The hotel has refreshed several of its spaces and expanded its food and beverage offering as part of a transformation led by General Manager Tim Brown, who joined the Kigali property at the beginning of 2026.
Brown, who has nearly three decades of hospitality experience across Africa, said the changes are intended to position Onomo as a lifestyle hotel where guests can stay, connect, celebrate and socialise.
“The opportunity is really great in Kigali. Although the city has many international brands, this hotel offers something a little different. We would really like the guests to see us as more of a lifestyle hotel rather than just a place to stay,” he told IGIHE in an exclusive interview.
The three-star hotel has 109 rooms and has traditionally catered primarily to business travellers. Brown said its strategy is now focused on expanding into other segments while maintaining its corporate clientele.
“We want to make sure that we engage with other markets, like corporates, guests that want to meet to have conferences,” he emphasised.
The hotel is also targeting foreign individual travellers, regional visitors travelling for leisure and Rwanda’s local business and social events market.
Onomo has refurbished its restaurant, iJURU, conference rooms and outdoor spaces. The terrace has been expanded to accommodate up to 300 people, while a new bar and outdoor kitchen have also been introduced. The official reopening ceremony for iJURU Restaurant is scheduled for Friday, October 2.
The pool area has also been revamped to accommodate different uses, ranging from private dinners and small gatherings to engagement parties, civil weddings and other social events.
Brown said the changes were informed by market research conducted after his arrival, which identified demand for new spaces and food and beverage experiences.
“We realised that this is what the market is looking for. They’re looking for new spaces, new food and beverage offerings, and we’ve tried to combine all of that with the changes that we’ve made,” he noted.
The hotel also hosts Friday evening entertainment, with live music and an outdoor kitchen serving food in a casual setting.
Brown said the changes are part of a broader effort to make Onomo more connected to Kigali’s community rather than serving only as a place for hotel guests.
“We want to be part of the community, and we want to make sure that we strengthen the relationships that we’ve already built and make sure that the community sees this as a place where they are welcome,” Brown said.
The transformation comes as Kigali’s hospitality industry continues to expand, with international and local hotels competing for business, leisure and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) travellers.
Rwanda’s MICE sector generated $94.7 million in revenue in 2025, up from $84.8 million a year earlier, according to the Rwanda Development Board. The country hosted 165 international and regional meetings and events that attracted more than 61,000 delegates, highlighting growing demand for accommodation, conference venues and related hospitality services.
Brown said Onomo’s position as a Pan-African lifestyle brand gives it room to differentiate itself in the market.
Onomo operates 23 hotels across Africa with properties in major cities including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Maputo, Dar es Salaam, Kampala and Kigali.
The Kigali property has seen a steady increase in business since the beginning of the year, particularly among corporate travellers and smaller conference groups, according to Brown.
The hotel’s conference facilities include a room that can accommodate up to 100 people and another with capacity for about 40 people.
Brown said the hotel is seeking to build on the growth by strengthening its relationships with businesses, entrepreneurs and the wider local community.
For him, the transformation is ultimately about changing how people perceive the property.
“When people see us differently, not just as a place to stay, but really a place where you could come to connect, a place where you can celebrate, [that] would be a success for us,” he said.
He added that profitability, together with a motivated team, would be important measures of the hotel’s success over the next one to two years.
Brown also highlighted the importance of local identity, saying the hotel supports the Made in Rwanda initiative and plans to introduce uniforms designed by a Rwandan designer.
He described Kigali’s hospitality industry as relatively young compared with some other African markets but said its hotels and restaurants can compete with offerings elsewhere.
“The offering that it has can compare to any other market,” he affirmed, pointing to the city’s growing range of hotels and restaurants.
As Onomo Kigali continues with its transformation, Brown outlined a vision for the hotel as a place where visitors and residents can meet, dine, hold events and spend time beyond simply booking a room.
“Please come and see the new Onomo Hotel. Come and enjoy the spaces,” he invited guests and Kigali residents.
Watch the full interview with Tim Brown below as he discusses Onomo Kigali’s transformation, its new lifestyle focus and plans to attract a wider range of guests and customers.
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