Accor To Raise First MGallery Flag In Nairobi As East Africa Expansion Plans Gain Momentum

Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group, is expanding its presence in East Africa having signed an agreement to manage its first MGallery Hotel collection property in Nairobi, Kenya. The group has partnered with one of the region’s leading conglomerates, Jit Group, to launch the 105-key MGallery Gigiri, a premium design-led boutique hotel located in the city’s affluent diplomatic district, close to the United Nations’ Africa headquarters, major non governmental organizations ( NGOs)  and international embassies.

With a scheduled opening date of  quarter one in  2021, the new addition will grow Accor’s footprint in Nairobi to five properties, with three hotels already operating under the Fairmont, ibis Styles and Mövenpick brands and the city’s first Pullman property on track to open in quarter four,  2019. The group’s Kenya portfolio also includes Fairmont Nairobi, Fairmont Mara Safari Club and Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club. 

 Strategic growth

“We have set our sights on strategic portfolio growth, targeting Africa’s key gateway cities, and have identified Nairobi, regarded as East Africa’s economic, financial and transport hub, as one of our priority markets for development,” said Mark Willis, chief executive officer ( CEO), Accor Middle East and  Africa.

“Partnering with Jit Group not only cements our leadership presence in the city, but provides us with a unique opportunity to showcase our distinct and design-focused MGallery brand in the prestigious diplomatic district where demand for premium accommodation and facilities is growing at a rapid pace.”

Jigar Patel at Jit Group added: “Gigiri is the jewel in Nairobi’s crown, home to the UN, major embassies and a large international expatriate community. By collaborating with Accor to launch Kenya’s first MGallery in this high-profile precinct, our vision is to create a sought-after business and leisure destination with a boutique flavour for visitors and residents with discerning tastes.”

MGallery Gigiri will feature 105 rooms and suites; four restaurants, including an all-day dining venue, a signature dining experience, a pool bar, and a rooftop restaurant and bar; meeting rooms and a business centre; and wellness facilities spanning a gym, pool and spa. With a prime location on Gigiri’s Limuru Road, 8km from Westlands, 10km from Nairobi’s city centre and close to Village Market, a major shopping, recreation and entertainment complex currently under expansion, it will appeal to UN and NGO delegates, consultants and contractors, as well as diplomats, leisure visitors and the local community.

Leading design and architecture studio Sundukovy Sisters has envisioned the property’s striking interior design, inspired by Jit Group’s renowned jewel, gemstone and precious metal business and its location, close to Karura Forest, which still exists thanks to Wangari Maathai, the Novel Peace Laureate who founded the Green Belt movement, as well as the Nairobi river, which flows through the city via small streams.

A signature design touch includes a replication of the Nairobi river by a unique aquamarine carpet weaving through the hotel’s corridors. Water will also flow across the hotel’s porte-cochère entrance, offering guests a warm and inviting welcome while immersing them in a sense of place of the locale.

Raising the MGallery flag in Kenya adds further momentum to Accor’s expansion plans in Africa where it is the leading and longest-serving hotel operator with more than 25,493 rooms across 158 properties in 22 countries and a pipeline of 10,744 rooms in 46 hotels. It is on track to open 7 hotels in Africa in 2019 alone and 17 more in 2020.

Properties in the MGallery collection are known for their original design and are memorable for the unique stories they tell. MGallery Gigiri will be no exception. With striking architecture, sleek interiors and a futuristic edge, MGallery Gigiri is destined to become a modern landmark in the heart of Nairobi.