The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
MAJOR hotels and lodges in Bulawayo are now fully booked ahead of this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) scheduled to run between 23 and 27 April.
The 64th edition of the ZITF will run under the theme, “Entrepreneurship: The Catalyst for Industrialisation and Trade.”
The trade showcase which brings the city alive every year, is an opportune time for the hospitality sector that cash in on it.
Early this month, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa and his Industry and Commerce counterpart Dr Thomas Wushe, Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) president Mr Wengayi Nhau and his vice-president, Mr Clive Chinwada as well as the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Brain Nyakutombwa met to discuss the availability of accommodation in Bulawayo during the ZITF.
A snap survey conducted by Sunday News Business last week showed that major hotels and lodges in Bulawayo were already fully booked, while a few were still taking reservations a month ahead of the ZITF period.
“Yes, we are now fully booked for the ZITF period. Most of the bookings were done within the first day of the ZITF dates being announced,” said Banff Lodge Hotel manager Ms Lisa Dickson.
She said their bookings comprised both locals and foreigners with most of them being Government officials and foreign diplomats. Ms Dickson said they were not surprised about being fully booked in a day as they were mostly preferred for maintaining their rates.
“Unlike some hotels and lodges that double their prices for the ZITF period, as Banff we maintain our rates for the period and they will be the normal rates we charge any other month,” she said.
N1 Hotel Bulawayo, front office reservationist, Mr Nkululeko Sibanda said they were also already fully booked, though the rates for the ZITF period were reviewed.
“We were fully booked by December. Our bookings are mainly by local companies booking for their employees. For the ZITF period our rates are slightly different from the normal rates in any other month,” he said.
Among other hospitality players, Wozani Lodge located in Hillside suburb said they were also fully booked.
“We are still receiving calls from those who want to make bookings for the ZITF period due to our close proximity to the ZITF exhibition grounds, but we are now fully booked. Our bookings are mainly from locals and the rates are different from the normal booking rates,” said the lodge’s staffer.
Another lodge which confirmed being fully booked is Motsamai Guest Lodge which is also a few minutes from ZITF.
The availability of accommodation becomes a major challenge during the ZITF week for those who look for it at the last minute, as major hotels and lodges would be fully booked a month or two ahead of the trade showcase.
The Government and tourism players continue to engage to find short and long-term solutions as they move to address accommodation challenges that arise in Bulawayo during the country’s premier trade showcase.
The Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) has also continuously called on tourism players to ensure they prepare well in advance and offer up to standard services to their clientele.
