This archive report was first published on 9 May 2020.
On May 6, 2020, Sarova Group of Hotels announced the termination of its management contract for the Taita-Hills and Salt-Lick Game Lodges in Tsavo National Park, effective July 1, 2020.
The two lodges, located within the 28,000-acre Taita-Hills Sanctuary in Mwatate sub-county, have been under Sarova's management since 2007.
According to a statement by Sarova's Managing Director, Jimi Kariuki, the termination of the management contract will allow the lodges to operate independently, but under a new management.
The move has been interpreted as an effort by Sarova Hotels to mitigate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated the tourism industry in Kenya.
The Taita-Hills and Salt-Lick Game Lodges are highly rated and have hosted several international events, including the centenary celebrations of World War 1 in 2015 and the commemoration of the end of the First World War in 2018.
Despite the change in management, the lodges will remain open for business, and over 103 workers will continue to work under their contractual agreements.
However, the termination of the management contract has raised concerns about the future of the tourism industry in Kenya, with some experts predicting that other major companies managing hotels in the region may follow suit.
