With a rich 49-year history, Sarova Hotels and Resorts embodies a deep respect for nature and community across its portfolio of nine family-run hotels. Mita Vohra, Director, Sarova Hotels and Resorts, Kenya, champions the brand’s dedication to revitalising African hospitality. With a consistent focus on luxurious accommodations, immersive experiences, and unwavering sustainability initiatives, the brand sets the stage for a successful hospitality story.
– Prashant Nayak
Sarova Hotels and Resorts encapsulate the enduring charm of Victorian opulence intertwined with the bold essence of Neo-Africa. From prime city locations to lush tropical game lodges and serene, unspoiled beach resorts, each property is meticulously designed for guests to immerse themselves in thrilling expeditions or discover the rich ethos of colourful Swahili culture. Mita states, “Our hotels, resorts, and lodges are renowned for unique locations and stories, food, which is key for India, stunning landscapes, a high standard of sustainability, cultural encounters, indoor and outdoor safaris, and beach and city experiences. Most of all, we are known for warm service and unparalleled hospitality.”
The Influential India Market
The Sarova brand has experienced remarkable growth and is geared up for new challenges in the future. Mita points out, “Our properties are doing very well post-pandemic. We have surpassed 2019 numbers in all our source markets (except China), with the top four being the USA, UK, India, and Europe. We have invested significantly in our properties and experiences, and we now have nine properties as opposed to seven.”
Sarova Hotels’ journey with India began in 1994 when pioneer Heena Munshaw opened the market for Kenya and the region. This market has been a priority for a long time. “We consider India a robust and important market for our business. The participation and commitment to the recent OTOAI convention in Kenya is a testament to the significance of the Indian market to us. We believe that Kenya will benefit enormously from this market, as will Sarova,” Mita says.
India plays a vital role in Sarova’s growth metrics, and 2024 marks a keen focus on devising promotional strategies specifically tailored to the dynamic Indian market landscape. Mira outlines the meticulously curated, robust marketing roadmap, encompassing active participation in pivotal industry shows, strategic deployment of targeted roadshows, and sales calls across diverse cities based on comprehensive data insights. It will also include a thoughtfully curated series of familiarisation trips slated to be executed throughout the year with specially tailored offers during relevant periods.
Opulence Meets Untamed Beauty
Mentioning Sarova Hotels without highlighting its lodges and the accompanying luxury experiences would be incomplete, as the brand is renowned for seamlessly blending luxury accommodations with the unique charm of its lodges. “With regards to ‘luxury wildlife experiences’, we have just separated out 20 tents in Masai Mara and are finalising our new luxury club lounge, where occupants of these tents get to experience a complete luxury service design. This is already proving to be a success, even though the lounge is not yet completed,” informs Mita.
Sarova Shaba Game Lodge is a stunning property nestled on a riverbed, with natural spring water flowing throughout the premises, artfully creating cascades and fishponds. Abundant trees offer refreshing resting spots after game drives. The gated lodge is high on security, with rooms offering excellent river views. Experiences such as sunrise climbs, gorge walks, sundowners, and private dining add to the charm.
Rated as one of Kenya’s best luxury safari properties, Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge lies almost concealed amidst the lush vegetation of “The Lion Hill” in the renowned Lake Nakuru National Park and offers unparalleled panoramic views of Lake Nakuru. Featuring African-style chalets and exquisite cuisine, the lodge echoes with the sounds of lions, adding to its enchanting ambience. Baboon Cliffs and Makalia Falls offer stunning viewpoints to complete the hilltop experience.
Regarding Sarova Hotels’ expansion plans within Kenya and the potential consideration of extending its presence to other regions, Mita says, “This year, we have already added Sarova Mayan in the Mount Kenya region to our portfolio, and we do indeed have plans for expansion in the region as a whole.”
Kenya’s Tourism Landscape Evolution
While charting the booming growth of the tourism landscape in Kenya, Mita acknowledges, “I think that the range of products has expanded significantly over the years, as has the market mix and the growth in tourism numbers. There are many layers of products, and Kenya caters to a diverse demographic.” Notably, Mita acknowledges the unmistakable rise of the East, citing India and China as increasingly significant markets. Furthermore, she notes a growing presence in Latin America.
Leading the Way in Eco-Friendly Hospitality
Sustainable tourism has become a core focus for many travel and hotel businesses, and wildlife tourism is even more so. Mita emphasises, “Ecotourism has always been a part of the Sarova Hotels and Resorts’ DNA for over 40 years of operations. We have proudly embraced several best practices that have ensured responsible travel within our properties.” Listing out some conservation activities out of many, she elaborates, “We prioritise wastewater management, with a focus on water conservation and purification. Acquiring water dispensers equipped with reverse osmosis purifiers enhances our hydration efforts. Across all our lodges, we maintain pesticide-free organic gardens, producing on-site compost. Additionally, we recycle waste cooking oil into renewable energy (bio-diesel), preventing pipe-clogging in sewerage systems while kitchen waste and leftovers are transformed into organic fertiliser for in-house organic kitchen gardens.”
At both Sarova Lion Hill and Sarova Mara lodges, Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) have been established that utilise a futuristic aerobic digestion system to process raw waste, eliminating toxin matter before discharging clear and inoffensive by-products into the environment. At Sarova Mara, treated water supports a watering hole for wild animals, while at Sarova Lion Hill, it nurtures vegetation. Sarova Hotels also prioritises energy efficiency by incorporating solar energy for water heating. Mita concludes, “There is also an elaborate, state-of-the-art water filtration and plant-based bottling at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge for drinking water. We aim to pick up lessons from this pilot project and later roll them out to all our other properties.”
