News from the Fairview - October 2003
NEWS & INFORMATION
The Fairview gets a new entrance and more parking space
The Fairview now has a gym!
Our security has been upgraded
New Menu for the Pool Restaurant
Two more gazebos in the garden
Enjoy a sundowner by the camp fire
Shampoo in every room
Tea/Coffee Machines in every room
Significant Additions to the Superior &Deluxe Rooms
New Conference Packages
Meet the staff: Clement Mikhago Senior Housekeeping Supervisor
The Fairview gets a new entrance and more parking space
Our regular clientele will be pleased to know that they can now enter the hotel by car from First Ngong Avenue which we hope will soon become a two way street. By creating this new entrance we have also added more car parking space, which will ease congestion at busy times. Remember, the main entrance is still open if you prefer to use it and the old car park is always available Click here for location map.
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The Fairview now has a gym!
Long overdue, phase 1 of our gym will be complete in early December 2003! Named the Bridge to Fitness, the gym has 2 running machines, a rowing machine, bike machine, a multi gym free weights and a few other of the basics. Initially, this gym will not be open to members of the public as we want to ensure that we can meet the needs of our hotel and apartment guests.
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Our security has been upgraded
Security is now a major issue at any hotel whether it is Nairobi or London. We have always prided ourselves on our level of unobtrusive security - CCTV, in- house guards and personal safes in every room. But we realize that we cannot be complacent - good security is vital. So we are very pleased to tell you that we have hired international security consultants who have shown us how to improve our security without spoiling the natural charm of the Fairview. Perhaps the only obvious difference to our guests will be the barriers at the hotel entrances but we can assure you that in other ways the Fairview's security is on a par with the best international hotels in the world. The consultants will return every three months to review the situation. Your comfort and safety is our priority.
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New Menu for the Pool Restaurant
 Upper Hill's most popular lunchtime venue, the Fairview Pool Restaurant , will launch its new menu in January. Like all dishes, you will notice that it resembles home cooking rather than hotel food. New specialties include sizzling Chinese dishes, sushi from Japan, pasta pesto created by none other than Leo (of Leo's delicatessen in Hurlingham) using basil from the Fairview's herb garden. We still have the old favourites such as Murg Makhani, grilled fresh fish and crispy salads, not to mention the best thin based pizzas in town.
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Two more gazebos in the garden
 Our poolside gazebo proved to be so popular that we have built two more. Everyone loves the gazebos, not just for the welcome shade on sunny days but also for the sense of privacy that they generate. Our new gazebos will be a welcome addition especially as conference 'break away' venues.
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Enjoy a sundowner by the camp fire
You don't have to be in the Masai Mara to sit round the camp fire. We feel that our five acres of landscaped gardens allow our guests to feel that they are not in town, so we have built a camp fire where guests can enjoy a drink before or after dinner. Perfect on a cool Nairobi evening and a wonderful start to an African journey, whether on business or pleasure.
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Shampoo in every room
After extensive research the Fairview is introducing shampoo in all rooms (January 1, 2004). Unlike many other hotels, the shampoo will not be in little 50 ml bottles but rather in large dispensers. Large and user friendly, the dispensers mean less wastage, thus helping us to keep costs down while keeping plastic waste to a minimum. The dispensers are also very attractive and we feel sure that they will be a big hit with our guests.
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Tea/Coffee Machines in every room
Fairview management really do listen to their guests. The most common comment on guest questionnaires is "Tea/coffee machines" please. Effective Feb 1, every room will have one!
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Significant Additions to the Superior & Deluxe Rooms
Our deluxe rooms have always been extremely spacious - in fact, often 15% larger that the average five star room in Nairobi. However, they lack some of the "5 star" amenities and our guests have often brought this to out attention. So we have acted! Effective January 2004, we will be adding a fridge, bath robe, trouser press, shower gel, complimentary mineral water, stationary, and Kleenex tissue paper.
In our Superior rooms, we will add stationary, and Kleenex tissue paper.
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New Conference Packages
We are adding a more luxurious conference package that entitles the conference participant to an extra coffee break (early morning) as well as a truly gourmet selection of fruits and snacks as well as unlimited mineral water.
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Meet the staff: Clement Mikhago Senior Housekeeping Supervisor
Clement Mikhago is a familiar face with many of our regular guests, having worked at the Fairview for the last 25 years for three generations of the Szlapak family. Currently Senior Housekeeping Supervisor, in 1978 Clement began his Fairview career working in the gardens, working for Charles Szlapak, before transferring in 1981 to the linen store where he spent three years. During this time he came to the notice of Mrs. Rachel Szlapak, (Charles' mother) then the Executive Housekeeper, and began working for her as an assistant. Apart from checking rooms Clement also helped Mrs. Szlapak with purchasing and often accompanied her to Biashara Street to buy fabrics. Sadly Mrs. Szlapak died in 1995, but Clement remained in the same department working for Mrs. Szlapak's grand-daughter, Eliana, and he is still with her today.
Over 25 years how has the Fairview changed for Clement? "We have conference facilities, larger rooms and, for me, the biggest difference - computers." In the past, Clement had to spend much of his time walking around the hotel to see if the rooms were ready for occupation. With the computerization of the housekeeping department Clement is able to check this, without having to physically see the room. Of course, he still does spot checks on rooms to be sure that they meet the Fairview standards. Computers can't do everything!
In addition, when Clement started at the Fairview there was no generator, laundry was contracted out, and water supply was unreliable. Now there are two large generators, a borehole and a state of the art laundry, which ensures a regular, dependable supply of clean linen.
Married with three children Clement clearly loves his job. "My job is very enjoyable," he says, "especially as I get to chat with the guests. And at the same time as doing this nice work, I earn my living." His big, friendly smile, which is a welcome sight to all our visitors, says it all.
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Old News:
April 2002
January 2002
September 2001
April 2003
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