Riu Expands Into Zanzibar

Riu Hotels & Resorts is expanding into Zanzibar with the launch of the Riu Palace Zanzibar. Formerly the Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa, Riu has purchased the property from the Emerald hotel chain. The hotel will remain unchanged this year and, for the upcoming 2018 – 2019 winter season, will begin offering Riu’s adults-only, all-inclusive concept.

The Riu Palace Zanzibar has 102 rooms and suites on the northern tip of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago. It is less than an hour from the airport and capital, Zanzibar City. The property belongs to The Leading Hotels of the World and is set on Nungwi Beach. It has three restaurants -- a main restaurant with a buffet serving international cuisine, an Asian restaurant and a grill – as well as two bars, a full-service spa, a children’s club, conference rooms, a gym and a tennis court.

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous zone of Tanzania and can be part of a trip that combines a beach stay with a safari in the Serengeti Naitonal Park. Zanzibar City is the birthplace of the singer Freddy Mercury, and its historic center, called Stone Town, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

The addition of the Riu Palace Zanzibar marks the third Riu property in the Indian Ocean. The company also has resorts in Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

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