Luxury hotel group unveils tallest hotel in Kenya
SA is among the top 5 countries in employing female airline pilots
HOTEL group JW Marriott International announced the launch of Kenya’s tallest hotel, JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi, in the Westlands district. The hotel was officially opened by Dr William Ruto, president of the Republic of Kenya.
According to the hotel group, the luxury hotel stands at 35 storeys and captures the essence of Kenya’s natural beauty and heritage.
Helen Leighton, vice-president of Luxury Brands & Communications, Marriott International, Europe, Middle East & Africa, said JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi embodies the city’s “contemporary yet mindful urban lifestyle”.
“The property combines the warmth of African hospitality with serene spaces where guests can disconnect from distraction, focus on the moment, and reconnect with what matters most to them,” said Leighton.
With the hotel situated in Nairobi’s entertainment and social hot spot, guests will be close to Nairobi’s central business district and top local attractions, including the Nairobi National Museum, Karen Blixen Museum, Maasai Market, Bomas of Kenya, and Karura Forest, an urban upland forest on the outskirts of Nairobi.
The hotel’s interior design is largely inspired by the beauty, heritage, and palette of Kenya’s great outdoors and was designed by George Wong.
The hotel group said Wong sought to capture the spirit and story of an African adventure through the use of an earth-toned colour palette of savannah browns, Maasai reds, cultural terracotta, and safari green incorporated throughout the hotel’s spaces.
JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi features 315 sophisticated guest rooms, five internationally-inspired dining places, a luxury Spa by JW, eight exceptional event spaces for gatherings and celebrations, and 51 spacious serviced apartments, making it a perfect place for travellers to experience a peaceful escape for mind, body and soul.
SOUTH Africa and India are making strides in the employment of female pilots. According to a study by the International Society of Women Airline Pilots in 2021, India has over 1 200 female pilots, around 10% of them being commercial pilots.
The study revealed that 12.4% of India’s pilots were women. Ireland and South Africa followed with 9.9% of the countries’ pilots being female. Though the figures are not very high, they are significant in comparison to other countries around the world.
According to the Anadolu Agency, Türkiye’s national carrier Turkish Airlines employs 329 female pilots, with two being South Africans: Annabel Vundla, its first black female captain, and First Officer Refilwe Moreetsi, the first black female management pilot.
Commenting on equality in the aviation industry, Turkish Airlines said women were demonstrating a strong desire to pursue a career in piloting and aviation-related jobs.
“Piloting a plane shouldn’t be a matter of gender. It’s about talent, desire and determination,” it said.
Turkish Airlines said it was committed to the advancement of female pilots in aviation, with Emel Arman being one of its pilots.
Arman is the first female pilot to fly commercial flights, the airline’s first female pilot, the first female captain, and she still flies with Turkish Airlines.