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Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
VICTORIA Falls Safari Lodge has continued to dominate the hotel industry after being voted the best resort hotel in the country for the 20th consecutive year.
The awards, organised by the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA), were presented in Harare last weekend and saw hotels in Victoria Falls dominating.
Africa Albida Tourism runs the hotel, together with Lokuthula Lodges, which scooped the best self catering award.
“We are excited as Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) to have won a swag of awards as our flagship property Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has been voted the best for the 20th consecutive year by the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA).
“Our other property Lokuthula Lodges won the Best Self-Catering category, while Victoria Falls Safari Club took Best Boutique Hotel and marketing executive Wendy Bourne won the Most Outstanding Voluntary Service to Travel Agents award,” said AAT chief executive Mr Ross Kennedy.
He said the award marked yet another milestone for Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and AAT at large.
“We are so proud of the achievement and of the amazing AAT team. In addition, we got the Best Boutique Hotel award (Victoria Falls Safari Club) while Lokuthula Lodges got the Best Self Catering award as well Wendy Bourne’s individual award and all this makes us a proud group,” said Mr Kennedy.
The annual AZTA awards, which reward airlines, lodges, agents and companies with a certificate for their great service, as voted by the Zimbabwe travel industry, were presented at the Meikles Hotel in Harare on Saturday.
To win the prize, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge beat two other Victoria Falls facilities – Victoria Falls Hotel and A’ Zambezi River Lodge – who came second and third respectively.
Lokuthula Lodges beat Wild Heritage and Blue Swallows Lodges to second and third place respectively in the best self catering award.
Stanley and Livingstone Safari Lodge, also in Victoria Falls and Pamushana Lodge were voted second and third respectively after Victoria Falls Safari Club in the best boutique hotel category.
Best City Hotel category was dominated by Harare facilities Meikles Hotel, which took the prize, ahead of Cresta Lodge and Crowne Plaza.
Amanzi Lodge won best bed and breakfast/guesthouse award, beating Wild Geese Lodge and Kariba’s Hornbill Lodge.
Also making the grade are Amalinda in the Matopos which won the Best Safari Establishment (non tented) while the Hide Safari Camp in Hwange became the winner of Best Safari Camp (tented).
@ncubeleon
Online Reporter