The Star Kenya: Malindi tourist resort wins prestigious award

A luxurious tourist resort in Malindi has won a prestigious award by the World Travel Awards as Africa’s leading all-inclusive resort. 

Diamond Dream of Africa, which is owned and managed by the Swiss-based Plan Group of Hotels, won other awards for their resorts in Mozambique, Maldives and Switzerland.

Authorities said the resort, a member of Small Luxurious Hotel of the World, came up with the Safe Stay Small initiative that offered detailed safety guidelines.

It was launched by all 520 member hotels in 90 countries in July last year.

Alexander Zissimatos, the hotel general manager, said the award is not given by a panel of judges but guests and other people in the industry who voted for them as the best in Africa.

Speaking at the resort in Malindi, he said they managed to get the most votes against their other competitors.

“These awards are different it’s a voting award and not for marketing promotion so it is a fantastic thing and being the best resort in Africa is amazing,” he said.

Plan resorts, he said, has been doing all-inclusive for more than 20 years and it has proved wonderful to guests.

Zissimatos said Diamond Dream of Africa is a five-star resort and they have an extra value for all-inclusive packages which are not found from their competitors.

He said the resort has a boutique hotel and there are two other resorts Sandies tropical village and Dream gardens which are bigger and family-friendly for fun.

“The boutique property is nice and private, we have a lot of clients that enjoy the facility in Malindi,” he said.

Currently, since the curfew was lifted, he said Malindi was booming again in the tourism sector as nightclubs are open, beach parties have started and there is a lot more movement within the resort town.

He said Malindi survives on tourism and largely on the nightlife so by lifting the curfew it's roaring back to life.

Zissimatos said they are fully booked for Christmas. 

He said Kenyans have supported the industry as most of them are coming in large numbers to the Coast for holidays.

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi said the tourism sector has gone through a hard time due to the Covid-19 pandemic but now it's beginning to recover.

Kingi said they have been working closely with the Ministry of Health to make sure the uptake of vaccines is high to make sure guests feel safe.

“We are partnering with the hotels because they are the ones who meet directly with the guests, we want all of them to be vaccinated,” he said.

Kingi said once all the hotel workers are vaccinated, they will continue vaccinating the general public.