List Of 10 Top-Ranked Luxury Hotels In Kenya And Their Owners

• Nairobi's strategic position as an East African hub for corporate, government, MICE, embassies, and tourism has attracted significant investment in hospitality and residential brands
• Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi, owned by Kenyan billionaire Adil Popat, is a leading luxury hotel that has hosted high-profile guests, including former US President Barack Obama
• Other top-ranked luxury hotels in Kenya include Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, owned by billionaire Humphrey Kariuki, and Serena Beach Resort and Spa, among others

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than three years of financial, business, and technology research expertise, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.

Kenya’s hospitality industry has made a strong recovery after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the APO report Kenya's hospitality industry emerged as one of the top-performing asset classes in 2023.

Nairobi's strategic position as an East African hub for industries such as corporate, government, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), embassies, and tourism has made it an attractive destination for hospitality and residential brands.

According to Tripadvisor, here are the top-ranked hotels in Kenya.

1. Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi

Villa Rosa Kempinski is a five-star hotel in Nairobi. The expensive, luxurious hotel has hosted the who is who including over 10 presidents.

Among the visitors to the top-notch hotel was former United States (US) president Barack Obama in July 2015.

Adil Popat is the Kenyan billionaire businessman behind the 200-room Villa Rosa Kempinski. The hotel is managed under the Kempinski brand, which was founded in 1897.

2. Tribe Hotel

Tribe Hotel, part of the Tribe Hotel Group, stands as a modern icon of luxury in Nairobi.

Shamim Ehsani is the co-founder and marketing director of the Tribe Hotel, a five-star hotel.

The FLÂNEURS reported that after travelling the world, Shamim and his brother envisioned a hotel that would capture the essence of the city's African spirit while presenting a fresh and creative perspective, leading to the establishment of the Tribe Hotel Group.

3. Argyle Grand Hotel Nairobi Airport

The hotel is owned by the Argyle Hotel Group an Australian hotel management company that provides a series of hotel and resort management services.

It also owns and operates a number of hotels in China and across the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, the Philippines

4. Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

It is owned by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, owned by billionaire Humphrey Kariuki.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts acquired the hotel from Saudi billionaire businessman Adnan Khashoggi, who had bought it following the death of American actor William Holden, who set up the club alongside his friends, Ray Ryan and Swiss financier Carl Hirschmann.

5. Mara Intrepids

Mara Intrepids was established in 1986. The camp is strategically located in the middle of the four game viewing areas within the Masai Mara Reserve.

Mara Intrepids Camp is part of the Heritage Hotels group owned by the Kenyatta Family.

6. Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill

It is managed by the Radisson Hotel Group, a well-known international hotel chain with a global presence.

It has undergone several ownership changes over the years, reflecting its dynamic history.

The group was originally known as the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, but in 2016, Chinese conglomerate HNA Group acquired it, leading to a rebranding.

Radisson Holdings was later sold to a consortium led by the hospitality group Jin Jiang International Holdings Co.

7. Severin Safari Camp

The camp is owned by Severin Hotels and is located in the Tsavo West National Park.

Severin Hotel Group in Kenya is associated with German tycoon Severin Schulte and his son.

8. Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa

It is managed by Sarova Hotels.

Sarova is owned by the family of the late businessman G.S. Vohra and John Ngata Kariuki, a former Kirinyaga Central MP and brother of the late James Kanyotu, a former spymaster.

9. Fairmont Mara Safari Club

The Fairmont Mara Safari Club, also managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, is located in the heart of the Masai Mara.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is owned by billionaire Humphrey Kariuki.

10. Serena Beach Resort and Spa

It is owned by Serena Hotels, which is a subsidiary of TPS (Kenya) Limited. TPS Eastern Africa (Serena) Limited owns and operates hotels and lodges in Kenya, catering to both business and tourist sectors.

The company manages 35 properties, including resorts, safari lodges, camps, palaces, and forts across Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Uganda, Mozambique, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.

TPS (Kenya) Limited owns the Nairobi Serena Hotel, Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Mara Serena Safari Lodge, and Kilaguni Serena Lodge.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke