Welcome to The Bush Collection Hotel

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"Hi and welcome to The Bush Collection

My name is Jason Barry. Many will know me from my time as Group Marketing and Communications Director  for Elewana, Sopa and SkySafari (Tanzania, Kenya) and also for my work with St Regis, Sheraton, Le Meridien and Luxury Collection with Starwood (Marriott) in the Indian Ocean.

A Shift in Our Industry 

Over the last few years - most of which has been spent living and working in Kenya and Tanzania - I have seen great changes in the hospitality sector. In more recent times I have seen large multi-nationals brands come into the market to recreate their city and beach hotel products but now in the African bush. 

There has been a cost to this shift in our industry. Smaller privately-owned and independent lodges and camps are finding it increasingly difficult to compete with the deeper pockets and rich resources of the 'Big Five' brands. Vast customer and Tour Operator databases accrued from years of activity in city and beach destinations put the smaller hospitality operator  in the shadows, despite the smaller operators delivering in most cases a better, more authentic safari experience. After all, isn't that what travellers want?

An Admission of Guilt

To be frank, I am guilty of having been part of the problem. I have been involved in the marketing and branding of some of these large developments, and have seen directly the impact they are making to the livelihoods of the historic camp and lodge owners, as well as - in some cases not all - the environmental impact from heavy construction. However I have, with my trusted colleagues, decided that enough is enough.

This is where The Bush Collection comes into being.

Regaining Momentum 

The Bush Collection will invite privately-owned, independent boutique lodges to join us in breaking the current trend and give each our the members the opportunity to receive the attention that they deserve.

The Bush Collection will fill the void of international reach through our comprehensive Tour Operator membership database, now over 7000 strong. We will create opportunities for our members that ordinarily would be financially or technically challenging, and provide the platform that our membership need to help  survive and thrive in what has become an exceptionally competitive market place.

We also aim to innovate, using the latest technology (ai) as well as new product that will help generate direct bookings as well as circuit solutions for our membership.

We have listened to those who have the need. We have assembled a team of industry professionals from the fields of marketing, sales, interior design, operations, maintenance all with a combined total of 200 years of experience, access to support and help at a fraction of the cost we believe

In Conclusion

My team and I are so excited to announce that The Bush Collection will start its operations as from September 2025, and until then please sign up to our newsletter so that you can keep abreast of our progress.

Our new website is in construction and will be launched September 1st 2025.

In the meantime may I wish you all a very successful and busy 'high season' 

Best wishes,

Jason Barry

CEO - The Bush Collection