By Mackie M. Jalloh
Makeni hospitality facility announces special package for journalists and media organisations
Journalists travelling to Sierra Leone’s Northern Province for assignments will have access to significantly reduced accommodation costs following a new initiative by WHERE ELSE? HOTEL in Makeni to offer media practitioners and registered media organisations a 50 percent discount on accommodation and related hospitality services.
The hotel announced the initiative in a press release dated August 21, 2026, describing the offer as part of its effort to support journalists who continue to operate in challenging circumstances while providing information to the public and contributing to national development.
According to Stanley Bangura Jr., Chief Executive Officer of WHERE ELSE? HOTEL, the decision was influenced by what management described as limited access to financial resources within Sierra Leone’s media landscape.
Bangura said the initiative is also intended as a gesture of appreciation to journalists for their contribution to democracy, accountability and public awareness.
“Journalists work tirelessly under difficult conditions to keep the public informed,” Bangura said, adding that the hotel considers the discount a way of recognising their work and supporting their welfare.
The 50 percent reduction will take effect from September 1, 2026, and will be available to eligible media practitioners and organisations using the hotel’s accommodation and related hospitality services.
The offer is open to Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) members in good standing as well as staff members of registered media organisations.
To access the discount, beneficiaries will be required to present a valid media identification card or a letter of introduction from their respective media organisation.
The initiative could provide particular relief for journalists covering events, conducting investigations or undertaking extended assignments in Makeni and other parts of the Northern Province, where accommodation and transportation costs can place additional pressure on media organisations and individual reporters.
Makeni serves as an important administrative, commercial and transport centre in the Northern Province, making it a frequent base for journalists covering political, social, economic, development and community-related activities across the region.
For journalists working outside Freetown, assignment-related expenses can represent a significant operational challenge, particularly for reporters working with organisations operating under tight budgets.
WHERE ELSE? HOTEL’s decision therefore positions the discount not simply as a commercial promotion, but as a targeted welfare gesture towards a professional group that often travels on short notice and operates under demanding conditions.
The hotel, located along Mankneh on the Makeni-Kabala Highway in Makeni City, says it aims to provide safe, comfortable and modern accommodation for visitors to the Northern Region.
Management is encouraging journalists and media organisations travelling to Makeni for reporting assignments, meetings, retreats and other professional activities to make use of the new arrangement.
The initiative also creates an opportunity for closer engagement between the hospitality industry and the media, particularly at a time when businesses and media organisations increasingly depend on partnerships to support professional activities.
By reducing accommodation expenses, the hotel expects the initiative to make it easier for journalists to remain in the field for longer periods when assignments require extended stays.
The discount will remain subject to the hotel’s eligibility requirements, with media identification or an official letter of introduction serving as confirmation of a journalist’s or media worker’s professional status.
The announcement has also placed WHERE ELSE? HOTEL among businesses seeking to build relationships with the media through targeted support, while highlighting the wider financial pressures faced by Sierra Leone’s journalism sector.
As the September 1 implementation date approaches, journalists planning assignments in Makeni and the wider Northern Region can contact the hotel directly to make reservations and establish the applicable terms for their stay.
The management of WHERE ELSE? HOTEL says the initiative reflects its commitment to recognising the contribution of media professionals and creating a more accessible hospitality option for journalists working across Sierra Leone.
