Four Seasons to expand in Tanzania

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts has signed a long-term management agreement with the owners of Bilila Lodge, a resort in the Serengeti National Park, and will relaunch the property as the Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti in autumn 2012.

The new resort forms part of a major Tanzanian expansion for the luxury hotel group, which has also unveiled plans a luxury tented safari camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and a beach resort on the island of Zanzibar.

“We have long wanted to expand into Sub-Saharan Africa and offer new outdoor adventure experiences to our guests,” said Kathleen Taylor, Four Seasons’ President & CEO. “Now we’re thrilled to have an outstanding location and partners who share our vision to create a world class lodge like no other in the heart of Africa’s finest safari region.”

Four Seasons veteran James Kostecky has been appointed General Manager as the Serengeti. He returns to Africa, where he previously worked for the Kenyawith hotel group, following a stint at the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Thailand.

“It’s great to be back in Africa,” said Kostecky. “This lodge will be an excellent opportunity for first time safari travellers, families and groups to experience the natural beauty, astounding wildlife and fascinating culture of the Serengeti.”

Commenting on the company’s future growth in Tanzania’s Four Seasons’ Executive Vice President of Worldwide Development, Scott Woroch said; “This is the first step in a bold development project that will see three diverse Four Seasons experiences in what are considered to be three of the most important and attractive destinations in Tanzania.

“The responsibility of taking over such as irreplaceable asset within the Serengeti National Park is one that we take very seriously. This is an extremely rare opportunity for Four Seasons in that no other property of this size or scale exists, or is likely to ever be developed again in the Park. With the future development of a luxury tented safari camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and an exclusive beach resort on the island of Zanzibar, Four Seasons will offer some of the finest holiday experiences in Tanzania.”