by Madyson Gurley
The cornerstone of Rwanda’s revival, the Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention Centre, is an impressive and functional meeting and conference venue in Kigali, Rwanda. The 32,200-square-meter/ 346,600-square-foot event space has been hosting the region’s most prestigious events since its inauguration in 2016.
Centrally located just 15-minute drive from the Kigali International Airport (KGL) the Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention Centre has 291 rooms and suites to accommodate international event attendees. The hotel also offers 650 free parking spaces for local event attendees.
Here’s why the Radisson Blu Hotel & Kigali Convention Centre is one of the best conference hotels in Africa.
Award-Winning Conference Hotel
The Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention Centre is one of the largest conference facilities in Rwanda, with a total of 18 versatile meeting spaces, including a state-of-the-art auditorium that can accommodate up to 2,600pax. The Radisson Blu Hotel & Kigali Convention Centre also offers over 11,000-square-meter/ 129,000-square-foot space spread over its 18 different meeting spaces.
The Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention Centre has won Africa’s Leading New Hotel, Rwanda’s Leading Business Hotel, Rwanda’s Leading Conference Hotel, and Africa’s Leading Conference Hotel title 14 times since 2017 from the World Travel Award. The Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention Centre has also won the Luxury business Hotel awards 6 times since 2018 from the World Luxury Hotel awards.
Location
Public transportation isn’t yet well developed in Kigali and services like Uber and Lyft don’t operate in Rwanda. The two major ride-hailing apps: Move and Yego Cabs require a lot of patience.
Hosting your event in a centrally located venue makes it easier for event participants, speakers, and the media to attend your event in Kigali. The Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention Centre is located less than 15-minutes drive away from most of the government offices and international organizations in Kigali.
Spacious and Intimate
You can mold the 32,200-square-meter/ 346,600-square-foot convention center for whatever type of event you have in mind. Kigali Convention Centre is versatile enough to accommodate 20pax or more than 5,000pax. The smallest meeting rooms are suitable for executive board meetings, while the largest conference halls MH1 to MH4 and AD10 to AD12 can be subdivided into smaller rooms or used to accommodate over 1,800pax and over 590pax respectively.
Underneath the colorful and famous dome of Kigali Convention Centre is the auditorium. The auditorium can accommodate more than 2,600pax for a variety of event styles.
Exceptional Cuisine
The Radisson Blu Hotel serves over 100 thousand guests annually, using fresh local products and high-quality imported ingredients creating exceptional regional and international cuisines. You can choose from catering packages or custom-made menus to complement your event.
The Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention Centre also house the city’s best restaurants and bars. Your event participants have multiple on-site dining options.
The Larder
Home to Radisson Blu Hotel’s buffet breakfast, The Larder starts the day by serving a continental breakfast. Later in the day, it offers extensive traditional continental dishes and Rwandan cuisines, including flavorful simmered Mombasa shellfish with coconut and lime and South African pecan and fudge with green peppercorns. Spread over the ground floor, it gives you seating options between cozy indoor or outdoor seating overlooking the swimming pool.
Filini Restaurant
The Filini Restaurant is an authentic Italian Restaurant on the ground floor of the Kigali Convention Centre. The restaurant has indoor space and an outdoor terrace with a unique setting featuring sophisticated style and casual design. The extended terrace with a garden view is perfect for a small group of up to 50pax gathering in a fresh atmosphere.
Piazza Bar
La Piazza Bar is the perfect venue to host a cocktail party. The terrace surrounds the iconic dome of the Kigali Convention Centre overlooking the beautiful city of Kigali. La Piazza offers delicious snacks and exquisite cocktails made from fresh fruit and top-shelf spirits. This relaxing and spacious terrace on the second level of the Kigali Convention Centre can accommodate up to 600pax.
The Lounge
The Lounge is Kigali’s after-hour meet up bar with an outdoor terrace overlooking the swimming pool at the Radisson Blu Hotel. It offers Kigali’s widest array of drinks and selected international wines paired with delicious nibbles and snacks. It is perfect for hosting a happy hour with drinks and snacks for networking. The outdoor terrace can accommodate up to 70pax with a mix of seated and standing setup.
Nearby Attractions
Government offices, street markets, restaurants, and shops are within a few kilometers of the Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention Centre. The most popular shopping malls in Rwanda Kigali Business Center and Kigali Heights are also a walking distance.
Inema Art Gallery
Inema Art Gallery is located just a 5 minute drive from the Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention Centre. This beautiful gallery is renowned for its diverse collection of arts from around the African continent.
The gallery is also a great venue for an offsite event. The outdoor garden is perfect for a cocktail party or a happy hour gathering. The venue also has a few rooms that can be turned into meeting rooms for workshops or private meetings. You can take your group out for a local Kigali experience to the weekly live music performances at Inema Art Gallery. You can use this unconventional venue to host an event for a small group between 30 – 300pax.
Kigali Genocide Memorial
Kigali Genocide Memorial is a place of remembrance and learning. It is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, which killed more than one million Rwandans in 1994. This memorial is just 10-minutes drive from the Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention centre, the Kigali Genocide Memorial is a must see for anyone visiting Rwanda.
Kimironko Market
Kimironko Market is the best place to experience Rwanda like a local. Located 10-minutes drive from the Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention Centre, the lively market has vendors selling products from Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Uganda.
Questions?
Are you looking to host an international event in Kigali? Let us help you! Hallpax has destination experts who are dedicated to making your event planning process enjoyable and stress-free. We are passionate about the cities we work with, and with our in-person presence in Africa, we help our clients navigate their cities of choice with ease.
Ready to meet in-person in Rwanda? Learn how the Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Convention centre is getting back to business.
