TRIBE – The Village Market Hotel in Nairobi has been chosen as one of the world’s hottest new hotels by Conde Nast Traveller in the magazine’s 2010 awards.

The magazine, in its 2010 Hot List, praised hoteliers for expanding in one of the toughest global economic periods in recent years: “Showing amazing resilience, the art of hotel innovation is flourishing. We combed through the thousands (of hotels) that debuted in the past year, then bedded down anonymously at the most compelling candidates. A robust 134 properties spread across a record 55 countries won a place on our list with their blend of style, service, technology, and transporting aura.”

Sixteen 16 hotels in Africa and the Middle East cracked the nod. Tribe – The Village Market Hotel, which is part of Protea Hotels’ exclusive African Pride Hotels collection, was the only one chosen in Kenya.

Danny Bryer, Sales, Marketing and Revenue Director of the Protea Hospitality Group, said he was delighted with the award. “This award recognizes the quality and luxurious nature of Tribe and the African Pride Hotels brand; Africa’s largest and leading luxury hospitality brand. Our staff are dedicated to providing world-class service and the entire hotel is a design masterpiece. Awards of this nature show the international travel market that the best hospitality services are to be found on the African continent. As the name implies, African Pride Hotels embodies the proud spirit of Africa, combined with a passion for service and a commitment to excellence.”

Bryer said the hotel was also a testament to successful partnerships between local developers and international brands such as the African Pride Hotel group. “The recipe has worked so well that the hotel is expanding its facilities and will be opening a new conferencing venue next month. The facility will feature top-of-the-range technology and increase the hotel’s conferencing capacity from 30 to 100 people.”
Director and Chief of Development Hooman Ehsani said he was delighted: “The response has been good from local and international clientele since we opened.

“Tribe is not even two years old, but we have already earned a reputation for re-setting the standards of hotel customer service and accommodation in Nairobi. We’re extremely proud of what we’ve managed to achieve in such a short space of time, but for us, this recognition is a spring-board for the continued development of Tribe, and the continued growth of tourism in Kenya.”

The hotel is a sensational design mix of cool contemporary and African chic. Inside, a four-story glass atrium and more than 800 artworks create a striking, vast space in which modern architecture and traditional African forms intermingle.

The 142 rooms and suites—decorated in shades of ocher, brown, and beige — convey an urban cool, with curved walls and headboards, and contemporary and traditional sculptures. All rooms have glass-walled bathrooms, some with freestanding tubs, packets of Kenyan coffee and complimentary mini-bar treats, with sumptuous bedding, wi-fi, mood lighting, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and large LCD televisions.

“From the very initial drawing board stage of design our benchmark has always been the global hospitality industry, and this accolade establishes Tribe as one of the top properties in the World, an achievement we are extremely proud of,” said Mehraz Ehsani, the hotel’s architect.

The pool terrace hosts receptions and cocktail parties, while the Epic restaurant serves grills and a magic mix of African, Asian, and Italian cuisine.
Tribe –The Village Market Hotel attracts a mix of markets ranging from business and government travelers who appreciate the hotel’s high-security in the Village Market as well as international individual and group leisure travelers on route to experience the Masai Mara. The Village Market is East Africa’s largest (gated) shopping mall and entertainment precinct, less than 10km from Nairobi’s CBD.

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