Meikles Hotel : Towards the centenary

Meikles Hotel has launched a six-month celebration of its centenary, marking 100 years since the hotel started operating on November 15, 1915.

A series of events have been lined up and they will culminate in a celebratory banquet on the evening of Saturday November 14.

The celebrations focus on the history and experience of the five-star hotel, as well as on its current status as one of Africa’s best-known hospitality establishments.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the hotel to mark a start of the celebrations, Karl Snater, managing director of Meikles Hospitality, said reaching 100 years was a significant achievement for Meikles Hotel.

He said: “During the coming six months we plan to undertake a series of events that help us commemorate this significant achievement in a suitable manner and the purpose of today’s launch, ahead of all these events, is to unveil the commemorative logo that is being used throughout this period of celebration.

“Meikles Hotel is not simply a hospitality establishment offering facilities and amenities expected of a hotel. Over 10 decades it has created for itself a reputation as Zimbabwe’s premier hotel, and its name has become synonymous with all that is good in Zimbabwean hospitality.”

He said when the Meikles family decided to establish a hotel in the then town of Salisbury, there were already a number of hotels in the quickly-growing capital.

Stewart Meikles conceptualised the hotel as being in an area removed from the business district and it was he who took the first steps towards its creation.

Sadly, he did not live to see its completion and that task was left to his brother, Tom, who oversaw construction and opening and showed faith in his late brother’s unshakeable belief that a niche needed to be filled and that this new hotel would do the job satisfactorily.

“While the First World War was raging, the hotel was built and it opened its doors to its first customers on November 15, 1915. It was then a remarkable building in what was really a frontier town: two storeys on the corner of what is now Sam Nujoma Street and Jason Moyo Avenue and replete with luxuries and services no-one else had offered, including en-suite bathrooms for some of the bedrooms — an unheard of luxury in this part of the world,” Snater explained.

“Those 10 decades have been marked by times of boom and times of difficulty — two World Wars, countless economic recessions, social and political upheavals and a roller-coaster ride along the pathways of domestic and international tourism,” he went on.

The east wing of the hotel which was constructed in the late 1950s is now the north wing. The demolition of the old west wing, which was the original hotel, took place in the early 1970s when the present south wing was built.

Further expansion took place after independence in 1980, again during a major refurbishment project in the early 1990s and then most recently when they refashioned the north wing.

A 100 years later, the hotel is structurally far advanced compared to the original building and the Meikles Brothers would be incredibly proud of what exists today, still bearing their name.

“There have been many exciting moments, from re-openings to hosting so many of the world’s rich and famous people, but perhaps one of the most special occasions was the hosting in our Stewart Rooms of the banquet hosted by the now President and then Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, on April 17, 1980, a few hours before he and guests that included royalty and world leaders moved across to Rufaro Stadium for the midnight flag-raising ceremony that ushered in independence for the nation.

“Many hundreds of people have worked for the hotel, among them some of the best general managers this country has seen. Many of those people have offered service for amazing lengths of time — sometimes up to and beyond 40 years. Tens of thousands have stayed here, among them business and leisure travellers who have been exposed to the best hospitality operations in the world and who have commented favourably on their Meikles experience,” he proudly explained.

“As we look back with pride on 100 years of service in pursuit of excellence, we also stop to look ahead and forge for ourselves a road into the future.

“Meikles Hotel remains ready and able to play its role in local and international travel and tourism and to being an institution of which every Zimbabwean can be proud.

“As we complete the journey of our first century, we look forward to embarking on the journey that will take us through our second century,” he said.

The five-star establishment has a range of accommodation, dining, banqueting, conference and leisure facilities.

It is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and is sister hotel to another centenarian — The Victoria Falls Hotel, which next month marks its 111th birthday.