Nairobi beat Lagos to become Africa’s leading business travel destination – here’s why

Kenya’s capital city Nairobi was on October 21 named as Africa’s leading business travel destination during the 2021 World Travel Awards (WTA), Africa and Indian Ocean, according to the Business Insider. WTA is the leading authority that recognizes and rewards excellence in travel and tourism.

Nairobi trounced cities like Lagos, Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Durban Johannesburg, Lagos, and Pretoria to emerge as ‘Africa’s Leading Business Travel Destination.’

The latest award makes it the third time in a row that Nairobi has been named the continent’s leading business travel destination. Nairobi also clinched the award in 2019 and 2020.

There have been reports of harsh economic conditions in Kenya occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic. Several businesses have been forced to lay off workers in order to stay afloat. However, since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions by President Uhuru Kenyatta, business is slowly picking up in the East African country.

Kenyatta International Convention Centre won the award for ‘Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre,’ while Kenya Tourist Board won the award for ‘Africa’s Leading Tourist Board,’ Business Insider reports.

Cape Town was named Africa’s leading city destination defeating Durban, Johannesburg, Kigali, Luxor, Marrakech, Nairobi and Sharm El Sheikh.

According to Capital Business, Four Points by Sheraton was named Africa’s leading airport hotel while Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club won Africa’s Leading Hotel award. Also, Hemingways Watamu was named Kenya’s Leading Beach Resort. In addition, Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, Johannesburg, was voted ‘Africa’s Leading New Hotel’.

In the aviation sector, Kenya Airways is Africa’s Leading Airline 2021 and Africa’s Leading Airline in the Business Class category while Ethiopia Airlines won Africa’s leading airline brand and Africa’s leading Airline- economy class categories. Cape Town, on the other hand, was named Africa’s leading airport.

The award is held annually to celebrate excellence across the tourism and hospitality industry.

“Our winners represent the very best of travel and hospitality in Africa and the Indian Ocean and my congratulations to each of them. They are all playing starring roles in spearheading the travel and tourism recovery,” said Graham Cooke, founder, World Travel Awards.