Hospitality & Tourism

Hospitality and tourism lawyers for hotels, lodges, tour operators and travel businesses in Kenya, including wildlife-conservancy and concession arrangements. We handle hotel acquisitions and hotel-management agreements, conservancy and community leases, Tourism Regulatory Authority licensing, and the land, employment and immigration framework for tourism investment.

Hospitality & Tourism Law in Kenya

Kenya is East Africa’s premier tourism destination — home to world-class safari circuits, beach resorts, conference facilities and a rapidly expanding aviation sector. OLM Law advises hotels, lodges, tour operators, travel companies, airlines, developers and investors on the legal and commercial issues that shape the hospitality and tourism industry.

The regulatory landscape

The sector is governed by the Tourism Act and regulated by the Tourism Regulatory Authority. Hotels and accommodation are licensed under the Tourism Act, while tour operators and travel agents are registered by the Kenya Tourism Board. Aviation is governed by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Land for hospitality development intersects with both freehold and leasehold frameworks and, for wildlife-adjacent properties, with conservation-law requirements. We guide clients through this multi-layered regulatory environment.

How we help

• Hotel and lodge transactions — acquisitions, management agreements, franchise arrangements and leases for hotel and lodge properties.
• Tourism licensing and compliance — Tourism Regulatory Authority registrations, compliance audits and regulatory advice.
• Land and development — site acquisition, environmental permitting, construction contracts and community land agreements for hospitality projects.
• Commercial agreements — operator agreements, supply contracts, food-and-beverage licensing and event-hosting contracts.
• Dispute resolution — guest claims, contractual disputes and insurance matters arising in hospitality operations.

Relevant expertise

We draw on our Real Estate, Corporate & Commercial, Environmental and Dispute Resolution teams for hospitality clients — linking to each of those practice-area pages.

To invest or operate in Kenya’s hospitality and tourism sector, contact OLM Law.