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The Sarova Stanley Since
1902 OWNERS Mayence Bent was
the original owner of what was then known as
Stanley Hotel, which she started on Victoria Street
(later Tom Mboya street) in1902. In 1905, she moved
the hotel to larger premises on Government road
(later Moi Avenue). In 1909, Mayence and her new
husband, Fred Tate whom she married a few years
after her separation from her first husband, bought
two corner sites located on Sixth Avenue and by
1913, the Tate's New Stanley opened on the hotel's
present location. The Block Family
bought the hotel from Mayence Tate in 1947 although
she still maintained financial interest. Her
husband Fred had passed away in 1937, and much of
Mayence's will to continue involving herself with
the hotel's affairs and management was diminished
with his death. The Sarova Group
bought it from Abraham Block and family in
1978. RENOVATIONS A major
reconstruction and overall beautifying of the hotel
took place in 1932 under the watchful eye of Fred
and Mayence Tate. In 1958 most of the
hotel structure was demolished and rebuilt in line
with Jack and 'Tubby'- Abraham Block's two sons -
plans for massive improvements for the
hotel. After operating the
hotel under the name The New Stanley for about 20
years, The Sarova Group undertook a massive
rehabilitation worth about US$ 20 million in
1998/99. The management had resolved that the hotel
would revert to its original name, The Sarova
Stanley, and so it stands today. http://www.sarovahotels.com/stanley/history.htm |
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The
Sarova Stanley has had 3 owners and been renovated
3 times since its inception way back when Nairobi
was little more than a Railway outpost sporting a
few wood and tin buildings.