Juliet Njogu, unlike many other Kenyans who lost their jobs once the pandemic swept the country, did not sit back and curse.
Instead, she rolled up her sleeves and embarked on a path to develop a business empire that now stands tall in Nairobi.
Before losing her position, Njogu was the CEO of a major local commercial bank but her contract was terminated for unknown reasons.
She focused all of her passion, effort and experience on propelling her company to become one of the top boutique hotels in the world right now.
Njogu used the open leadership qualities she developed in her banking profession to handle the hotel.
“The fundamental principles of business management do not change. We need to make money and make sure our guests are happy enough to return,” she said.
Njogu’s hard effort paid off when she recently received an international award. National Geographic rated it one of the world’s top three new urban hotels.
The Social House was also named runner-up in the Best Urban Hotel Category by National Geographic Travellers’ Annual Hotel Awards.
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It is an entity that is delivering a paradigm shift in Kenya’s hospitality business, with 83 bedrooms. She wished to mimic the Hotel Hoxton idea.
“This is no ordinary African city boutique hotel, expertly dodging both colonial tropes and the corporate feel of many regional options. Instead, locals pack out our fabulous bars and restaurants, with menus ranging from Scandinavian to Peruvian-Japanese,” she noted.
However, Njogu ended up hiring experienced chefs, pushing her aim of opening a top boutique hotel.
“And to be mentioned in the same breath as Hoxton and Capella – being market leaders in some of the most competitive European and Asian markets reflects that our sights have always been benchmarked against global standards and in support of our uniquely quirky,” she said.
The Social House takes pride in being a gathering place for software geniuses, artists, business tycoons, fashion designers and other top guys.
The Society of British and International Design Awards recognized this top city boutique hotel in 2020 for its Hotel Bedroom and Suites Design category.
Furthermore, The Social House is the Travelers’ Choice Award winner 2021, ranking among the top 10% of TripAdvisor listings worldwide.
The hotel brand name, The Social House, is a tribute to a fashionable home adorned with comfort and luxury.
Its distinguishing feature is individualized services, which make it king in an industry where diversity is the norm rather than the exception.
