NSSA Beitbridge hotel to be luxurious but affordable

facilities, even though it will only seek a three-star rating and the accommodation rates are expected to be affordable.
Completion of the hotel is due in the first half of 2012.
The two-storey hotel, to be managed by the Rainbow Tourism Group, will have approximately 144 rooms, comprising single and double rooms as well as executive, diplomatic and presidential suites.
The hotel will have a casino, gym and swimming pool. Provision is being made for the casino to have a private section for the convenience of those who prefer to gamble discreetly, away from the public eye.
Following international trends, the hotel will be the first almost totally non-smoking hotel in Zimbabwe. Smoking will not be permitted anywhere in the hotel, except in a single smoker’s lounge that will be air-conditioned to ensure the cigarette smoke does not go into other areas.
Provision has been made for two banks to offer a banking service within the hotel. This should be of great benefit to guests, who will be able to change money and carry out other banking transactions without leaving the hotel.
NSSA chairman Mr Innocent Chagonda, several NSSA board members, NSSA general manager Mr James Matiza, Rainbow Tourism Group chief executive Mrs Chipo Mtasa and other officials from NSSA and RTG
visited the hotel construction site recently.
They were shown round and briefed on construction progress by the project architect, Mr Daniel Mandishona of DMA. CZL is the construction company that won the tender to build the hotel.
The hotel design incorporates several courtyards as a way to increase the flow of air in and out of the buildings, in view of the high temperatures usually experienced in Beitbridge. These courtyards will, in addition to the air- conditioning, help ventilate the different structures making up the hotel.
There will be four main structures – the main hotel building and three other buildings housing the hotel rooms. All these structures will be linked by elevated walkways.
The main building will house the reception area, conference rooms, casino, banking halls, bars and gym. The swimming pool and gazebo will be located in a courtyard facing the three accommodation blocks.
Imported fittings will add to the hotel’s luxurious ambience. It is believed NSSA’s investment in this hotel will be the largest construction investment in the country since the introduction of multiple currencies as the medium of exchange. When complete it is expected that the hotel will have cost US$17,4 million.
“Our plan was to make it a three-star hotel so that it is affordable for the target market but we decided to go the extra mile and make it one of the best hotels not only in the southern part of the country but the nation as a whole, without hiking our proposed rates,” a NSSA spokesperson said.