The Loch Hotel located in Bondo, Siaya County is an establishment that has invested in giving visitors a unique experience of ambience and class.
Loch sits proximate to the Jaramogi Odinga Museum and is described as a ‘village’ facility though this actually is its unique selling point.
In a recent interview with blogger Jarunda Jaluth, Agola Okondo, the co-owner narrated the milestones she has achieved to build the hotel.
Here is the story as told by WoK.
SACCO savings
Agola revealed that while working for Kenya Airways, she committed a huge chunk of her earnings into savings. Occasionally, the entrepreneur saved up to three quarters of her salary with Wanandege SACCO.
Meanwhile, her husband was also saving his salary and this enabled the couple to have a substantial amount of money to get a loan.
“We started small, and we acquired finances from Wanandege SACCO before topping up with another from Standard Chartered,” she said.
Acquiring land
Because the locality of the business was characterised by scarcity of land due to a high population density, they figured a way out of relocating the people.
Initially, they bought small pieces of land but due to the need to have a grand hotel, they negotiated on a deal to settle the people somewhere else.
Landscaping
Agola explains that they began with landscaping and planting of trees. This is the reason why Loch Hotel is such a serene hotel.
The tall trees and the lush green grass lawns fitted with pavement blocks makes it the ideal destination for relaxation and various events.
Ten years later
Ten years since its inception, the Loch Hotel is still growing. Currently, it offers various facilities such as bar, restaurant, wedding grounds, accommodation and conference.
Currently, there are only 5 accomodation rooms at Loch Hotel but Agola says she has an ambition of completing 15 more rooms by the end of the year.
Additionally, plans are underway to have a swimming pool and an equipped gym.
How is the Loch unique?
Asked how the Loch is unique, Agola described her facility as one that gives the ‘home feeling.’
This is because of the traditional dishes including osuga, aliya and kienyeji chicken.
Their restaurant serves on à lar carte basis, meaning one first orders the food before it is prepared.
Additionally, the tranquillity of Loch makes it a resort of choice in Bondo Town. The trees provide the much needed cool atmosphere in a locality known to have sweltering hot temperatures of above 30°C.
Agola says her hotel is also nestled away from the busy and noisy town centre.
” (sometimes) People have a lot of things in their minds. Sometimes you just want a place that is very quiet. (Here) you will just listen to the musical chirping of birds,” she says.
