The government plans to leverage Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Exhibitions (MICE) has received a boost from the Sunset Paradise Holiday Homes group which has launched a Sh100 million ultra-modern conference facility.
The facility dubbed Sunset Paradise Holiday Centre is perched in a reclaimed quarry in Shanzu, Kisauni constituency.
In 2022 according to the Annual Tourism Sector Performance Report MICE, business tourism accounted for 27.2 per cent of the total tourist arrivals. MICE is on an upward trajectory after the Covid-19 interruptions.
“The number of international conferences held in the country significantly increased from 125 in the year 2021 to 248 in the year 2022 year on year from January to September.
This was largely supported by the increase in visitors’ arrivals and marketing strategies put in place by the Government such as bidding for major international conferences,” read the report in part.
The holiday home Director Dr. Fredrick Gikandi, said they had to diversify to tap into local and international conference markets during the tourism off-peak period.
“We have 120 apartments for short-term rentals for holiday people from Nairobi and other places. When we opened the apartments, we realized that holiday tourists are only able to fill the apartments during holiday time that is December, April and August in between months there are a lot of vacancies,” said Dr Gikandi.
The facility with a capacity of 150 persons is fitted with modern communication and audio-visual devices.
“The conference facility is probably the best in terms of equipment, conference facilities that we have enable us to broadcast, recording, remote conferencing and multi-lingual conference,” added Dr Gikandi.
Mount Kenya University (MKU) hosted a one-week annual leadership training for the newly elected Student Association officials at the conference facility.
MKU co-founder Jane Gathoni and Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jagani commended Sunset Paradise Holiday Homes for the milestone. Prof Jagani promises to extend their six-year partnership between MKU and the holiday homes.
By Sadik Hassan
