TANZANIA: HOTEL SEVENTY-SEVEN TO WEAR HYATT REGENCY BRAND

After waiting for seven years, ABS Tanzania Limited has finally obtained permission and is now set to start construction of its Hyatt Regency hotel in Arusha to replace the former and legendary, Hotel Seventy-Seven located along the Simeon Road in the city.

The new 'Seventy-Seven' hotel, which will be renamed once it opens for business in 2016, is going to be the third 'Hyatt Regency' property in the country after the Dar-es-Salaam's former Kempinski Kilimanjaro and the 'Park Hyatt' being established in Zanzibar.

According to a statement from Hyatt Hotels Corporation in the United States, which was made available in Arusha, the chain intends to increase its business in Tanzania after signing an agreement with ASB Holdings Limited for two more Hyatt-branded properties in the country.

Once it opens, in two years' time, the Hotel Seventy-Seven of Arusha is likely to have the Hyatt Regency trademark but it is still early to tell whether the 'Seventy-Seven' badge will be retained alongside the new name.

Hyatt Regency entered Tanzania in 2011 and took over the former Kempinski Kilimanjaro Hotel, which is now operating under the brand of Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, but retaining 'The Kilimanjaro' moniker.

Expected to open in 2016 or 2017, Hyatt Regency (Seventy-Seven) is going to be a 144-room hotel occupying nearly 30 acres' plot in central Arusha.

Hotel Seventy-Seven, established in 1977 was one of the state-owned tourist properties operating in Arusha City. Others are the Mount Meru Hotel, and the New Safari Hotel.

Once Hyatt Regency-Seventy Seven sails, Tanzania will join six other African destinations in Hyatt-branded hotels portfolio, including Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh Resort (Egypt), Hyatt Regency Taba Heights, Hyatt Regency Casablanca (Morocco) and Hyatt Regency Johannesburg (South Africa).