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Ntombikayise Mangena Business Reporter
A NUMBER of hotels in Bulawayo are fully booked while bookings are still in progress for the rest of the hotels ahead of the Zimbabwe Trade Fair (ZITF) in April.
A survey by Business Chronicle showed that some hotels were fully booked while others were still open to reservations.
The trade fair is one of the biggest events of the year in Bulawayo with a number of exhibitors coming from out of town.
Hotels in the city cannot accommodate all visitors who throng Bulawayo during the week-long event.
The ZITF Company has announced plans to build a three star hotel in the city to alleviate accommodation woes during the premier trade showcase.
Khumalo Hotel director Josphat Kahwema said they were fully booked.
“We are 100 percent booked for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. Due to an organised arrangement we made sometime back, we have consistent guests every year, however I cannot disclose their actual numbers”, said Kahwema.
“As Khumalo Hotel, we have maintained our rates, as you are aware that we are coming from years of economic downturn”, he said.
At Selbourne hotel, officials said rooms were still available.
“We are not fully booked as of now, but once our regular ZITF guests start securing their accommodation we might soon be fully booked”, said a worker.
Workers at Holiday Inn, Cresta Churchill and Bulawayo Rainbow who spoke on condition of anonymity also said that business looked bright ahead of the trade fair.
Meanwhile, individuals and organisations with alternative accommodation in the city centre and surrounding areas have started advertising their premises for accommodation during the ZITF.
Online Reporter