Currently, Rwanda has had four five stars’ hotels given by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). On November 1, 2019, Bisate Lodge in the biggest touristic hub – Volcano National Park that joined the list of already ranked 4 Rwanda’s Five Star hotels to bring the list five hotels.
The hotels/lodges are tipped on giving unique services, accommodation.
Forty hospitality facilities were awarded between 1 (one) to 5 (five) stars during the 2019 Hospitality Grading ceremony.
Bisate Lodge that becomes the fifth to have this rank is located in the biggest touristic hub – Volcano National Park.
The existing four hotels with five-star rank include One and Only Nyungwe House, another lodge in Nyamasheke – Western province also located in the Nyungwe National park which is a natural forest, the Internationals Serena, Marriott and Radisson Blue Hotels.
The last three are located in city of Kigali.
As the list of Rwanda’s five star hotels suggests, one has got a list to choose from either luxury in wildness, or an urban comfort.
In other categories, Residence Prima 2000 located in Kacyiru – city of Kigali and The Retreat Boutique Hotel
The 11 establishments that got a three-star rating are; Landmark Suites, Executive Suites Kigali, Highlands Apartment Gacuriro, Villa Asimba, Park View Courts Ltd, Gorilla Solutions Lodge Ltd, Light House Hotel, Heaven Boutique Hotel, Emeraude Kivu Resort(Kamembe)and Quiet Haven Hotel(Kigali).
The 11 establishments that got a three-star rating are; Landmark Suites, Executive Suites Kigali, Highlands Apartment Gacuriro, Villa Asimba, Park View Courts Ltd, Gorilla Solutions Lodge Ltd, Light House Hotel, Heaven Boutique Hotel, Emeraude Kivu Resort and Quiet Haven Hotel.
16 hospitality establishments got a two-star rating while 11 got one-star.
Speaking while presiding over the ceremony, the Guest of Honour, PudenceRubingisa, the City of Kigali Mayor said:
“The establishment and compliance with these standards is very important for our country as a tourist destination in order to sustain a competitive advantage and attract more tourists. Quality service delivery is a key driver of economic growth as stated in the National Strategy for Transformation which aims to increase tourism revenues to over US$ 800 million by
“The grading and classification of hotels helps to inform customers on how to recognize quality, differentiate all levels of facilities and services and offers greater transparency. The accommodation classification practice enhances the EAC’s competitive edge as a single tourism destination and helps to have a developed industry.”
Niyonkuru added: “And there is a lot to be happy about. For example, in the last five years, a number of renowned hotel brands have started their operations in Rwanda. Looking back, in 2014, Rwanda had only one 5-Star hotel. Today we have 5 and we are expecting more. This has led to revenue from MICE to increase from US$33 million in 2014 to US$ 55 million in 2018. Therefore, the Government is committed to providing support that leads to the improvements in quality standards.”
The 1-5-star grading system helps to differentiate the quality of services that establishments render to their clientele.
The criteria stipulate the standards that should be met for any accommodation establishment to be one, two, three, four or five star and are mandatory for any prospective property developer in the accommodation sector in all EAC member states.
The grading of 40 hotels brought the total number of ranked hospitality facilities to 146.
Bisate lodge was launched on September 1,2017 by President Paul Kagame in the sideline of gorilla naming ceremony, and the hotel is right in the habitat of the engendered mountain gorillas, the only place where they can be found.
BeliseKariza, the Chief Tourism Officer at RDB said that ranking hotels is the government’s initiative that will promote Culture and conference-based Tourism. She made this clarification mentioning that the country is going to host various International Conferences.
Kariza called up on Hotel owners to be ready to welcome the upcoming international summits that include the one of International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) that will gather together 10,000 participants in early December 2019.
It is expected that Queen Elisabeth II of the United Kingdom will participate in the CHOGM summit that will also take place in Rwanda. Jacques Sebanani, one of Thousand Hills’board member said it would be an opportunity to welcome Queen Elisabeth in Kigali. Thousand Hills owns various hotels in Africa including Bisate Lodge.
The one night price in Bisate Lodge that is in Musanze District is $1400, which means Rwf 1.3 million.
RDB says that Rwanda has currently 775 hotels/lodges that are able to host over 14,800 guests everynight.
The Express News
