adminBusiness Correspondent
THE Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe will hold its annual congress in Bulawayo from October 29 to 31, where it will deliberate on issues dogging the tourism and hospitality sector. The congress, which is an annual gathering of members of HAZ, is expected to draw over 200 local delegates from across the country.
The event will be officiated by the Tourism and Hospitality Minister, Cde Walter Mzembi, and a tourism expert from Singapore, among many other invited speakers.
Running under the theme, “HAZ at 70: Building a culture of service excellence,” HAZ president Mr Tamuka Macheka said quality service delivery will be the key focus of the 2014 congress as the country’s hospitality industry is re-branding to achieve the $5 billion tourism growth target.
He said the congress also comes amid positive revelations that the country’s tourist’s arrivals recorded a marginal increase of 1 percent during the first half of the year, which was a step in the right direction.
“The congress, which is open to anyone interested in the hospitality industry, allows stakeholders in the industry to convene, strategise, exchange ideas and form lasting business synergies.
“This also helps players to step up the quality of service delivery that will catapult the growth of the tourism and hospitality sector as we are in the re-branding drive to achieve the $5 billion tourism growth target,” said Mr Macheka.
He said Singapore was the world’s third largest tourism industry with a $13 billion tourism economy and Zimbabwe stood to benefit a lot from shared experiences, which is why they selected a guest speaker from there.
The congress will run concurrently with the annual Hospitality Fair, where there will be exhibitions of suppliers of products and services for the industry.
Mr Macheka added that among the major highlights at this year’s congress will be the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Catering Association of South Africa to enhance standards and service quality in the local industry.
Meanwhile, the country’s tourism and hospitality industry occupancy in the first half recorded a 6 percent slump in business in the first half of 2014, from 49 percent during the same period last year to 43 percent this year.
The HAZ boss, however, expressed optimism on improvement in the sector in the second half following the successful hosting of Africa’s prestigious tourism, travel and aviation summit, the Routes Africa Forum in Victoria Falls in June.
Mr Macheka added that since Zimbabwe had won the 2014 world best tourism destination and the world favourite cultural destination awards presented by the European Union Council on Tourism and Trade, the chances were high that the tourism and hospitality industry would grow during the second half.
Online Reporter