NAIROBI, Kenya, May 26 – As the Tourism and hospitality sector continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Travel management company, Hemingways Travel has set its path towards tremendous success following the rebrand from Express Travel Group.
Established in 1955, the 65-year-old luxury travel management company is a member of the Hemingways Hospitality group of companies which also includes Hemingways collection-the hotels and Hemingways Expeditions.
Capital FM Business had a talk with the Managing Director for Hemingways Travel, Dr. Joseph Wambua Kithitu who not only highlighted his career path but provided a great insight into the travel sector and what the company has done to weather the various challenges facing the sector which was hard hit by the pandemic.
Where did you begin your journey to the top?
My journey began in 2009 as a Finance Manager with Hemingways from which I worked through the ranks to Finance director for a period of 7 years before moving to the position of Managing Director.
What are some of the main challenges you would say you faced rising to the top?
The main challenge faced in the early days was mastering the business of travel and hospitality at large since had spent most of my early days as an investment manager and tax consultant.
Managing different groups at the early stages of career development when it happened. I was the youngest team leader amongst my peers at the top.
Balancing career development against the family was also a key challenge since all was happening at the same time. It required walking tight rope to remain focused in all aspects.
What role does Hemingways Travel intend to play in the ever-changing Travel and Tourism Industry?
I intend to move Hemingways Travel to be the leading travel and leisure preferred partner by corporates in Kenya, increase the motivational levels of all our staff across the group and scale up the customer service with key focus on value for money proposition.
Why the rebrand now, at a time the industry is undergoing some unique challenges like Covid and locally the forthcoming elections?
Travel and Tourism is a key economic driver as far as GDP contribution is concerned contributing over 8percent of the GDP in Kenya, Hemingways Travel operates in a space of offering client’s focused service with value for money.
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Covid19 has posed complications with travel thus creating demand for a travel agent. Travel agents are being looked upon by clients to offer Duty of care and Healthy information on all travel-related matters. This is the space Hemingways Travel wants to play in to increase customer satisfaction.
What are the forecasts and prediction of the Travel industry during the above-mentioned period?
IATA had forecasted 2022 travel numbers to the tune of 60 percent of 2019 but we have seen Hemingways’ Travel numbers almost doubling 2019 numbers thus offering a very positive outlook.
What Strategies has Hemingways Travel put in place to stay afloat during the election period.
Hemingways travel has deployed technology to manage business travel during election period.
We have 24hours service offering duty of care and remaining in touch with the clients all the time to ensure election disruptions are well managed.
What new incentives do you have for your clientele as Hemingways Travel?
Cheaper fares due to economies of scale bargaining powers with our suppliers, we are also offering our clients new technology to manage their travel plans.
All our clients access travel healthy information to ensure smooth travel at all times.
Are you planning to expand into other counties, and if so, which ones?
Now we plan to service our clients outside Kenya through technology rather than opening physical offices.
We also plan to increase our partners’ network across the globe to offer customer‘s focused service with local content anywhere in the world.
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