The second edition of the Kenya Travel Industry Business Awards (KeTIBA), organised by the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), brought together more than 350 stakeholders at Emara Ole Sereni for an evening that blended glamour with recognition of the country’s top performers in travel and hospitality.

As the sun dipped behind the acacia line of Nairobi National Park, guests arrived to a terrace glowing with gold light—a fitting backdrop for an industry celebrating resilience, innovation, and measurable progress. Tailored suits, evening gowns, and the soft hum of reunions set the tone for what has quickly become one of the most anticipated events in Kenya’s travel calendar.

Inside the ballroom, a carefully curated programme guided attendees from opening remarks to reflections on the year, culminating in a dinner that sparked animated discussions at every table. Delegates debated which airlines had improved most, which travel-tech firms had reshaped agency operations, and which hotels had outperformed expectations. The mood was equal parts festive and anticipatory as the ceremony prepared to unveil this year’s winners.

When the lights dimmed and the awards segment began, the focus shifted sharply to performance and impact. A total of 57 organisations, including airlines, hotels, resorts, travel agencies, insurance providers, digital platforms, and payment networks, were honoured for raising operational standards across Kenya’s evolving travel ecosystem. The awards underscored the sector’s continued transformation, driven by digitalisation, improved customer experience, operational efficiency, and expanding regional collaboration.

Kenya Airways emerged as one of the night’s most celebrated winners, securing Best International Airline and Best Regional Airline, affirming its strengthened reliability, customer service, and connectivity strategy across East Africa.

At the coast, PrideInn Hotels & Resorts recorded two major wins: PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort & Spa was named Best Conference Hotel, while PrideInn Flamingo Beach Resort & Spa took home Best Family Resort, highlighting the group’s growing foothold in both business and leisure travel.

In the travel management category, Hemingways Travel was crowned Best Travel Management Company, a recognition of its leadership in compliance, customer service excellence, and operational effectiveness, qualities increasingly vital in a competitive, technology-driven marketplace.

Yet amid corporate achievements, the evening’s most emotional moment came with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Shafi Grewal Kaka (SG Kaka), honoured for more than three decades of service to Kenya’s travel and tourism industry. The standing ovation that followed spoke to the deep respect held for leaders whose careers have shaped the sector’s growth and professionalism.

This year’s ceremony also reflected Kenya’s expanding regional presence, with delegates from Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Dubai, and neighbouring markets in attendance, an indicator of the country’s growing influence in regional travel dynamics.

KeTIBA’s credibility continues to rest on its rigorous, four-stage process: self-nomination, peer evaluation, public voting, and independent auditing. KATA emphasised that this transparency not only strengthens industry trust but also encourages accountability and benchmarking against global best practices.

The diversity of this year’s categories offered a clear message: Kenya’s travel industry has grown into an interconnected ecosystem where airlines, agents, technology providers, hotels, financial services, and insurers all play indispensable roles in shaping customer journeys.

As the final winners were announced and celebrations spilled into the after-party, a quiet pride settled in the room—a shared acknowledgment of how far the sector has come and how determined it remains to keep rising. Despite the turbulence that global travel continues to face, industry leaders described KeTIBA 2025 as a barometer of transformation and a reminder that Kenya’s travel future is bright.

Kenya Airways (KQ) and Travelport have reaffirmed their long-standing partnership with the graduation of a new cohort of industry-ready trainees from the Pride Centre, marking another milestone in efforts to build a skilled, globally competitive aviation workforce.

More than 40 trainees completed IATA-aligned programmes delivered through the KQ Pride Centre, benefiting from access to Travelport’s modern distribution and retailing tools. The partnership ensures learners gain hands-on experience with the same technology used by leading travel agencies, ground handlers, and airline operations teams worldwide.

The importance of such training cannot be overstated. According to the latest IATA Value of Air Transport study, the aviation sector contributes approximately Ksh 425 billion (USD 3.3 billion) to Kenya’s economy, supporting 460,000 jobs — 5,700 of which are directly employed by airlines. With Kenya positioning itself as a regional aviation hub, the demand for well-trained professionals continues to rise.

Training programmes covered key skill areas including digital ticketing systems, customer service excellence, ground operations, sustainability, cargo and logistics management, and the use of modern distribution platforms. Through the KQ–Travelport collaboration, learners gained exposure to tools that enhance booking efficiency, real-time data use, and airline–agency connectivity.

During the graduation, the KATA CEO emphasized the significance of such industry-aligned training, noting that the combination of IATA-certified instruction, Kenya Airways’ operational experience, and Travelport’s cutting-edge technology creates a strong talent pipeline that will shape Kenya’s aviation future.

Industry stakeholders note that such standardized, technology-driven training gives Kenyan graduates a competitive advantage in both the regional and global aviation market. As the sector grows, the expertise of these newly certified professionals will play a crucial role in improving service quality, operational efficiency, and industry innovation.

Kenya Airways and Travelport reaffirmed their commitment to expanding access to high-impact, future-focused training, ensuring that Kenya continues to produce world-class aviation talent capable of supporting the country’s long-term industry growth.

The Nairobi Spotlight Travel Expo returns to Kenya on February 4 and 5, 2026, bringing renewed momentum to one of East Africa’s most established travel trade events. Founded in 2005, the Spotlight series has grown into a cornerstone of regional tourism networking, having hosted more than 150 editions across Africa and connected thousands of travel professionals over the past two decades. The platform has consistently drawn influential players from across the global travel ecosystem, shaping commercial relationships that continue to strengthen the region’s travel industry.

A New Venue Marks a New Phase of Growth
This year’s edition marks a notable shift as the event moves to a new venue, PrideInn Azure, signalling confidence in Nairobi’s expanding hospitality infrastructure. More than 400 visitors and over 50 exhibitors are expected to gather at the hotel for two days of intensive business engagement. Early registration figures indicate strong interest from regional destinations, airline partners, and hotel groups seeking greater visibility as travel demand climbs.

For the first time, PrideInn Azure will host the Nairobi edition, offering a refreshed setting as the event expands its footprint. The 2026 calendar will feature two Nairobi Spotlight editions, with the second scheduled for early September. Organisers note that the decision reflects increased exhibitor demand and Nairobi’s rising prominence as a strategic hub for travel and tourism commerce across East and Central Africa.

Building Bridges Across the Global Travel Supply Chain
The Spotlight Expo is widely recognised for its emphasis on forging meaningful commercial linkages. It continues to connect a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including travel agencies, tour operators, airline representatives, hotel groups, destination boards, and emerging travel technology providers. Delegates attending the Nairobi event will take part in structured business-to-business sessions, product briefings, and networking forums designed to strengthen partnerships and explore new opportunities within a constantly evolving global travel landscape. Previous editions have generated an average of 35 new business leads per exhibitor; a figure organiser expect to surpass this year due to expanded participation.

KATA Reaffirms Support for a Longstanding Industry Partner

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents has reaffirmed its long-standing support for the Spotlight platform by signing a renewed partnership agreement that formalizes its continued collaboration with the event. The association commends founder Derek Houston and his team for sustaining the Spotlight series for more than two decades and acknowledges the platform’s critical role in creating business linkages for Kenyan travel professionals. KATA CEO, Nicanor Sabula, describes Spotlight as an essential bridge between international travel brands and the Kenyan travel trade, providing agencies with broader access to global suppliers, fresh industry insights and new commercial opportunities. The renewed partnership is expected to further enhance agent participation and enrich the knowledge-sharing components of the Expo.

Part of a Growing Pan-African Tourism Network
The Nairobi Expo forms part of a broader regional initiative that stages Spotlight events in various African cities, including Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Gaborone, Cape Town and Lusaka. The goal is to strengthen commercial ties between African travel professionals and global tourism suppliers. Participants at the 2026 Nairobi edition will meet representatives from major international hotel groups, leading airline partners, global destination boards and companies introducing innovative travel solutions aligned with emerging consumer trends.

A Timely Boost for a Rebounding Tourism Sector
The return of Spotlight to Kenya comes at a pivotal moment as the travel industry continues to recover and adapt to shifting demand patterns. Recent data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows a steady rebound in outbound travel, with regional trips increasing by more than 18 percent over the past year and long-haul leisure bookings registering consistent growth. Kenyan travel agents have reported increased inquiries for leisure, corporate, and MICE travel. Stakeholders acknowledge that platforms like Spotlight help sustain this recovery by encouraging collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing.

Strengthening Nairobi’s Place in the Future of African Tourism
With preparations underway for the second Nairobi Spotlight edition in September, the 2026 series is poised to reinforce Kenya’s position as a central hub for regional and global tourism engagement. Exhibitors and delegates are optimistic that this year’s events will set new participation and business-generation records. The successful return of the Expo to Kenya, and its debut at PrideInn Azure, affirms the enduring value of the Spotlight series as a catalyst for industry progress and a key contributor to shaping the future of tourism in the region.

A coalition of 13 countries has announced plans to introduce new taxes on luxury air travel, marking one of the boldest attempts yet to raise climate financing from high-emitting sectors. The initiative targets private jets as well as first- and business-class tickets, and has quickly gathered support from African nations that say the world’s wealthiest travellers should contribute more significantly to global climate action.

Djibouti, Nigeria and South Sudan became the latest countries to join the coalition last week, expanding a group that already includes Kenya, Benin and Sierra Leone in Africa, along with France, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda. Brazil, Fiji and Vanuatu have joined as observer states. Although the group spans several regions, most of its members come from the Global South — a point observers say underscores the urgent need for developing nations to secure new sources of climate finance as they continue to face disproportionate climate impacts.

The proposed taxes would apply to premium commercial travel and private aviation, a sector known for its exceptionally high emissions per passenger. Supporters argue that the levies would bring long-overdue fairness to climate funding by drawing revenue from travellers with the largest carbon footprints, rather than from ordinary passengers or struggling national economies.

The proposal stems from a broader global push under the Sevilla Platform for Action, launched earlier this year, and is receiving backing from the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, co-chaired by Kenya, France and Barbados. The Task Force is also working closely with technical teams from the European Commission to shape the policy framework. Environmental groups have welcomed the development, with activists describing private jet users as “binge polluters” who have for too long escaped meaningful taxation.

However, not everyone is convinced. The International Air Transport Association has criticised the plan, arguing that airlines are already investing heavily in cleaner aircraft, sustainable fuels and carbon-offsetting programmes. France, despite being an early supporter of the broader coalition, has clarified that it does not intend to raise its own existing “solidarity tax” on air tickets, even as it encourages other countries to consider similar measures ahead of global climate negotiations.

Despite the criticism, momentum for the luxury air travel tax appears to be growing, particularly among nations most vulnerable to climate change and most in need of predictable financing. For them, the initiative represents not just an environmental intervention but a matter of economic fairness — a bid to ensure the world’s highest emitters finally pay a proportionate share of the costs of a warming planet.

Source: Africanews.com

Kenya’s travel sector is in the middle of a quiet but unmistakable evolution — and at the heart of that shift is the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA). What was once viewed as a modest administrator of industry standards has, over the past few years, grown into one of the most influential players shaping how the country buys, sells, regulates, and experiences travel.

With rising global travel regulations, escalating operational expenses, and online booking platforms eating into traditional market share, many agents say the timing couldn’t be better. A field that once felt fragmented now increasingly operates like a united front — and KATA is the thread stitching it together.

The Agents’ Secret Weapon

To understand KATA’s transformation, you only need to listen to the people on the ground.

A Nairobi-based agent still remembers the day she nearly closed shop in 2022. A major corporate client had abruptly shifted all travel bookings to an online portal. “We were staring at collapse,” she recalls. “KATA sat with us, helped us rethink our model, guided us through compliance, and even supported discussions with suppliers. They didn’t just advise — they fought for us.”

Hers is not an isolated tale. Across the country, many describe KATA as their “secret weapon” — not because it shields them from competition, but because it levels the playing field in an increasingly complex market.

Partnerships with IATA, AESATA, and tourism boards in Uganda, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai have given Kenya a louder voice in global aviation and travel conversations. Suddenly, decisions about commissions, airline policies, and distribution models, once made far from the continent, now include Kenyan input.

The growing trust is reflected in numbers. Since 2021, KATA’s membership has jumped by 76%. In practical terms, it means agents who once worked in silos now stand under a shared umbrella with access to advocacy, data, protection, and influence. A decade ago, that would have sounded almost far-fetched.

Building Skills and Strengthening the Next Generation

If advocacy is KATA’s shield, capacity building is its engine.

Walk into a KATA training session, and the energy is different. It’s not just about compliance anymore. It’s about preparing Kenyan agencies for a marketplace that moves as fast as its technology.

During a recent Student Symposium at Kenya Utalii College, more than 150 students squeezed into a hall, many perched at the edges of chairs or leaning against walls. As panelists unpacked everything from New Distribution Capability (NDC) to digital travel behaviour, pens flew across notebooks. You could almost see the next generation taking shape in real time.

KATA’s training menu keeps widening: GDS operations, tax matters, destination marketing, cybersecurity, modern retailing, data protection — the list grows with every new disruption in the global travel ecosystem. Agents say the sessions give them confidence in a world where customers now compare prices across five platforms before making a booking.

The association’s Future Leaders Programme is equally notable. Since 2019, more than 90% of its interns have landed roles in travel, tourism, or aviation. In an industry where “getting in” is half the battle, KATA is quietly building a pipeline of young professionals who are digitally native, globally aware, and prepared for a tougher, faster marketplace.

A Fuel Partnership That Redefines Value for Agents

In 2025, a year marked by rising costs, one partnership stood out for its simplicity and immediate value: KATA’s collaboration with Rubis Energy.

Through personalised fuel cards offering KES 4 per litre discounts, travel agencies — many of which spend heavily on transport for visa runs, corporate errands, and airport transfers — are seeing savings they can feel.

A mid-sized Mombasa agency says the programme trimmed its monthly fuel bill by more than 15%. “In this economy, that is not pocket change,” the owner notes.

What elevates the partnership is the extra layer: road safety and fuel-efficiency training. For businesses often operating on thin margins, these savings are not theoretical — they are the difference between breathing room and strain. It is a textbook example of KATA’s shift toward offering tangible, everyday value.

Advocacy Wins and Policy Influence

KATA’s growing assertiveness in policy circles is one of the clearest signs of its evolution.

When IATA proposed a Frequent Remittance Cycle — a move that would have placed immense pressure on agents’ cash flows — KATA rallied the region and blocked it. The association also pushed back against attempts to fragment the Agency Programme Joint Council (APJC), preserving East Africa’s bargaining power.

These may sound technical, but for travel agents, such decisions make the difference between profitability and vulnerability.

The appointment of KATA CEO Nicanor Sabula to the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) Board marked another milestone. For the first time in years, travel agents gained a formal, influential seat at the table where national tourism policies are shaped. The message was clear: travel agents are no longer spectators — they are stakeholders.

Growing Airline Partnerships

KATA’s influence now extends into the airline world, where consistency and relationship management matter.

Airlines, both legacy carriers and newer entrants, are engaging more openly with the association — a shift that agents say has improved everything from dispute resolution to commercial negotiations. The association has pushed for fairer commissions, better GDS access, and the removal of barriers that once left agents operating at a disadvantage.

As one travel manager put it, “If you walk into a negotiation alone, you’re a small business. If you walk in with KATA behind you, you represent an entire industry.”

Environmental Stewardship and Social Impact

In recent years, KATA has woven environmental and social responsibility into its identity.

Through the KATA Cares initiative, members planted over 1,000 mangrove seedlings along the coast — a small but symbolic gesture toward sustaining the ecosystems that make Kenya a global tourism magnet.

The association also continues to mentor students, support internships, and open doors for young graduates who would otherwise struggle to find their footing in the industry. Many credit these programmes with helping them earn their first paycheck in tourism.

A Powerhouse Reborn

Pull the threads together — the advocacy wins, the partnerships, the training initiatives, the airline engagements, the environmental commitments — and a new picture of KATA emerges.

Not just an association. Not just an industry voice.But a stabilising force at a time when travel, globally, feels unpredictable and fast-moving.

As Kenya navigates shifting traveller expectations and global market headwinds, KATA’s leadership is offering something rare: clarity in uncertainty. And as the industry enters a new era shaped by technology, consumer behaviour, and economic realities, one thing is increasingly evident:

KATA has stepped up — and the industry is stepping forward with it.