Last week at the 23rd annual World Travel Awards (WTA) for Africa and Indian Ocean at Gemma Dell est Zanzibar, Serena Hotels won the night with, get this, 12 awards. You read right, 12 awards in one evening – let that marinate. WTA celebrates excellence by rewarding the best in the travel and tourism industry, and Serena Hotels continues to WIN BIG each year because providing world class service and experiences is what they do best. After almost a decade of enjoying Serena goodness with a quality experience each time, they are absolutely deserving. Journey with me, I’ll tell you why…
Want to experience green in the heart of a city, head to Africa’s Leading Green Hotel – Nairobi Serena Hotel. I particularly love taking a dip in the pool surrounded by beautiful trees/plants and renowned “Mandhari” restaurant, one of best fine dining in the city.
Planning a beach, better yet honey moon getaway in a historical place, Tanzania’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2016 a.k.a. Zanzibar Serena Hotel will do the trick. It obviously holds a special place having hosted us on a magical honeymoon. I love the antique feel of this hotel, fits in with Stone. After breakfast in the main restaurant, which when the tide is up you can play in the sea water as you wait for those sinful waffles among other fresh Zanzibari goodness, you can spend mornings experiencing historical Stone Town and other sights/activities and wind down pool side. On hearing about the win, we were transported back to those afternoons we spent poolside and enjoyed fresh off the pan crepes with fresh fruit. The seafood feast in the roof top restaurant was spectacular – okay let me grab a napkin.
Kampala Serena took home the award for Uganda’s leading hotel, and I am sure many Ugandans would agree. I have written about my favorite place to stay a few times, need I same more? As for Lake Victoria Serena, I can’t forget our wedding experience – it holds a special place in my heart. After over a year of planning from a far, the F&B team didn’t disappoint. You see, the night before our day when decorator was done with everything and I’d gone to bed a happy bride-to-be, a heavy storm put down the tent and ruined our decorations wet most tables/chairs. However, they withheld this information until things were put back in place – I can never forget the work they put it. To top it all off, after a fun-filled and memorable night, we were whisked away to Uganda’s leading hotel suite of 2016, the incredible Presidential Suite. If it is winning in 2016, imagine how great it was in 2011 filled with rose petals from the hallway to the bed and bath tub, some virgin bubbly, fresh fruit, and a warm bath ready for us to destress – you know how weddings can be. Morning, breakfast was delivered and we enjoyed it at the balcony, with the view of fountain, colosseum and Lake Victoria, which will forever be etched in our memory.
They didn’t have to do all this, but did because great service comes when the customer’s needs are taken care of without needing to say a thing. This is why Serena Hotels keeps winning hearts and deserves all those awards. Congratulations Anthony Chege and your incredible team in Uganda.
Congratulations Charles Muia and the great Kigali Team, Kigali Serena has proven time and again why you are Rwanda’s leading hotel. There is no host like you in Rwanda and you are definitely the standard of quality service. Speaking of quality, I am dreaming of a Maisha massage – I shall be there on Saturday after my 20 miles for a much needed deep tissue treat by Hannah.
Two years in a row, Serena Hotels have won BIG at the WTA and all these awards have added a new must do to my bucket list, visit every single Serena Hotel I haven’t been in the next few years, God willing. I bet you will want to join in for the adventure :-).
Hearty congratulations Team Serena Hotels on these well-deserved awards. Your quest for excellence is refreshing and makes me truly Proudly African – onwards and upwards.
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