Hilton Hotel shuts down after a 53-year run and will lay off an indeterminate number of employees, highlighting the difficulties faced by hotels in the aftermath of the Covid-19 tourism downturn.
The hotel, which is controlled by the government at 40.57 percent, has cited issues other than Covid-19 for its planned closure after more than 50 years of operation from its location in the center of the major business area.
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“Following thorough conversations with hotel ownership, Hilton Nairobi will lock its doors for the final time on December 31, 2022 and stop operations,” a Hilton spokeswoman told Business Daily in an interview.
“Covid-19 presented our industry with enormous problems.” However, the decision to halt operations is unrelated to the epidemic.
“Unfortunately, the hotel’s closing will necessitate a retrenchment procedure.” We will, however, cooperate with individuals affected to assist them find new jobs,” Hilton stated on Wednesday.
The hotel stated that it will redeploy some employees to other hotels in the Hilton network in Nairobi.
Hilton said on Wednesday that it will not leave Kenya and will continue to run its other brands there.
“With additional hotel development prospects in the city and beyond, Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham and Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi Airport are expanding our portfolio,” it stated.
Over the last decade, the government has tried to sell its stake in three premium hotels, including Hilton.
