Haile Gebrselassie hotels business is the new norm continuing his legacy after his marathon days.
The Ethiopian won the Berlin Marathon four times and a dozen other world championships to his name. However, after 25 years, he called in time and shifted his focus to entrepreneurship.
He settled into his own skin as a result of years of training and a successful athletic career. Gebrselassie is now widely recognized as a top hotelier. After retiring in 2015, he already knew what Ethiopia’s hotel sector was lacking.
Based on his experiences as an athlete in Ethiopia, he decided to make a difference in the way the country’s hotel business is portrayed. That’s when he founded Haile Hotels & Resorts.
Haile Gebrselassie hotels business headquarter sits in a large office found in the basement of one of Addis Ababa’s most impressive skyscrapers. He obviously has a sweet appetite and an appreciation for the finer things in life going by the architecture of this building.
Haile Gebrselassie hotels bussiness. Photo by Haile Resort
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What Does Haile Gebrselassie Do Now?
He is mega investor in Ethiopia’s tourism industry. It took careful preparation, self-control, and sacrifices to get here.
The 49-year-old recalls spending half his life traveling the world and staying in hotels. It is from this experience that he saw an opportunity to invest back home.
He started small but in 2015 following his retirement, he went in full blown. Today he shares this experience with Ethiopia’s 112 million residents and thousands of other foreigners.
Here is a brief of his establishments.
Haile Grand Hotel
It’s his eight hotel – five-star – adding on to seven others. He launched it in September 2022, a fortnight after the Ethiopian New Year.
Resort Adama
That resort in Ethiopia is very stunning and among the best in the world. The resort is an ideal place for guests to stay to get a real feel of Ethiopia’s aura.
It is one of the flagship projects in Haile Gebrselassie hotels business.
Haile Resort Hawassa
This resort is fantastic. Polite and experienced staff always welcome you. The resort is immaculate in every way! The cuisine is both tasty and nutritious. It also offers miniature golf and horseback riding.
Arba Minch Resort
Haile-Arba Minch is a four-star property with 107 rooms with a breathtaking vista of the twin lakes of Abaya and Chamo. It has a surrounding evergreen forest and mountain range.
The Haile-Arba Minch idea is an all-inclusive resort with five-star amenities.
Gondar Resort
The Gondar Resort is situated in the historic city of Gondar, 730 kilometers from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. The resort has 54 contemporary rooms, all of which have expansive views of the ancient city.
Choices range from spacious suites to double/twin/family accommodations.
Yaya Africa Athletics Village
In a convenient location just 12 kilometers from Addis Ababa, you’ll find the Yaya Africa Athletics Village.
This hotel is at an elevation of 2,752 meters above sea level, making it an ideal location for athletes, trainers, and sports enthusiasts. It features a basketball court, a handball court, a standard football field, an obstacle course race (OCR), and an indoor sports arena.
Guests can choose from three restaurants and bars featuring a variety of cuisines from the following restaurants:
- Sport Lounge
- Modern & Traditional Cottages
- Gulele Restaurant
Gebrselassie’s two other restaurants are:
- Ziway
- Shashemene
Haile Gebrselassie hotels bussiness. Photo by AddisBiz.com
Why is Gebrselassie Famous?
Gebrselassie broke 61 Ethiopian National Records spanning distances from 800 meters to the marathon. He won the 2001 World Half Marathon Championship which cast him to the spotlight.
He earned the world record holder marathon status for 10,000 meters in four years. He remains one of the best marathoners of his time.
It is from this fortune that Haile Gebrselassie hotels business came from. Besides his huge stake in the hospitality industry, he has a sizeable stake in the motor industry, education and agribusiness.
Does Haile Gebrselassie Have Kids?
He is a father of four and a husband to his lovely wife, Alem Gebrselassie. He married her in 1996. Over and above his busy schedule looking over his businesses, the retired track champion is an adorable father.
Evenings are exclusively for him and his four children. Usually, he will play with them, watch TV with them and listen to child talk.
Looking back at his marathon career, the legendary Ethiopian marathoner is proud of the success he has. His hotels bring his people closer to what the world is offering.
