Prestigious global hotel chain Radisson Blu has closed down Nairobi’s Upper Hill branch, leaving many staff jobless in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. – By Gerald Gekara
According to insiders, bed occupancy remains low despite the festive season, despite efforts to woo international customers who frequent the hotel.
Since the advent of the pandemic, several private sector players, specifically in the tourism sector have been forced to close down or scale their work force to meet the costs of thriving with less customers, and bed occupancy.
It is unclear as to whether the Hotel will reopen in 2021, but staff are hopeful that the facility will spring back to business after the pandemic is contained.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said the tourism industry had lost two million jobs and Ksh80 billion ($720 million) due to Covid-19.
By May, 90 percent of the hotel industry had closed and to date some properties have not recovered.
In August, the iconic InterContinental Nairobi announced plans to permanently close the 51-year old hotel.
Radisson’s closure joins a list of privately owned hotel chains, including Fairmont Hotels and Resorts who closed down Fairmont The Norfolk and Fairmont Mara Safari Cub.
