In the front lobby of the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, guests can view statistics about the Lodge’s generation and use of solar power. The Lodge’s engineer trains staff on these statistics so that they can answer any questions from guests.
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
In the front lobby of the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, guests can view statistics about the Lodge’s …
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
This page is also available inTourism Promotion Services
AKFED’s Tourism Promotion Services (TPS) seeks to develop tourism potential in selected areas in the developing world. We focus on under-served regions where tourism facilities can contribute to economic growth and the overall investment climate. We build and manage hotels, resorts, palaces, forts, safari lodges and camps in an environmentally and culturally sensitive manner in the Eastern Africa region (DR Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zanzibar) and in two countries in Central and South Asia (Pakistan and Tajikistan) under the brand name Serena Hotels.
Serena Hotels are designed to integrate best practices in social, cultural, environmental and economic development within its daily interactions, operations and business processes. These help to stimulate local economic activity, development and growth around the area of their existence.
We are integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to make a positive impact on:
- eco-tourism;
- climate change;
- water and energy conservation;
- re-afforestation;
- solar plant installation;
- species conservation;
- respect for local tradition, culture and heritage;
- education;
- public health; and
- community development.
Contributing to the Economy
In 2016, TPS Serena Hotels and Proparco (a French Development Finance Institution) engaged Horwath HTL to develop a formalised and standardised system to systematically measure the contribution to local development and economic activity generated by Serena Hotels in East Africa since 2013. The objective was to assess the impacts (direct, indirect, induced and spillover) of each of the 19 Serena properties in East Africa, on governments, local economies, the environment and communities, to demonstrate their footprint in the East African ecosystem.
From 2013-2024, Serena Hotels’ presence in Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda and Rwanda generated the equivalent of over $3 million of gross domestic product. Watch a video about the economic, environmental and social impact of Serena Hotels:
Benefitting Communities
At each hotel, the policy is to minimise the impact on the local environment while maximising the socio-economic benefits to the local economy. Serena Hotels prioritise hiring and training local residents for employment at all levels of the organisation. We directly employ almost 6,500 people.
The hotels also demonstrate local sustainable architecture, promote awareness of local cultures, reinvigorate artisanal and craft industries and contribute to national heritage. They support literacy and early learning opportunities, and promote health, safety and wellbeing through the Serena Wellness programme and Serena Clinics.
In 2002, the Serena Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa established a Butterfly Conservation Sanctuary at its premises. To date, 67 species have been bred and over 400,000 butterflies have been released.
AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura
Ensuring Sustainability
From site selection, design and construction through to their responsible day-to-day operations, each Serena property seeks to conserve and benefit the natural environment, sharing knowledge of environmental best practice with guests, schools, communities and other stakeholders.
In Tanzania, prior to the creation of new facilities in the country’s national parks, four environmental impact studies were carried out. While building permission was granted, one study for the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge prompted changes in design to avoid impacting water availability to the local Masai people. Instead, the company invested in five kilometres of pipeline to bring water from an alternative source.
The sea turtle conservation programme at the Serena Resort in Mombasa plays a vital role within the ocean ecosystem, contributing towards efforts to counter climate change. Over the last 32 years, over 66,000 turtle hatchlings have been released into the Indian ocean. One of the successes of the project has been to turn fishermen who were previously poachers of turtles and their eggs into protectors through monetary incentives.
The Serena reforestation programme in Africa has been in place since 1991. Our initial successes were in the Hombe Forest in the Mount Kenya National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) that suffered from the adverse effects of deforestation, and at Amboseli National Park, where the destruction of forests by elephants is well on the way to being reversed. Approximately 6.7 million trees have been planted in Africa by our guests, staff and local community school children, helping to reduce our carbon footprint.
Kilaguni Serena, Amboseli Serena and Mara Serena were all built in the 1970s within national parks/game reserves. From 2017-19, each installed an off-grid solar system, demonstrating how clean, renewable energy independence can be successfully achieved even in such challenging safari locations.
Seven properties are on grid-tied solar systems: Mombasa Serena Beach Resort & Spa, Lake Elmenteita and Sweetwaters Serena Camps in Kenya since 2018, and Faisalabad, Quetta, Peshawar and Hunza Serena Hotels in Pakistan since early 2022. Ten Serena properties in East Africa have solar thermal systems.
Find out more about our work for the environment and with the local community.
Recognition
These measures have earned the Serena Hotels numerous environmental awards and accolades, including:
Environmental and ISO Certification
- Serena Business Complex (at Islamabad Serena Hotel): WWF Pakistan Green Office Certification
- Islamabad Serena Hotel: ISO 14001 | ISO 22000 | ISO 45001| ISO 9001
- Faisalabad Serena Hotel: ISO 9001 | ISO 14001
- Quetta Serena Hotel: ISO 9001 | ISO 14001
Gold Eco-Rated Properties by Eco-Tourism Kenya
The certification is designed to embrace innovation in responsible resource use, environmental conservation, community empowerment, cultural preservation and promotion; and holistic business practices. These Serena Kenya properties have a Gold Eco-rating Certification, recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council:
- Serena Beach Resort & Spa, Mombasa
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge
- Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge
- Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
- Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp
- Sweetwaters Serena Camp
Eco-Warrior Kenya Awards 2024
Seven awards were received under the accommodation category: Responsible Business Practices: Kilaguni Serena – first place, Amboseli Serena – second place, Lake Elmenteita Serena – third place; Conservation of Aquatic Life: Serena Beach Resort & Spa – first place; Promoting Viable Tourism Practices: Amboseli Serena – second place, Mara Serena – third place; and Climate Action: Mara Serena – second place.
FiRe Award
TPS Eastern Africa Plc, Serena Hotels received the second runners-up award for Excellence in Financial Reporting under the Industrial, Commercial and Services category. The FiRe award (Financial Reporting Award), is a joint initiative of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya, the Capital Market Authority Kenya and the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
UNESCO
- Serena Khaplu Palace was awarded the Award for Distinction by UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards in 2013.
- Serena Shigar Fort won a UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award for its cultural heritage conservation in 2006.
Other awards
Faisalabad Serena Hotel was given an Outstanding Tax Contributor award.
Serena Hotels received the ‘Best in 4-5 Star Hotel’ award at the Pakistan Tourism awards.