In a statement delivered at the virtually held 2020 Afghanistan Conference by AKDN’s Diplomatic Representative to Afghanistan Sheherazade Hirji, His Highness the Aga Khan, on behalf of the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network, today reaffirmed his enduring commitment to a peaceful and pluralistic Afghanistan.
In a statement delivered at the virtually held 2020 Afghanistan Conference by AKDN’s Diplomatic Representative to Afghanistan Sheherazade Hirji, His Highness the Aga Khan, on behalf of the Ismaili Imamat and the Aga Khan Development Network, today reaffirmed his enduring commitment to a peaceful and pluralistic Afghanistan.
In a bid to contain the spreading of the Covid-19 pandemic, Serena Hotels in Tanzania have deployed sensor fitted body temperature reading thermometres at all main receptions in the country. The
Serena Hotels sponsored a three-day crafts extravaganza with Behbud Association called "Embroidering Dreams". The event kicked off on 13 November night with an inaugural event featuring an exclusive fashion show. Pakistan First Lady, Samina Arif Alvi, applauded Serena Hotels for supporting the Behbud Association, a non-profit organisation providing employment to thousands of women artisans for over 50 years at the grassroots level and reaching out to the underprivileged women in urban slums.
Originally constructed by Kashmiri and Balti craftsmen and now converted into a hotel, the Khaplu Palace holds its traditional old school charm close with its modern innovations. The modern elements ensure comfort that a luxury resort requires. Renovated by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and now handed over to Serena Hotels to manage and run it as a hotel, the Khaplu Palace is a different world and its interior is a brilliant tribute to the legacy of Yabgo Raja Daulat Ali Khan of Khaplu who first built the palace in 1840.
The Serena Hotels and Rawalpindi Golf Club (RGC) hosted the Annual Invitational Golf Tournament at RGC as part of its sports diplomacy initiative marking the resumption of events after a long hiatus due to COVID-19-induced lockdown. CEO of the Serena Hotels (South and Central Asia) Aziz Boolani said it was the first event to be organised after the COVID-19 lockdown period, and many more were being planned. He thanked the RGC and participants for their enthusiastic participation and excellent turnout.
Serena Hotels has opened a new property in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The five-star Goma Serena Hotel, located at the lakefront of Lake Kivu, officially opened on 15 September. Group Managing Director of TPS Serena Hotels – Africa, Mahmud Janmohamed said: "Expansion of the Serena brand through the opening of Goma Serena Hotel in the DRC is a welcome addition to the Serena portfolio in Africa."
"I’ve been in these mountains for nearly a year! That was not something I had planned on. Perhaps what I appreciated most about the staff at the PECTA office is that they’ve encouraged me. The PECTA office is staffed by people who love their home and want to share the Pamirs with you. The Pamir Eco-Cultural Tourism Association encourages you to explore both the nature and culture of the Pamirs because they are inseparable here in these mountains."
Once considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world, Pakistan is now emerging as an unexpected travel destination. What makes Pakistan so appealing is its natural beauty and world-class hospitality. One unique hotel to stay in is the Serena Shigar Fort in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. This 400-year-old fort has been converted into a boutique hotel set in a peaceful natural setting amongst the Karakoram mountain ranges.
The Serena Group is more than a collection of hotels. This film explores how it is an engine for economic development in local communities – and has been for over the last 40 years. Serena provides employment to 4,000 East Africans and gives priority and training to over 2,000 local suppliers and companies, while engaging the local community in ways that help households to achieve better health and greater economic independence.