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Business Reporter
MEIKLES LIMITED has abandoned plans to build a new five-star hotel in Lusaka, Zambia, due to a number of similar projects being undertaken by other investors in the Zambian capital.
Meikles Hospitality Limited managing director Mr Karl Snater confirmed in an interview yesterday that there has been no progress on the plans for strategic reasons.
“The plans have not progressed because of the environment in Zambia. There have been quite a few investments going into Lusaka.
“The number of new hotels has grown rapidly. It is a strategic decision we have taken, we have put that on hold,” said Mr Snater.
Meikles Hospitality was discussing with property developers in Zambia with a view to building the new hotel.
The hotel was supposed to be part of a mixed land use retail being developed close to Lusaka International Airport by an unnamed leading African real estate company. But the group will now focus on improving its local assets.
Meikles has recently completed the US$8,5 million refurbishment exercise for its leading five-star hotel in Harare and is now gearing to tap into the growth in tourist arrivals.
It plans to refurbish Victoria Falls Hotel at a total cost of US$3 million. The US$8,5 million facelift for Meikles Hotel in Harare’s Central Business District is anticipated to increase the hospitality group’s competitiveness in line with the local hospitality industry’s objective of improving service and product quality.
It is expected that Zimbabwe will soon start reaping the benefits of successfully co-hosting the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in Victoria Falls and Livingstone in August with neighbouring Zambia.
Meikles refurbishments included acquisition of new banqueting furniture and equipment, upgrade of product and service and introduction of new beds and flat screen TVs.
There have been changes in the variety of food and beverage operations, where the company introduced new menus, new wine lists and new styles of cuisine and presentation.
A total of 142 bathrooms, bedrooms and suites have been refurbished to international standards.
The rooms are now fresh, bright and geared for the corporate and business market with special paint techniques on the walls and fabrics.
Other features include expanded club lounge, boardroom and kitchen all designed to enhance comfort and ease of doing business in a good environment.
Function rooms on the ground and second floors of the wing and its main restaurant La Fontaine were also redesigned while a completely new feature in the form of Presidential Suite was added.
Meikles Hospitality is part of the large Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed conglomerate Meikles Limited with interests in fast moving consumer goods retail sector, clothing and furniture, agriculture, agro-processing and mining.
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