Aya Group recently opened Pearl Of Africa in Kampala, a landmark hotel whose construction cost more than $ 300 million.
Hamid told us about the hotel and about his next great work.
What prompted you to start a hotel business in Uganda?
As an entrepreneur, I have traveled a lot around the world and I have stayed in some of the best 5 star hotels in the world. Thus, we have identified a vacuum in Uganda's hospitality industry. The truth is that there are many 3 and 4 star hotels in Uganda, which are "disguised" in five. There was'nt` a remarkable 5 star hotel in Uganda. I was delighted to see extremely expensive hotels that offered modest service and outdated infrastructure. Uganda deserves at least a 5-star hotel. So I hired two world-renowned architects, I found financing and I started to build. It took us 11 years to finish this hotel and it cost an extravagant amount but it definitely deserved its money.
Tell us about the "African Pearl".
It is an emblematic hotel located on one of the highest hills of Kampala. It aims to become the best five-star hotel in Africa. Pearl of Africa has 296 rooms, 42 suites, 2 tennis courts, 2 squash courts, 2 basketball courts, 2 bars, 6 swimming pools, 740 square meters, 9 meeting rooms, 2 meeting rooms, a wellness center and a spa standards, stunning panoramic views, and offers sophisticated service and rich cultural experience for visitors from around the world.
The rooms feature, among others, modern wooden furnishings, shiny marble floors, impressive French artwork and magnificent murals. Each of the 289 rooms and 42 suites features a unique set of elegance and elegance with some of the rooms overlooking the entire city center. Guests can enjoy their breakfast in the dining room open 24 hours, their traditional afternoon tea in the large lounge lounge, a glass of champagne in the pool bar or a relaxing beer at the bar of the sports facilities. The Pearl of Africa is the perfect place for great international conferences and celebrations.
How much did the construction cost?
We spent $ 320 million on the construction of this hotel.
Seriously;
Yes. The papers are there. The media often report that it cost us $ 150 million, but it was actually $ 300 million.
It took 11 years to complete this hotel. Why did you take so long?
We did not want to compromise on quality, so we decided to take our time. There was no rush. You can not rush art. We certainly faced some challenges with some of our financiers and other partners, but I feel happy we have arrived here.
What is the future for the African Pearl?
We will soon start working on an entertainment center and we are also completing our plans to expand the spa.
This is probably the biggest investment the Aya group has done so far. What will be your next big project?
Aya Group is preparing to set up a multi-billion-dollar industrial park in Uganda, the largest of its kind in the whole of Africa.
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