Jovago.com yesterday announced winners of its first ever Jovago Hotel Awards during a cocktail event held in celebration of its 2nd Anniversary in Kenya. The awards are held in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the hospitality industry as well as companies which have been instrumental in supporting the company’s goal to bolster eTourism in Kenya and Africa at large.
She went on to explain that, “despite challenges in the recent past including Ebola outbreaks in West Africa, travel advisories to different regions in Kenya, rampant terrorist attacks and a turbulent currency market, the industry can look ahead to a bright future judging on the recent events that have taken place in the country”
She pointed out President Obama’s visit and the lifting of the travel advisory by the United Kingdom as a great endorsement to Kenya’s security. “Kenya has also proved to be a hub for meetings and conferences owing to the huge success of the recently held Global Entrepreneurial Summit, we can confidently look forward to a surge in arrivals for the WTO Ministerial Conference, Pope Francis’s visit and the African Travel Association all scheduled within the next couple of months”
According to a recent report by the World Economic Forum, Kenya tops the ranks of the most online searched destination for natural tourism; placing any hotel with an online presence at a greater advantage against competitors. Jovago.com currently lists over 1,600 hotels in Kenya, as part of the total 7,000+ hotels in the larger East African region. WEF projects that improvement of security, sanitation and adoption of ICT in the country will lead growth in the industry.
The website also boasts of an unrivalled continental inventory with over 25,000 properties that include backpacking sites, camping sites, hostels, self-catering apartments as well as hotels ranging from 1-5 star.
“This ensures that anyone with a desire to explore Africa will find accommodation on Jovago” explained Nafisa Fazal the region’s Head of Marketing during her opening speech for the Award Ceremony.
The awards were presented at an evening ceremony which brought together representatives from hotel industry, company staff, UNICEF (Jovago’s major CSR Partner), and distinguished individuals from the transport sector.
2015 Jovago-Kenya Award Winners
Best Hotel Review. This award recognizes hotels with the best review as posted by visiting guests on Truspilot; an online review platform for online business. The award went to Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge located in Nakuru County.
Most Supportive Hotel: Nanchang Hotel is a 4-star facility that has been instrumental in inventing ways of improving business between itself and Jovago by engaging in talks and setting strategies that seek to surpass set standards in the industry for the customer’s experience
Traveller’s Choice: Progressive Park Hotel is located in Westland and received the award in recognition of a high preference by customers booking through the website. Among other aspects, its location, and staff are rated as quite popular with previous guests.
Supportive Partner of the Year: Bobby Khan, the CEO for Coast Bus has played a great role in supporting local tourism through collaborating in various campaigns aimed at promoting the same.
New Offices
The last two years have seen quite an improvement in the uptake of eCommerce in the industry, well reflected in an increase of hotel listings on Jovago.com. The Nairobi regional headquarters has seen to the opening of new offices in Tanzania, Ethiopia with plans underway for new offices in Uganda, Rwanda and Mozambique.
About Jovago.com
Jovago.com is an online hotel booking service with offices across Africa. The company is founded by Africa Internet Holding and has MTN as one of the investors. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 booking portal, facilitates the booking process for its users to providing them with the best hotel booking experience with fast, transparent and easy-to-use services. Jovago.com has over 25,000 local hotel listings across Africa and over 200,000 hotels around the world.
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