A digital dawn for African hospitality
Savanna Sunrise: The Story
From five budget apartments near Nairobi's airport to a pan-African platform helping hotels step into a digital future.
Pioneering Digital Hotel Marketing in Africa
In 2013, Norwegian entrepreneurs Endre Opdal and Håvar Bauck identified a significant gap in Nairobi's hospitality market: the absence of budget accommodations near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). To address this, they leased and furnished five apartments in Syokimau's Five Star Estate, establishing the Nairobi Airport Hotel.
This venture was among the first short-term rental services in East Africa, predating the widespread recognition of platforms like Airbnb in the region. Leveraging online platforms such as Booking.com and Expedia, Opdal and Bauck marketed their property effectively, emphasizing features like complimentary airport transfers.
"By 2014, Nairobi Airport Hotel had become the most-booked property on Booking.com in Nairobi, surpassing established international hotels in the city."
Five Budget Apartments Became Kenya's First "Airbnb"
The concept of offering digital marketing solutions to hotels came as a natural extension of their success. Recognizing the potential to replicate their digital marketing success on a broader scale, the duo incorporated Savanna Sunrise Ltd. in Dubai in 2014.
Savanna Sunrise quickly became a pioneer in digital hotel marketing across Africa. Generating rapid initial growth in Nairobi, they soon expanded to Kampala and Kigali. By 2015, Savanna Sunrise had partnered with approximately 750 hotels across East Africa, offering services such as online booking platforms, revenue management, and digital marketing strategies.
2013 — 2022
From Savanna Sunrise to HotelOnline
Explore the milestones that turned one airport-stay concept into a digital hospitality platform for Africa.
2013 · Nairobi Airport Hotel
The beginning
Five apartments in Syokimau become Nairobi Airport Hotel — an early short-term-stay concept built for travellers using JKIA.
Nairobi Airport Hotel · Founding archive
The pioneer of East Africa’s Airbnb-style overnight rental model
Select, hover, or use the tab key to explore each milestone.
The Journey Continues
For the complete story of how HotelOnline was built and continues to transform African hospitality, visit Håvar Bauck's detailed account of the company's evolution.
Continue the HotelOnline story