Kenya is not only a top safari destination, but also favored for its luxury African holidays
Kenya is not only a top safari destination, but also favored for its luxury African holidays

Published on December 19 2013
Written by: Fran
658 views

Billionaires Resort, Malindi: Kenya's latest luxury

Highlights

  • Kenya’s latest luxury holiday resort development is now up and running, making a luxury African holiday the new hot item on Kenya's already packed tourism portfolio.
  • Billionaires Resort, the second luxury Kenyan resort by Flavio Briatore, are now welcoming guests for the Christmas season.
  • Although not offering hotel facilities, the resort include 24 apartments, a restaurant, casino, several entertainment facilities, as well as shared facilities with next door neighbor, Marine & Beach Park.
  • The demand for this resort and success of the established Lion in the Sun resort, now have talks underway which could bring the upgrading of infrastructure, including upgrading of local airport runway.
  • Kenya is renowned as a top safari destination, but is now fast becoming a combined African holiday destination, showcasing the best of Africa - in great luxury.

Conventional images of an African holiday bring images of a hot and dusty Africa where luxuries are limited, if available at all, to mind. But the last few years drastically changed and shaped this image. Now, with Kenya’s latest luxury holiday resort development up and running, a luxury African holiday is the new hit on the continent.

Malindi: Italian owner and developer

The Billionaires Resort is the brainchild of well-known Italian businessman and former leader of the Renault F1 team, Flavio Briatore. Briatore knows what it takes to plan a successful luxury resort development – his other luxury Malindi resort development, ‘Lion in the Sun’ has received several top level hospitality and tourism awards. With its excellent location in the coastal village of Malindi and high-end finishings, Lion in the Sun has already proved to be a much-loved Kenyan holiday resort. With this development experience, Briatore set out to develop another high-end resort in Kenya.  About 500 million Kenya Shillings later, this resort will be opening its doors within the next few days. 

Malindi Resort Kenya: opening for the Christmas holiday season

Although the official opening of the resort was scheduled for August 2013, construction delays were experienced – bearing in mind that a grand development in a small Kenyan village can not otherwise but pose some construction challenges. The official grand opening hosted local government and tourism officials, sending the resort off with local government blessings. The Billionaires Resort will be welcoming its first guests a few days before Christmas. Africa is the continent of eternal sunshine, and many people from around the globe flock to the continent for a warm and sunny Christmas, Billionaires Resort’s timing could not have been better!

Malindi Resort offerings

What does the resort offer? A beach restaurant overlooking the white sandy beaches, a casino, retreat and spa, sport facilities, palm gardens, public amenities and 24 furnished apartments. The entire development has been done in great style, with eco-finishings and facilities to match Kenya’s environment and climate. Unlike Briatore’s ‘Lion in the Sun’ development, the Billionaires Resort will not host a hotel. Apartments are however available to potential owners, with the possibility of apartment renting for a luxury holiday. The resort will link to neighboring Marine Park and Beach, where shared facilities will be on offer.  It is said that the Billionaires Resort attracted great interest, and that Briatore is considering to expand the number of  luxury suites to satisfy the demand. Some of the resort facilities such as the beach restaurant are however continuously accessible to public day-visitors. According to Briatore, the resort will allow visitors to admire Africa’s natural beauty by day, but at night the facility will remind of Monte Carlo with all its glam. 

Although this top-end development in Kenya will remain exclusive with housing components only available to a limited few, it does pave the way for Kenya tourism in many ways. There are even talks of upgrading the local runway at the Malindi airport. Kenya is one of Africa’s top safari destinations and with luxury holiday resort developments like the Billionaires Resort, we can expect to see Kenya attracting even further international investments and travel attention. And the visitors, tourists and safari enthusiasts will be rewarded with a pleasant and even luxurious African experience.

 


Sources and credits

Photo credits: some rights reserved by Battalo via flickr [Creative Commons]

About the author

Has been on: 11 safaris

Seeing beyond the average tourist routes and experiencing local life is my type of travel! Living in South Africa I'm an environmentalist at heart, and I continue to marvel at the beauty of the African continent.

Share on:

Like this article?

Go on, give it a kudu!

0 gave this
a kudu

 

© Your African Safari Ltd, All rights reserved.