Travel agents and tourism professionals from across Kenya converged at the Sarova Panafric Hotel for the two-day renowned Nairobi Spotlight Event, a key gathering that has been instrumental in fostering connections across the travel industry since its inception in 2005. Among the attendees were Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) members from the Coast and Kisumu regions, who joined their Nairobi counterparts for a day filled with meaningful engagements and market insights.
The event brought together a diverse network of travel and tourism stakeholders, including travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, hotels, and global travel brands, all united by a common goal – to strengthen business ties and explore emerging opportunities in a rapidly evolving travel landscape.
KATA Chairman, Dr. Joseph Kithitu, lauded the efforts of event founder Derek Houston and his dedicated team, acknowledging their unwavering commitment to keeping the Spotlight platform alive and impactful over the past two decades.
“For 20 years, this event has provided a valuable bridge between international travel brands and the Kenyan travel trade,” Dr. Kithitu said in his remarks. “As we work toward rebuilding and expanding travel, such engagements reaffirm the strength, unity, and resilience of our industry.”
The Nairobi Spotlight Event is part of a larger regional initiative that seeks to connect African travel agents with global tourism suppliers through a series of B2B networking events held in major cities. Attendees at the Nairobi edition had the opportunity to interact with representatives from leading destinations, hotel groups, airline partners, and travel tech companies.
For KATA members, particularly those who travelled from outside the capital, the event was a chance not only to strengthen their professional networks but also to engage with international partners and gain insights into new travel products and services.
“KATA is proud to see our members actively participating in platforms that shape the future of travel,” said KATA Coast region Director, Patrick Kamanga. “This kind of interaction enhances knowledge sharing, fosters innovation, and positions Kenyan travel agents as strategic partners in the global tourism value chain.”
As the travel industry continues to recover and adapt to changing consumer trends and global demands, events like the Nairobi Spotlight serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration, innovation, and continued dialogue within the sector.
With a renewed sense of optimism and a growing focus on regional and international partnerships, the Kenyan travel trade community left the event energized and ready to build on the connections made, a testament to the enduring value of the Spotlight series in shaping the future of tourism in the region.
