How The Encore Hotel Is Reshaping Nakuru’s Conferencing Market

By Suleiman Mbatiah

The Encore Hotel’s entry into Nakuru’s hospitality market has strengthened the city’s position as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination, offering large-scale conferencing, outdoor events, executive meetings and hybrid facilities under one roof.

Located near Nakuru’s central business district and the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, the hotel is positioning itself as a full-service business events property built for corporate, government, social and leisure-linked functions.

The investment comes as the country intensifies its push for MICE tourism to grow visitor numbers and attract higher-value business travel. The government is targeting five million international arrivals annually by 2028.

The country recorded 2.7 million arrivals in 2025, with MICE tourism attracting more than 736,000 visitors and generating over Sh11.05 billion in direct revenue.

For Nakuru, a city traditionally known for leisure tourism, wildlife and scenic attractions, The Encore Hotel’s strongest selling point is the scale and variety of its event infrastructure.

The hotel’s management lists a grand ballroom, deluxe boardrooms, a VIP boardroom and lounge, video conferencing pods, a main event garden and the Colosseum Amphitheatre.

“The Encore was designed to give Nakuru a complete MICE ecosystem, from executive boardrooms and hybrid meeting pods to a grand ballroom, amphitheatre and open gardens for exhibitions and social events. Our goal is to allow organizers to deliver a serious conference, a product launch or a cultural event without moving guests between different venues,” General Manager Geoffrey Mukolwe said.

According to the hotel’s profile, the meetings and events portfolio includes 19 executive boardrooms, an 800-seater grand ballroom with divisible space, a VIP boardroom and lounge, and modern video conferencing pods for private virtual gatherings.

The property also offers integrated audiovisual systems, interactive screens, wireless microphones, high-speed Wi-Fi, configurable stage setups, professional lighting controls and hybrid meeting capability, features that are now central to modern conferencing.

Its main event garden gives the hotel a 2,500-plus-seater outdoor venue for conferences, exhibitions and social events, supported by manicured grounds and a marquee option for large gatherings.

Reports also place the events garden at about 3,500 square metres, giving organisers room to host expos, gala dinners, brand activations, weddings and large networking events in an outdoor setting.

The colosseum amphitheatre adds another layer to the property’s conferencing appeal. The open-air venue seats more than 500 guests and is fitted with tiered seating, large outdoor audiovisual screens and integrated sound systems.

The amphitheatre is designed for product launches, movie nights, fashion galas, live performances, cultural showcases, corporate presentations and other events that require a more immersive setting.

The combination of indoor halls, boardrooms, gardens and amphitheatre space gives organisers flexibility to host plenary sessions, breakaway meetings, exhibitions, entertainment and networking events within the same address.

“Nakuru has always had the location, the scenery and the road connectivity. What was missing was a venue that matches the ambition of national, regional and international organizers. We are seeing corporate clients look at the city not as a stopover, but as a full conferencing destination,” Mukolwe said.

The hotel also adds accommodation depth to Nakuru City’s business events market. Its profile lists 205 rooms across deluxe rooms, superior deluxe rooms, state suites and a presidential suite.

Room sizes range from 31 square metres for deluxe rooms to 164 square metres for the presidential suite, giving delegates, speakers and executive guests different accommodation options within the same property.

The Encore also lists several dining outlets, including Le Coeur, Velour, Elan and Samburu Sports Bar, alongside eight restaurants and lounges, a large heated swimming pool and wellness facilities.

With parking for up to 300 vehicles at a go, the property gives organisers the capacity to keep delegates, speakers, exhibitors and service providers on site during major events.

For Nakuru’s economy, the conferencing model is expected to support demand for transport, catering, event production, security, photography, décor, hospitality staffing and local supplies.

The hotel’s setting also gives Nakuru a destination advantage. The Encore markets itself as a property nestled between Lake Nakuru National Park and the Menengai Caldera.

According to Board of Management Chairman David Mwangi, the hotel’s location allows conference organisers to blend business facilities with leisure, wildlife, wellness and nature-based experiences, a combination that is becoming increasingly important in destination conferencing.

“The Encore Hotel’s conferencing facilities give Nakuru City a stronger platform to compete for corporate calendars, regional meetings, product launches and large social events previously concentrated in Nairobi and other established destinations,” stated Mwangi.