Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers & Caterers (KAHC)

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers & Caterers (KAHC) Description

Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers & Caterers founded in 1944, KAHC is the principal umbrella organization bringing together hotels, lodges, restaurants, membership clubs and prominent airline caterers whose common theme is to render services in the hospitality industry.

Our Vision

Making Kenyan Hospitality “globally competitive and viable” for the stakeholders, who include guests, shareholders, employees, local communities, suppliers and the Government.

Our Membership

The Association enjoys a huge membership of mostly star-rated hotels, restaurants, caterers, lodges, tented camps among others.

The core service the Association renders to its members includes;

1) Representation:

The Association is the principal voice for hotels and restaurants to the government and other agencies on matters of regulations, licensing, and policy.

This role is fulfilled through representation and contribution in such bodies as: Kenya Tourist Board, Kenya Tourism Federation, Federation of Kenya Employers, The Hotels & Restaurants Authority, Kenya Utalii College, Catering & Tourism Development Levy Trustees, Mombasa & Coast Tourism Association, Coast Development Authority and other forums.

Liaison with the relevant government organs, including the Ministries of Tourism and Information, Trade and Industry, Finance, and Labour and Manpower Development is key to our profile and performance.

2) Information Exchange:

The Association acts as the principal information exchange network for members and the industry by:

Conducting industry research
Maintaining an industry data bank
Maintaining regular communication with members on issues such as:
- Employment regulations
- Government policies on tax and pricing
- Industry human resource development
- Hotels and Restaurants licensing and classification
- Security, Safety and Standards
- Legislation and Labor laws
- Performance Appraisals & Certification.

3) Industrial Relations:

The Association promotes and protects harmonious industrial relations. This is achieved through Collective Bargaining Agreements (C.B.As) that are negotiated and signed with the Union in the trade. Through such agreements, elaborate and conclusive methods are enunciated, viz.:

Involving minimum terms and conditions of service, within gazetted remuneration;
Dispute settlement procedures via Joint Industrial Council & Coast Disputes Council;
Liaison with other partners on workers-related issues viz.: the Ministry of Labor, the Federation of Kenya Employers, as well as the Industrial Court.

4) KAHC Training:

The Association coordinates with the Kenya Utalii College on Training and Development programmes.

5) A common Bond:

Membership to our Association gives individual hotels or hotel groups an invaluable stamp of recognition, of belonging to an important and reputable organization in the hospitality fraternity. It affords them a forum to air their views, discuss common problems, and present a united front as the most fundamental sub-sector of the tourism industry.

The principles of “Engagement”, “Evaluation”, “Recognition” constitute key guidelines for our membership, while establishing ‘Rating’, ‘Certification’ and ‘Standards’ crucial to recognizing contributors and stars of the industry.

We also realize that encouraging ‘Innovation’ makes Kenya’s Hospitality Globally Competitive. We operate and negotiate with one voice, one vision. Hospitality is our commitment and passion. We host and celebrate diversity.