Finding the right recipe for success

Chinese hospitality companies have the opportunity to add their own touch to tourism in Africa, and can serve as information focal points to help advance China-Africa relations, an official with a Chinese-owned hotel in Nairobi says.

Zhang Shuang, deputy manager of Soluxe International Group of Hotel & Lodge (Kenya) Ltd, says the company has used its experience in Africa and resources in China to find the right blend of local and Chinese elements in its hotels and restaurants. Soluxe has 72 hotels in China.

The market in Kenya, well-known for its tourism, can be demanding, and hospitality is a key sector of the economy. It has many high-quality local hotels and international chain hotels, which heavily feature Kenyan themes and tastes.