A section of the Hemingways resort in Watamu. [Photo/ watamumarine.co.ke]
One of the oldest and iconic resorts in Watamu has completed an 18 months renovation and refurbishment project at a cost of more than Sh1.2 billion.Hemingways resort which was established in 1988 as the first five-star hotel has upgraded from its former look and introduced a new architectural design.The hotel is now the first to have a roof made out of recycled plastics.Their resort’s management’s aim was to diversify the product range based on market demands and the new international traveler trends.Many hotels in Malindi and Watamu are old and require to be upgraded in a bid to suit the modern client.The new resort comprises of 39 deluxe hotel rooms all with sea views along with Hemingways residences, a privately owned residential development comprising 21 luxury apartments.Melinda Rees, Hemingways Watamu operations manager said they opted for environ thatch roofs and not the traditional Makuti due to environmental concerns and durability.Speaking to journalists during a tour of the luxurious resort, Rees said Makuti was wonderful and locally available but had high risks of fire.“Environ thatch is just like Makuti but made from old recycled plastic materials with a 25-year guarantee unlike Makuti which has to be changed after every five years,” she said.She said the Hemingways residences consists of one, two and four bedrooms apartments which are selling from Sh45 million to Sh140 million.