London is home today to Ketan Somaia, though his roots are on the African continent, to which he also owes much of his initial business success. He was born in Kampala, Kenya, in 1965, and raised there. His keen business acumen has stood him in good stead throughout his career, from its start in Kenya through to the successful Dolphin Group, which later evolved into Dolphin Holdings and amalgamates his many varied business interests under a single roof. Over the years Ketan Somaia has gained national recognition as a leader in the business world having been awarded Kenya’s prestigious E.B.S., and also being named businessman of the decade in 1992 when he received the N.R.I.

Dophin Holdings operates out of headquarters in Dubai, and has representative offices and operations around the world. The group’s main business interests lie in the hospitality and hotel industries, investments and finance and car dealerships throughout Africa.

The first impressive step on Ketan Somaia’s diverse and colorful career was taken in 1989 when he established Marshalls (EA), the agency holding rights for the distribution of well known cars such as the Japanese Honda and the French Peugeot in Africa. During this period Somaia was also a keen rally driver, who participated in a number of African rallies driving a custom, factory prepared Peugeot 205 GTi in the Kenya rally that year. Other successes for Somaia in 1989 included the establishment of a large Kenyan based sugar producing company, the Mivani Sugar Company and forays into the leisure industry in the form of the exclusive, members only, Dolphin Leisure Club and the International Casino, responsible for the management of casinos in Mombasa and Nairobi. Somaia held the role of Chairman of all the above companies. Cine Asia, an Indian publishing house, was added to the list in 1994. The publishing house publishes, and internationally distributes, a Bollywood film magazine.

Ketan Somaia expanded his hotel and leisure industry with the establishment of the Block Hotels chain in 1992, in which he held the position of Chairman from the start until 2010. The chain includes well known hotels such as the Naivasha Country Club, Nyali Beach, and the Treetops Lodge, that was host to Britain’s Princess (now Queen) Elizabeth. Somaia’s Block Hotels chain recently concluded with Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, whereby the latter will take over the management of the Block Hotels. This will serve as the Sheraton Group, owned by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, debut in Kenya and will significantly boost that country’s tourism industry. The agreement covers all members of the Block Hotels chain in Kenya. These will be co-branded Sheraton, other than the Landmark Hotel in Nairobi, which will become a Starwoods Four Points hotel.

A large portion of Kenton Somaia’s time is taken up with the management of his many business ventures worldwide, necessitating a large amount of travel that he enjoys on a personal, as well as business, level. When he has the time, Somaia enjoys a game of tennis, snooker or badminton, and is a keen swimmer. Time at home is spend cooking or reading