What started as a simple forum for Arusha traders to share light moments at Kibo Palace Hotel in the city is now a formal event that has earned the hotel a prestigious innovative award.

The corporate networking event, a brainchild of the hotel, has seen deals worth over $800,000 sealed in less than a year that have been realised through sharing of feedback information on business received through the event.

As it stands now Kibo Palace Hotel corporate networking represents an opportunity to facilitate exchange of deals and ideas among the business community and international and academic community.

This has enabled the hotel located in the heart of Arusha City to emerge a runner up in the 2nd Bank M East African Corporate Social Responsibility’s Elvis Musiba Award of innovative Partnerships.

“This award is presented to Kibo Palace Hotel for the Corporate Networking Night,” reads the certificate of recognition.

The hotel’s sales and marketing manager Charity Githinji is proud that the occasion held every last Thursday of the month has grown by leaps and bounds. “At the moment the event attracts nearly 200 Arusha businessmen as well as professionals up from 24 members in early days,” Githinji said.

She adds that it is worth noting that the event is the premier and only event in Arusha that brings together distinguished men and women who are crucial in supporting the region’s economic growth.

Githinji says her businessmen and women come from tourism, SMEs, crops trade, international organisations as well as the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the East African community.

Others are professionals in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda and interested international motivational speakers.

Kibo Palace Hotel normally sends out invitations, delivered through cards and short messages (SMS), to companies and participants who pay a fee of Sh10, 000 ($6.33) to attend a single event

Kibo serves dinners and beverages, and for their part other partners offer services that make the event a reality and success.

“This group has seen the importance of working with communities and has already initiated a $5000 programme to support 200 school girls with sanitary towels and panties for a whole year,” Githinji explains, adding that plans are under way to reach out to 10,000 girls next year.

The event, basically, brings together corporate leaders and scholars to exchange ideas and learning techniques to boost their businesses. So far some 2,880 corporate players have benefited from the training originating out of the 16 events.