THE POLANA SERENA HOTEL - ANNOUNCES THE PROGRAM FOR EXPANSION AND REFURBISHMENT

Maputo - 01 December 2008
Serena Tourism Promotion Services (a subsidiary of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development) is pleased to announce that the Polana Serena Hotel will undergo extensive refurbishment and expansion to the tune of $ 23.0 million from January 2009.

In the heart of Maputo, on one of the city’s most desirable avenues, the justly famous Polana Serena Hotel is a cool and gracious haven that recalls the elegance and splendor of colonial times. In keeping with Serena’s philosophy of integrating local art and culture into the design of each hotel, the refurbished Polana Serena Hotel will engulf its guests with a history stretching back many years blended with the colonial past and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities accompanied by outstanding service.

The refurbishment and expansion program will be managed in two phases:

Phase One, will facilitate the refurbishment of the existing main buildings, pool deck, gardens, parking area and the construction of the Health Club and Spa. During this period, the Polana Serena Hotel will be fully operational with 55 rooms at the Polana Mar of which 50 rooms overlook the Bay of Maputo. Guests will continue to enjoy our hospitality with a full compliment of staff, and all the other services and conveniences, currently on offer at the Polana Serena Hotel.

Phase Two, will involve the ‘final touches’ of Phase One and will facilitate the renovation of the Aquarius Bar and the Polana Mar facilities. During this period, the Polana Serena Hotel will operate with an inventory of 87 refurbished rooms at the main building and 30 rooms at the Polana Mar.

Management would like to assure our guests that the disruption as a result of the refurbishment will be managed efficiently to ensure that the product and service meets your comfort and expectations during your stay at the Polana Serena Hotel.

Management’s intension is that the renovated Polana Serena Hotel should become a flagship property second to none in Mozambique. It must take its place with our other city-centre Serena Hotels in Nairobi, Arusha, Kampala, Kigali, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Quetta and Kabul. It is anticipated that the renovated Polana Serena Hotel will be fully operational in it’s majestic elegant setting of colonial times offering a modern convenience of luxury and service towards the first quarter of 2010.

Situated in one of the most prestigious avenues of Maputo, between "Sommerschield and Polana" close to Embassies, Presidency of the Republic, Ministries and main restaurants, ten minutes away from the city center and the airport "Mavalane International", the Polana Hotel, a majestic colonial building overlooking the Bay of Maputo. A stroll in the landscaped gardens of the Hotel Polana, with an endless view over the Bay, or playing chess under the great rubber tree, refresh in the magnificent swimming-pool. A tennis court is at the guest's disposal or pay a visit to the Polana Health spa, enjoying the steam room, gymnasium and aerobics.Added facilities include the Casino, hair salon, bank, travel agency, tobacco shop, art gallery and car rental offices

ACCOMMODATION

A total of 164 Rooms and 23 Suites, all with private bathroom, air-conditioning, Satellite TV with 14 channels, IDD telephone, modem and computer facilities, free access to the Internet, mini bar, coffee & tea making facilities, safe and hairdryer. Also, for your comfort we can provide a mobile office equipped with a Pentium Processor, Internet, Mail and Fax Access, Colour Printer, Scanner and Colour Photocopier.

Polana Mar - Standard Room (refurbished)

The majority are sea facing, twin rooms with verandah. The location of the Polana Mar building is across from the swimming pool. The rooms are quiet and comfortable.
Facilities: Separate bath and and shower cubicle, toilet. Television, air-conditioning, hair dryer, coffee/tea making facility, IDD telephone, 24hrs free internet connection modem port, safe, mini-bar.

Polana Main Hotel - Studio Room

L-shaped double rooms, although not possible to convert these rooms to twin or triple rooms. All these rooms are town facing.
Facilities: Bath/shower, toilet. Television, air-conditioning, hair dryer, coffee/tea making facility, IDD telephone, 24hrs free internet connection modem port, mini-bar.

Polana Main Hotel - Standard Room

Our Standard rooms, with extra space for small sitting area. Standard rooms have different views, sea facing, rose garden or town facing.
Facilities: Bath/shower, toilet. Television, air-conditioning, hair dryer, coffee/tea making facility, IDD telephone, 24hrs free internet connection modem port, safe, mini-bar.

Polana Main Hotel - Executive Room

All our Executive rooms have a lounge area, i.e. sofa, coffee table, within the room. Some of the Executive rooms have an unfolding sofa to be able to accommodate children up to 8 years old.
Facilities: Bath/shower, toilet. Television, air-conditioning, hair dryer, coffee/tea making facility, IDD telephone, 24hrs free internet connection modem port, safe, mini-bar.

Polana Main Hotel - Ambassador Suites

Beautiful spacious rooms with an open plan marble lounge area. the majority of the rooms are situated on the ground floor. the rooms have either the sea or the rose garden view.
Facilities: Bath/shower, toilet. Television, air-conditioning, hair dryer, coffee/tea making facility, IDD telephone, 24hrs free internet connection modem port, safe, mini-bar.

Polana Main Hotel - Executive Suite

Majority of the suites are sea facing and have a lovely large verandah, the Executive suites have a separate lounge and bedroom. Some of the executive suites have two bathrooms and two entrance to ensure privacy.
Facilities: Bath/shower, toilet. Television, air-conditioning, hair dryer, coffee/tea making facility, IDD telephone, 24hrs free internet connection modem port, safe, mini-bar.

Polana Main Hotel - Presidential Suite

The suite is sea facing situated in the center of the hotel on the first floor. The Presidential has got a dining room area for max. 10 people, with an adjacent kitchenette. A guest toilet, a spacious lounge area with telephone/fax facilities, TV and VCR machine, an electronic safe. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi
and comes with a separate shower and toilet. The verandah has the capacity for a cocktail to a maximum of 25 people. The Presidential suite has a communicating door to an Executive suite for e.g. children, security, valet etc.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS: The Terrace restaurant offers daily a theme buffet as well as an "à La Carte" menu.
Our "Salão de Chá" is certainly the place to see and be seen, an excellent selection of light meals, delicious fresh French pastries served along with our Expresso, Cappuccino and Ice Coffee. The Polana Cocktail bar, our famous Cocktail list will delight the most discerning guest. The Aquarius bar offers a daily happy hour with surely the most breathtaking view. Terraço"Restaurant, Salão de Chá, Bar Polana, and Bar Aquarius.

BUSINESS CENTER, CONFERENCES AND BANDQUETING: Seven Meeting and Conference Rooms with capacity of 2 to 300 people and equipment necessary to turn your event into a success. Conveniently situated in the Hotel Gardens in a separate building, we also cater for Banquets and Cocktails up to 500 people. Menus on demand. Computers, photocopy and fax facilities are all available. A Secretary is present during working hours Monday to Friday to assist the guests with any requests.