Nairobi Sunday 10th September 2006

DIANI REEF REACHES OUT TO HOLLWOOD
By FRANCIS THOYA

Kenya is set to be at the centre of global attention after top US celebrities expressed their willingness to spend their vacation in the country next year.

More than 30 top models, actresses and a world famous author have expressed their desire to spend their holiday in one of the country's leading beach hotels, Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa, during a party hosted for them in Beverly Hills, California.

It was not immediately possible to establish which month the celebrities are likely to visit the Kenyan coast, yet sources close to Diani Reef hinted on August as the most appropriate month for their arrival to be able to see the wild life migration.

In a bid to woo top US celebrities to visit Kenya next year, the five star deluxe Diani Reef Beach Resort & SPA attended an exclusive event to showcase their premium product to the Hollywood fraternity.

Daily Nation has established that most of the celebrities are already in contact with Diani Reef Beach Resort & SPA, with a view to confirm their stay.

Among those who had expressed their willingness to visit Kenya include;Sharon Stone, Sir Ben Kingsley, Macy Gray, Alfre Woodward (Desperate Housewives), Jackie Collins, Loretta Devine, Niecy Nash, Trisha Simmons and Chandra Wilson. Unconfirmed reports state that Paris Hilton may be amongst the high - profile visitors.

US celebrities expressed their willingness to spend their vacation at the resort during the Pre-Emmy's Garden Party that was hosted for them by the Frédéric Fekkai Salon and Spa located on the plush Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

Diani Reef Beach Resort & SPA, the main sponsor to the Pre - Emmy Garden Party, is set on a magnificent stretch of the unbroken white sand along the Kenyan south Coast and the only African hotel that had been invited to display and market Kenya and the spa resort.

The interest by the US celebrities comes at a time when the Kenya Tourism Board has stepped up its campaign to increase the tourist arrivals particularly from emerging markets such as Eastern Europe and long haul overseas.

Kenya intends to spend a total Sh970 million this year to market its tourist attractions in the scramble for rich holidaymakers. Part of the marketing strategy includes road shows.

But as the Ministry of Tourism concentrates on Eastern Europe, individual hotel establishments have embarked on their own marketing campaign, targeting high spending tourists; celebrities being their targets.

The Kenyan coast was last year on the international spotlight after Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie made a stop over in Mombasa. The couple spent time in Diani before leaving for Namibia.

In an interview, Diani Reef Beach Resort's Hospitality Consultant and veteran hotelier, Mr. Detlef Heinz Meisslein who attended the garden party in Beverly Hills confirmed receiving positive response from several celebrities.

"Many of the celebrities were excited over the wide range of products our destination offers. Scores of them expressed their willingness to visit the spa resort - one of its kind in East and Central Africa," the consultant said.

Mr Meisslein said the hotel concentrates on quality as opposed to quantity tourism, with a sole aim of lifting the country's status as a major up-market tourist destination.

Most of the celebrities in US prefer to spend their vacation in Europe and in the Caribbean as opposed to Africa owing to the distance.

However, Mr Meisslein said Kenya, that boasts of a unique product - hotel, beach and game - had the potential of wooing many celebrities if it aggressively markets the product.

"Europe and the Caribbean do not have the kind of package that we offer. If marketed well, Kenya has a potential of getting this quality market share that has been the preserve of two major markets," he said.

In its further marketing campaign that aims at putting Kenya on the World map, Diani Reef Beach Resort and Spa is also supporting the much publicised Nobel piece prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu on his 75th Birthday Fundraising Gala scheduled for September 18 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. The Gala is being co - hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, Carlos Santana, Denzel Washington, Alfre Woodward and Gillian Anderson.