PREFERRED RESIDENCES ADDS MANDHARINI RESORT IN KENYA
TO ITS MEMBERSHIP AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
London, 4 April 2012 – Preferred Residences®, a hospitality-branded membership and exchange programme for luxury shared ownership resorts offered by an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), announced that it has added Mandharini Resort on the north coast of Kenya to its network. Scheduled to open later this year, the mixed-use property is part of a lush eco-conservancy covering 150 acres (61 hectares) near the 14th century Swahili town of Kilifi on the Indian Ocean.
“The East African tourism market has really flourished in the last few years,” said Darren Ettridge, senior vice president of resort sales and business development for Preferred Residences in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. “With a recent economic survey showing both the number of residents booking in-country holidays and international visitors to Kenya growing, it is an opportune time to open a high-quality resort in such an appealing natural setting.”
Derived from “mandhari,” Mandharini is the Swahili word for “a place of beautiful views.” Sheltered by bougainvillea, palms, and Kenya's iconic Baobab trees, the resort is situated on the south side of the emerald-blue Kilifi Creek, which reaches the Indian Ocean at Kilifi. The expansive private beach-side tropical forest and preserved mangrove area with boardwalks will be part of the frontage along the Kilifi Lagoon.
Mandharini Village will be the resort’s central point, elevated to provide 180 degree views of the sheltered lagoon. With plans to feature a large horizon pool, restaurants, spa, and fitness centre, it will offer owners a variety of upscale amenities and services. The 40-room boutique Mandharini Hotel will be located adjacent to the village.
Other on-site amenities include a nine-hole golf course designed by David Jones that will feature the first oceanfront hole in Kenya. Guests will also enjoy the Beach Club, complete with bar and grill, and have access to water sports that include windsurfing, sailing, diving and snorkelling, kite surfing, water skiing, and deep-sea fishing.
The resort’s two-, three- and four-bedroom homes will combine luxury with an eco-sensibility. Hand-carved Swahili front doors and Broseley terracotta roof tiles provide local character. Other features will include generous living spaces and private swimming pools and each will have views of the lagoon or the golf course. As a testament to its superior quality, Mandharini Resort recently received the International Residential Property “Best Development” Award for Africa.
All of the resort elements incorporate green principles to preserve local resources and respect the pristine environment. Homes will harvest rainwater and be provided with desalinated water and solar power, and the golf course is being planted with salt-resistant grass and irrigated with recycled water.
Kilifi overlooks Bofa Beach, which is renowned for its magnificent coral reef and considered by many to be one of the best, and least crowded, beaches in Kenya. It is home to the largest Baobab tree on the Kenyan coast, a popular place for picnics. The town is also steeped in history and African culture and famous for its ancient Mnarani Ruins that include mosques and tombs dating back to the 14th century.
“Mandharini will be a unique development that combines the best of Kenya's nature, culture, hospitality, and lifestyle,” said Friso Abbing, director of Hello Properties, the developer of Mandharini. “We are pleased to be aligned with Preferred Residences. Our partnership will introduce its members to our special slice of Kenya and prompt our owners to discover the rest of the world by exchanging to other quality resorts.”
The resort is less than an hour's drive north of the international airport in Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city.
Beyond the sales and marketing opportunities for developers, Preferred Residences offers owners “high-touch” exchange services and year-round leisure and lifestyle benefits tailored especially for sophisticated, affluent travellers. These include preferential pricing at participating Preferred Hotel Group™ affiliated properties worldwide, complimentary Prestige membership in Priority Pass™ airport VIP lounge programme, personal concierge services accessible 24/7 online and via phone and complimentary annual membership in Hertz #1 Club Gold®.
About Preferred Residences
Preferred Residences is a hospitality branded membership and exchange programme for luxury shared ownership resorts, private residence clubs, and condominium-style hotels. The programme gives developers the opportunity to promote their upscale vacation residences within a network of exclusive accommodations and to deliver high-quality vacation experiences to owners of exceptional real estate. Members have access to a rich menu of benefits and services designed to enhance a sophisticated lifestyle. Preferred Residences is an alliance between Interval International, a leader in vacation ownership for more than 35 years and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group, and the Preferred Hotel Group, representing more than 800 of the world’s finest independently owned hotels in over 70 countries.
