Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism were at the forefront during the launch of the JW Marriott Hotel, where President William Ruto graced the occasion. Over the past couple of years, Nairobi has been hosting various international meetings, contributing significantly to revenue growth and increased bookings in the hospitality sector, particularly targeting business travelers. The addition of the JW Marriott Hotel to Nairobi's hospitality landscape brings a new dimension with its 35-storey structure offering a unique city view, positioning itself as the tallest hotel in the area.
President Ruto highlighted the substantial growth in MICE, with a surge in delegates coming to Kenya for events like the Kenya Business Forum, Africa Climate Summit, and other regional and global gatherings. He also mentioned the nearing completion of a conference center at the Bomas of Kenya, set to enhance the city's lodging capacity by 1,200 beds. Nairobi's Governor Johnson Sakaja emphasized the increasing demand for hospitality facilities, given the current high levels of hotel occupancy, urging more investors to tap into the industry.
The tourism and wildlife Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Mutua, expressed the government's ambition to position Kenya as the African hub for meetings and conferences through initiatives like expanding conferencing facilities and promoting tourism diversity. The goal by 2027 is to host five million tourists annually, building on the current 1.5 million visitors. The sector's growth was evident through increased earnings in 2022 and rising occupancy rates, further amplified by accolades like Nairobi being named the top city to visit in 2024 by Lonely Planet. Additionally, the elimination of visa requirements for all countries visiting Kenya has been a notable move to ease travel authorization processes.