Lonrho Hotels, a wholly owned division of Lonrho Plc, has entered into a 10-year management agreement for the 450-room Grand Hotel Kinshasa, formerly the InterContinental Hotel, in the capital of Democratic Republic of the Congo.
With panoramic views across the Congo River, the Grand Hotel Kinshasa is located in the heart of the Congolese capital’s diplomatic and commercial district.
Lonrho Hotels has been mandated by the government to upgrade the hotel to its former glory as one of central Africa’s leading five star hotel and conference venues.
According to international consultants McKinsey, Kinshasa is forecast to grow into Africa’s largest city by 2025 and, following the recent elections, it is expected that the DRC will enter a period of strong economic growth.
The Grand Hotel Kinshasa has 450 bedrooms, of which only 238 are currently operational. The management agreement includes a commitment from the government that the hotel will undergo a major refurbishment to re-open the closed 212 additional bedrooms, create extensive new lounge and lobby areas, two new restaurants, and a Grand Club Floor and Lounge. The refurbishment is scheduled for completion over the next 24 months.
The hotel also has a conference capacity for 2 000 delegates and provides outside catering services. The hotel includes a casino, nightclub, shopping mall, swimming pool, and recreational facilities that will be reinstated.
Lonrho operates the Grand Hotel welcome lounge and restaurant at Kinshasa Airport and provides a meet-and-greet service for guests ensuring their safe and rapid transit to the hotel.
This Management Agreement has been signed following Lonrho’s acclaimed redevelopment to an international five star standard in 2010 of the Grand Karavia in Lubumbashi, the second city of the DRC and the centre of the country’s mining industry. The Grand Karavia in Lubumbashi has since added three tourist lodges to its offering and the Ministry of Tourism recently exhibited at the World Travel Market in London for the first time, where the DRC received considerable interest from the international travel trade.
Business and leisure travellers will benefit from the international standards, superb restaurants and high-speed internet access provided by Lonrho Hotels, whether in Lubumbashi or Kinshasa.
Says Geoffrey White, Lonrho Plc’s CEO: “The 450-room Grand Hotel Kinshasa is one of the finest hotel properties in Africa and we are delighted Lonrho Hotels has been chosen to manage the hotel and refurbishment of the property. The Hotel is an important asset for the government and its refurbishment reflects the economic progress being seen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” - Saturday Star