Sarova Hotels has, over the years, grown to become one of the most awarded and recognized hotel chains in Africa.
The hotel is known for its diverse portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts, and game lodges across Kenya and East Africa.
Founded in 1972 by the late Gurcharan Singh Vohra (G.S. Vohra) in partnership with John Ngata Kariuki, Sarova Hotels rose from a humble background.
In fact, the name “Sarova” is derived from the first names of the founders’ wives: SA (Swaran Vohra), RO (Rose Kariuki), and VA (Varsha Vohra).
Narrating the journey to founding the hotel, Gurcharan, one of the founding fathers, revealed his love for entrepreneurship stemmed from his father who owned a bicycle shop along River Road, Nairobi.
The tycoon told Business Daily that during his school years, his teachers encouraged him to apply for a law degree course at the Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, London, which he successfully did.
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He graduated at the age of 17 years in 1952 but he couldn’t be admitted to the Bar because he was still considered a minor.
Upon his return to Kenya, Gurcharan set up a law firm, Vohra and Gitau, specialising in criminal, divorce, family, and common law.
He later teamed up with the former Kirinyaga Central MP John Ngata Kariuki to acquire the Ambassadeur Hotel on Moi Avenue in 1974.
Afterwards, they bought the 22-acre Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in 1976 and the Sarova Stanley Hotel in 1978. The empire kept growing to include two hotels in Nairobi, another in Mombasa and five lodges.
Gurcharan passed away in 2013, aged 78, leaving the Sarova Hotel’s chairmanship to Kariuki. The hotel boasts several branches in Nairobi including the Sarova Stanely, Sarova Panafric, and Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa.
It also has branches in Tsavo, Samburu, Maasai Mara and Nakuru.
