhale® brand names. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “likely,” “will,” “would” and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us and our management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, the rate and pace of economic recovery following economic downturns; levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; declines in occupancy and average daily rate; the financial condition of, and our relationships with, third-party property owners, franchisees and hospitality venture partners; the possible inability of third-party owners, franchisees or development partners to access the capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth; risks associated with potential acquisitions and dispositions and the introduction of new brand concepts; failure to successfully complete proposed transactions (including the failure to satisfy closing conditions or obtain required approvals); changes in the competitive environment in our industry, including as a result of industry consolidation, and the markets where we operate; general volatility of the capital markets and our ability to access such markets; and other risks discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which filings are available from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of our forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
1 According to the WTTC Economic Impact 2018 Kenya report, direct contribution of travel and tourism to Kenya’s GDP is expected to rise 5.3% per annum from 2018-2028.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Siân Rylander
Hyatt
+1 312 780 5797
sian.rylander@hyatt.com
Simone Loretan
Hyatt – Europe, Africa and the Middle East
+41 44 279 1226
simone.loretan@hyatt.com