Following a strong rebound in profitability, TPS Eastern Africa PLC (TPSEAP), the parent company of Serena Hotels, has announced a strategic refurbishment programme across its regional portfolio—beginning with a major upgrade of the Kampala Serena Hotel Conference Centre in 2025.
This initiative marks a pivotal investment in the group’s long-term growth strategy, aimed at modernising facilities, enhancing guest experiences, and reaffirming Serena Hotels’ position as East Africa’s premier hospitality and conferencing brand.
A Year of Financial Turnaround
The refurbishment announcement comes on the heels of an impressive financial performance. In 2024, TPSEAP recorded a profit after tax of KShs 1.32 billion (UGX 38.28 billion / USD 10.15 million), nearly tripling its 2023 net profit of KShs 460 million (UGX 13.34 billion / USD 3.54 million). Revenues rose by 5.18% to KShs 10.19 billion (UGX 295.51 billion / USD 78.38 million), driven by the resurgence in leisure and business travel across the region.
A significant swing in foreign exchange gains also helped boost profitability. The Group posted a non-cash unrealised exchange gain of KShs 830 million (UGX 24.07 billion / USD 6.38 million) in 2024, reversing the previous year’s loss of KShs 1.03 billion (UGX 29.87 billion / USD 7.92 million), thanks to a stronger Kenya Shilling.
“This performance has given us the headroom to reinvest in our flagship properties and prepare for the future of hospitality in East Africa,” said Ashish Sharma, Group Managing Director and CEO of Serena Hotels.
Kampala Serena Conference Centre First in Line
At the centre of the refurbishment programme is the Kampala Serena Hotel Conference Centre, which has long served as a premier venue for diplomatic summits, presidential forums, and top-tier corporate events. The planned upgrade will focus on:
- Refurbishment of the main conference centre and breakout meeting rooms
- Upgrading technology infrastructure to support hybrid and digital conferencing
- Improved acoustics, lighting, and climate control systems
- Modern interiors aligned with Serena’s Afro-Arabian aesthetic
The works are expected to begin in 2025 and will be implemented in phases to ensure continued operations with minimal disruption to guests.
Upgrades Across the Serena Network
The Kampala investment is part of a broader capital expenditure plan that includes:
Ugandan enterprises urged to explore regional oil and gas opportunities- Nairobi Serena Hotel – Café Maghreb will be redesigned with live cooking stations, along with the addition of high-end garden-level meeting spaces.
- Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel – Guest accommodation is being refurbished in phases, with completion expected by end of 2025.
- Arusha Serena Hotel – Set to receive a new health club, banquet facility, and heated swimming pool.
- Kilaguni and Sweetwaters Serena Camps – New pools and leisure spaces to enhance safari guest experiences.
All renovations will be guided by Serena’s commitment to sustainability, architectural integrity, and minimal environmental disruption.
A Vision Anchored in Sustainability
The refurbishment programme will integrate green design principles and energy-efficient systems, in line with Serena Hotels’ pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Seven Serena properties in Kenya already operate on solar energy, with similar transitions underway in Uganda and Tanzania.
The Group’s ongoing commitment to ESG is also reflected in its support for local communities, heritage conservation, education, and climate resilience initiatives.
Strengthening Brand Leadership
As the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) market gains momentum across Africa, Serena Hotels is positioning its key properties to serve a new generation of globally connected, eco-conscious travellers and institutions.
“For nearly two decades, the Kampala Serena has stood at the intersection of diplomacy, commerce, and culture,” said Sharma. “With these upgrades, we are future-proofing that legacy.”
With a solid financial base, bold strategic intent, and a refreshed infrastructure roadmap, Serena Hotels—through its parent TPSEAP—is not only preparing to meet post-pandemic hospitality demands but to shape them.
