Sunbird Hotels and Resorts has opened the Livingstonia International Conference Centre (LICC) at its Sunbird Beach Resort complex in Salima, marking a fresh push into Malawi’s fast-growing meetings and events market.
The new facility sits between Sunbird Livingstonia and Sunbird Waterfront, two of the group’s flagship lakeside properties.
The opening comes as hotel operators across the region move to capture demand from corporate events, government meetings and international conferences.
For Sunbird, the project is also part of a broader effort to upgrade its Lake Malawi portfolio and attract higher-spending visitors.
Company executives said the centre is designed to serve both business travelers and leisure guests who want resort-style settings paired with modern event facilities.
The project carries an investment of about K11 billion($6.4 million), according to the company, and is one of the largest hospitality infrastructure upgrades in Salima in recent years.
A new anchor for meetings tourism
Sunbird Chief Executive Samson Mwale said the group aims to strengthen its position in Malawi’s hospitality sector by expanding its conference and events offering.
“Our focus is to remain the preferred brand in hospitality by raising service standards across all our properties,” Mwale said.
“The Livingstonia International Conference Centre brings together modern design, reliable technology and the level of service our guests expect.”
The centre includes a 1,000-seat main conference hall, six breakout rooms that can host between 20 and 150 participants, and total capacity for up to 1,500 delegates.
It also features a dedicated dining area that can seat 300 guests.
Boost for Salima and Lake Malawi resorts
Mwale said the project is expected to attract regional and international events while supporting tourism, local business activity and job creation.
Sunbird Hotels and Resorts operates nine properties across Malawi, including city hotels in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu, beach resorts along Lake Malawi, a northern lakeshore inn and the Kuchawe Mountain Resort in Zomba.
The company is publicly listed and remains the country’s largest hotel group by footprint.
