PrideInn Group has unveiled a Ksh3.1 billion (€27.86m) hotel and convention centre in Mombasa, Kenya.

The unveiling of PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort, Convention Centre and Spa, brings the number of hotels operated by PrideInn Group in Mombasa and Nairobi to seven.

PrideInn Group MD, Hasnain Noorani, said the new hotel and convention centre had 300 rooms with 600-bed capacity. The resort has conference rooms able to seat 2 500 people, making it one the largest convention facilities at the Kenya coast.

Other facilities offered by the hotel include an aqua theme park, a jungle cinema, bars, restaurants, and swimming pools.

Noorani revealed that the property would host the SKÅL World Congress in 2018.

“We are also bidding for 10 more international conventions and meetings as part of efforts to promote Mombasa as a conference hub,” he added.

Kenya’s Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Najib Balala, who officially opened the property, welcomed the investment. He said Mombasa had been missing opportunities to host international conventions due to lack of a big conference facility.

“I am happy that Mombasa now has a convention centre that can host 2 500 participants in one sitting, creating opportunities for the region to attract more global meetings,” he said.

Balala said hotels at the coast would be busy throughout the year if they combined the popular beach product with conference tourism.

He called on investors across the coast region to upgrade their facilities to attract more guests.