IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) and its strategic partner Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) have opened a new resort in Zanzibar.
Hotel operators Fairmont Hotels & Resorts (Fairmont) have been appointed to manage this resort, branded Fairmont Zanzibar.
“‘We already have a successful relationship with Fairmont across many of our African developments, so the decision to appoint them as the operator of our Zanzibar property was a natural one. Guests may now enjoy a full African experience, from the continent’s famed snorkelling and diving to its safaris and beaches, within our East Africa collection: Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Fairmont The Norfolk and Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, and now Fairmont Zanzibar,” said Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, chairman and managing director, IFA HR.
IFA HR is currently developing a number of properties that Fairmont will also manage, including several on Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai and the Fairmont Zimbali in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
The choice for IFA HR and KHI to invest in the original Zanzibar Beach Hotel & Resort was a natural one given the region’s beauty and its increasing popularity as a tourist destination. The number of visitors to the archipelago has been rising annually at a rate of more than 25 per cent a year since 2003.
The resort is located on the north east coast of Zanzibar’s main Island (Ungunja), 55 minutes from Zanzibar Kisauni International Airport. Fringed by the east coast’s 45 kms of powdery white sandy beaches, the hotel occupies a 350 metre stretch of pristine open beachfront.
Future expansion of the resort will continue, offering much for potential investors, such as private residence and vacation clubs.
One of the resort’s main attractions is its water sports facilities of windsurfing, boating, fishing charters, plus a dive centre with a decompression chamber, one of only three in Africa.
The hotel was inaugurated in the presence of president of Zanzibar and chairman of the Revolutionary Council Amani A Karume. The First Lady of Zanzibar Shadia Karume, deputy chief minister of Zanzibar Ali Juma Shamuhuna and the minister of tourism, trade and investment Sameer Suluhu Hassan were also present.