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The African Sun-owned hotel is the main venue for the general assembly.
The hotel with 276 rooms was chosen to host the main event ahead of other hotels in Victoria Falls and Livingstone, Zambia.
The general assembly has been scheduled to start on 24 August.
Elephant Hills deputy general manager Mrs Nomsa Dzambo told the UNWTO inspectorate made up of chief of conferences Mr Munir Rayes and regional director for Africa Mr Ousmane Ndiaye last week that the hotel had acquired new television sets and linen for rooms used by guests.
“We have started putting in new linen in all the rooms. At the same time we have purchased new LCD sets and 100 of which will be supplied in February and the rest (176) will be delivered by 31 March. We are also putting in place new security safes in all the rooms for safe keeping of precious items for our guests,” she said.
“We are progressing well with our refurbishments and we will definitely meet our target and this is in line with our growth strategy.
“It also includes essential back-of-house items covering critical fire, life-safety items, product refurbishment and acquisition of new furniture”.
On his visit to the hotel last year, UNWTO secretary-general Dr Taleb Rifai, said Elephant Hills was a magnificent venue for the tourism indaba.
“This is a magnificent venue; when setting up the conference centre, please keep the natural look. Do not cut down the trees around the hotel. I am happy with the venue and this (Elephant Hills) will be our main venue for the conference,” said Dr Rifai.
The general assembly is the principal gathering of the UNWTO, which meets after every two years to consider the budget and programme of work of the United Nations’ specialised agency on tourism.
The event usually attracts 186 ministers responsible for tourism as well as media personnel and tourism stakeholders from various countries internationally, thereby raising the profile of hosting countries worldwide.
Online Reporter