This is particularly true when one considers that in 2013, Kigali Serena Hotel was the only five-star facility in the hospitality industry. Since then, Rwanda has risen among the leading foreign direct investment (FDI) destinations in the region, and even beyond.
Five years ago, the government of Rwanda set out to establish foundations for the Meetings Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) promotion with the aim of becoming Africa’s newest darling in the sector.
Given the upward trajectory on the macro front, good governance, great policies for doing business and the fact that it is a growing MICE and conference destination, Rwanda quickly became the region’s leading choice of investment for a number of international hotel brands.
In 2016 Rwanda started reaping what it had so tediously sown in the MICE sector.
Radisson Blu launched a new Kigali complex in 2016, a 292-room luxury hotel together with Kigali Convention Center, which was unveiled just in time for the 2016 African Union Summit from which it earned $4.2 million, according to Rwanda Development Board.
The International brand joined a slew of other hotel chains that found in Rwanda, a new travel and conferences hotspot.
Rezidor Hotel Group’s Radisson Blu, a five star complex with 292 rooms and conference facilities that can host more than 5,000 guests opened shop, hosting several international meetings, attracting foreign exchange, boosting national pride and tourism.
Kigali Marriott Hotel which is part of Marriot Hotels International chains followed suit. It is a five-star hotel and the first ground-up Marriott hotel in Sub-Saharan Africa with 254 rooms and suites spread across eight floors with the capacity to accommodate over 650 guests.
Park Inn by Radisson, a four-star hotel by Rezidor Hotel Group located in the cool shades of Kiyovu offers 161 rooms in different types including suites, superior and standard rooms.
Hilton Hotels and Resorts, another Global hotel chain took over Ubumwe Grande Hotel, which is located within the heart of Kigali. The facility that is currently undergoing some changes will be rebranded as DoubleTree by Hilton Kigali City Centre.
Africa’s largest hotel group, the Protea Hospitality Group is set to open a grand hotel in Rusizi District by name of ‘Protea Kivu Marina Resort Hotel’. The group has over 116 hotels in its portfolio, in several parts of the continent such as South-Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda and Tanzania.
Another International brand known as Starwood Hotels & Resort, more popular as Sheraton, announced its entry in Rwanda’s hospitality industry with a facility to be built in Gasabo District this year. It will be the fiftieth hotel of the group and will consist of 136 rooms.
Other important international brands with a foot in Rwanda are Golden Tulip, Onomo Hotel, Serena Group of Hotels, Marasa and Swiss International Hotels & Resort, popular in Asia, Europe and America.
All these international hotel brands are establishing in Rwanda with the aim of grabbing a portion of the regional conferencing pie as the country progressively defined itself, making MICE the base of tourism industry.
High-end luxurious facilities such as Fatima Hotel, Bisate Eco Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, CityBlu Epic Hotel are also hitting their marks in the country’s hospitality industry.
MICE tourism segment’s impact on Rwanda’s Development
Since the launch of MICE in 2014, Rwanda has hosted tens of thousands of regional and international conference guests among who are many that visit several tourism destinations across the country.
According to Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda received 1,298,000 visitors in 2016, up from 666 000 visitors in 2010, indicating that the long-term outlook to the country’s MICE tourism segment is now very vibrant. Furthermore, in 2016 alone, the MICE tourism segment contributed to the $404 million Rwanda earned in revenues.
Last year (2017), Rwanda hosted over 169 international meetings, recording 28,308 delegates, hence an indirect support for the service providers such as hotels, lodges, restaurants and Rwanda Air.
The blooming MICE sector is an unmistakable vote of confidence in the reforms Rwanda has been undertaking over the years in its bid to revitalize an economy that almost everybody believed was in limbo after the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
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