HOSPITALITY group Hotels and Leisure Africa (HALA), with footprints on the continent says it is increasing its presence in the country in a bid to promote domestic tourism through offering cheaper, but quality products to locals.
Speaking during the launch of the National Press Club, to be housed at its recent acquisition, the HALA Select Selous Hotel, executive chairman of the group Cornelius Nyahundi said the group sought to bring locals the best the hospitality industry has to offer.
High quality products in the tourism industry have largely been unreachable to a majority of locals as huge operators continue to serve the high end of society and regional as well as international visitors.
“Zimbabweans from all walks of life irrespective of where they belong in the social strata deserve not just a decent product, but the best the tourism industry has to offer,” said Nyahundi.
The group, whose flagship locally is the HALA Montclair Resort and Casino, in Nyanga also operates HALA Chimanimani Resort and Casino, HALA All-Suite Boutique, Victoria Falls
“Domestic tourism is a big one for us that is the reason we have gone for a low cost strategy so that we are able to host the locals,” Nyahundi said.
“In the past, we benchmarked our pricing to who comes into the region, who comes into South Africa, who comes into Namibia, Botswana.
“But now we are talking about doing a lot of business with the domestic market and for us to be able to do a lot of business means that we have to give them the product which is clean, fresh, friendly at a good price so we are upbeat about domestic tourism and we want to play a major role in creating facilities and pricing for them.”
Nyahundi said the group will work closely with consumers to ensure that a mutually beneficial relationship existed.
He said being a low cost operation will not compromise service but make it affordable.
“Any structure that can be proposed by the market which makes sense for the business will be acceptable, we have in the past done a promotion where people pay in instalments, do a laybye or credit, we are flexible and adaptable to structures like that for us to get business in the rooms,” he said.
“While our model is a low cost, we have invested in excess of US$2million in renovation, to wash off the old faces and we expect to spend another US$1,5 million.”
The work being carried out by the group that includes giving facelifts to products such as the Kimberly Reef Hotel in Bindura now HALA Select Kimberly Hotel and Karoi Hotel now HALA Select Karoi Hotel experts said will catapult the industry to heights achieved in the 90s.
Nyahundi said the group will operate in all areas as it sought not only to make a profit for itself, but support ongoing efforts to revive the economy.
“We are growing and hope to have added another four hotels by the end of the year,” he said.
“Our core brand is a two-star brand in all major administration centres Lupane, Gwanda, Marondera and in places with major economic activities such as Chiredzi, Masvingo, Shurugwi where activity of economic significance is happening.
“We have new attractions that do not have accommodation.
“We plan to spend US$15 million next year for acquisitions and reviving some dead assets and building new ones.”
The group, according to Nyahundi, is owned by a bunch of locals combining vast experience in the tourism industry, operators climbing to the next level of the business (ownership).
“The tourism industry is poised for rejuvenation, the coming in of new players like us and the bringing of new energy from our leadership in the ministry (Tourism and Hospitality Industry) shows that we will rebuild this curve again,” said Nyahundi.
Executive founder of the National Press Club, Tapiwa Nyati, urged cooperation between the hospitality industry and the media.
“These are two sectors that market the country and make it visible to the outer world, thus there is need to cooperate to boost economic revival efforts,” said Nyati.
The executive committee of the National Press Club includes renowned journalists Maggie Mzumara, Anna Miti, Clarkson Mambo, Tichaona Zindoga and Nyasha Chabururuka.