A holiday company has gone under and, just for a change, that's good news. The following is all that's left on African Safari Club's website:
A company that brought nothing to Kenya but dissatisfied customers who vowed they would never return, and left nothing in Kenya after extracting its profits but exploited and often unpaid staff, is finally no more.
You have to feel sorry for people whose holidays have been ruined, or are now not going to happen, but this demise has been a very long time in the making, as any glance at the Trip Advisor Kenya forum would show. Caveat emptor indeed.
Even more deserving of sympathy are ASC's miserable hotel employees in Kenya who were always left dangling from a string of empty promises and who only stayed in work because they could at least expect some tips from sympathetic guests.
What's good about this news is the benefit to Kenya's tourist industry, which has been cursed for years by an organisation that seemed almost intent on maximising the stink of negative PR about Kenya that blew off every disappointing holiday it sold like an unemptied dustbin.
It's not as if every other company in Kenya tourism is a paragon of virtue – there's plenty of room for improvement – but this one really stood out as one to avoid, and one that was damaging Kenya's image.
Good riddance.
You have to feel sorry for people whose holidays have been ruined, or are now not going to happen, but this demise has been a very long time in the making, as any glance at the Trip Advisor Kenya forum would show. Caveat emptor indeed.
Even more deserving of sympathy are ASC's miserable hotel employees in Kenya who were always left dangling from a string of empty promises and who only stayed in work because they could at least expect some tips from sympathetic guests.
What's good about this news is the benefit to Kenya's tourist industry, which has been cursed for years by an organisation that seemed almost intent on maximising the stink of negative PR about Kenya that blew off every disappointing holiday it sold like an unemptied dustbin.
It's not as if every other company in Kenya tourism is a paragon of virtue – there's plenty of room for improvement – but this one really stood out as one to avoid, and one that was damaging Kenya's image.
Good riddance.
Oh dear! What a terribly biased and unjustified view. Having stayed in the Flamingo once and the Dolphin 6 times (for four weeks on each occasion as we are running a charity out here) I guess I am also entitled to an opinion.
ReplyDeleteNo-one would suggest that there have been no complaints but for every whinger there have been 10 times as many very satisfied customers.
ASC itself has probably been badly managed in recent years and the post election violence, global recession and finally the troubles in Egypt probably caused its final demise.
I am currently at the Dolphin hotel. The staff are carrying on as normal (no spoilt holidays)though there is a certain sadness around the place, including my own. As you say the staff are in about 12 months salary arrears but they are loyal not only because of the tips, but because they have worked for ASC for 20 or more years. ASC used to pay well and they had hoped that things would improve again.
We have never had any complaints that have not been satifactorily and instantly dealt with. ASC have provided excellent value for money. Of course there are plusher hotels around here but I guess you get what you pay for.
One can only hope that someone else will take over these great hotels which are in an idyllic location with fantastic staff. Almost the entire local economy is built upon these hotels and their closure would be devastating.
This is a very sad day.
Sorry but it used to be ones the best Company in Kenyas Tourism years ago.
ReplyDeleteI worked there in a time when you could be proud to be part of the team. I dont agree with your post but must say i left because i did not agree with the product anymore and the founder Mr.Ruedin was not in his best health anymore.
In my time there the club paid the local staff always on time and better than 99% of there competitors. My wife and i have seen what guide books like yours and the lonly planet can do and we do not agree with your statment its to easy to kick someone on the ground.
I bet mr. Ruedin did more good for Kenya in his Lifetime than you will ever do.
Juergen
i also disagree with the first post, we went to Kenya in August 2009 with ASC staying at the seahorse in kalifi we have also been to the dolphin hotel we was planning to bag a bargain in April and are gutted it has ceased trading we thought there prices was unbelievable,we thought the hotel was basic but adequate for our needs the staff was fantastic and wages was discussed with our bar tender who said that sometimes wages was late but they believed they would get paid. we are very sad about the news of the closure and are hoping that someone will take it over!
ReplyDeleteLaurent Gbagbo, can't accept he lost power democratically. That is how I can describe the three comments above. The author of the post captures the exact of what African Safari Club was. Like Mobutu Sese seko and ilk, RIP Africa Safari Club.
ReplyDeleteWell I was wondering when I'd get some support for my views. Thank you, whoever you are, for the interesting "in denial" conflation!
ReplyDeleteYou must be joking... !! You are missing the price offered : 14 nights in Kenya for (sometimes) less than £500, as ASC offered...?? This was the opportunity of many people travel to this so interesting destination !! Sure, people that just stay at hotel and nothing more about discovering Mombasa area would not be satisfied, because hotels didn´t offered luxury. But they were a magnificent basis to dicover the region. You must be a "all inclusive" tourist...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Paulo. There's no question that ASC offered cheap holidays, and for clued-up clients who were prepared for the inadequacies of the hotels, they did offer a cheap base for exploring Kenya. But I think you've possibly missed the key point that most of its clients were first-time visitors to Kenya with little knowledge of the country. Any hospitality company that abuses its staff and rips off its clients is likely to fail unless it radically reforms. ASC didn't want to reform.
ReplyDeleteKenya's tourism developed in recent years. Lets hope for an improvement.
ReplyDeleteanche io sono stata molte volte in kenya con asc
ReplyDeleteultima volta in dicembre 2010 hotel flamingo il migliore, ma avevo pagato per il schanzu-paradise hotel che era chiuso per riattazioni,mi dispiace che sia andata a finire male , anche perché dovevo partire al 3 aprile per 2 settimane e non mi hanno ancora rimborsato i soldi che mi hanno promesso kwaheri
Thank you so much for sharing this post, I agree that it is sad news that the company went under as they did sell holidays to Africa for a cheap price but their customers that they were aiming at were only first time visitors to Africa, most people who have experienced Africa will not mind paying the extra money to go on safari as there have been many documented cases about the staff being poor and unprofessional.
ReplyDeleteThey haven't stopped even under new management and its gotten worse. See this link : http://youtu.be/9ltll_WGClA and secondly, they deny fellow Kenyan's from patronising the hotels and Kenyan's actually spend a LOT more money at hotels...you'd be very SURPRISED . I've made sure i've told all and sundry about this on my Facebook Page : Stop Racism in Hotels in Kenya ! Even after Pollmans took over, nothing changed! Still practicing racism at all the establishments and locals are locked out and treated like criminals yet we Kenyans aka Locals, spend a hell of a lot more money whenever we go on holiday! Heck, we are the ones that kept the tourism industry going when all foreign tour operators opted to sell tours in Tanzania, South Africa ...countries where locals themselves can't afford to go on holiday! I DESPISE ACs WITH A PASSION! check this link out and explain why a Kenyan tour operator should be treated like he's a thug : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ltll_WGClA&feature=email
ReplyDelete