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Senior Business Reporter
BULAWAYO hotels have started registering bookings for the African Union Region Five Under-20 Youth Games to be held in the city in December. The sporting event will draw hundreds of delegates from 10 countries in the Sadc region and is expected to boost revenue inflows to the hospitality industry. Zimbabwe won the bid to host the games from December 5 to 14 after signing of the protocol agreement with the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa.

A snap survey by the Business Chronicle yesterday revealed hotels and lodges in the city had started receiving bookings from guests.
Cresta Churchill Hotel general manager Brian Nyakutombwa said “All we’re aware of is that the hosting of the games in the city will present an opportunity for the hotel sector to improve their revenue. There is a commitment from the hotels to host delegates at the youth games. As for the bookings details, get in touch with me in the first week of October.”

A senior official at Holiday Inn who requested anonymity said: “We’ve started receiving bookings for delegates coming for the youth games. However, we’re not yet fully booked. We still have rooms.”

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority regional manager for Bulawayo, Novuyo Mathonsi, said the hosting of the event by the city was a good opportunity for players in the hotel industry to increase their revenue.

“That’s a good opportunity for hotel operators in the city to improve their cash flows during the period of the youth games. As an authority, we would like to encourage them to spruce up their premises,” she said.

An official from Rainbow Hotel who also spoke on condition of anonymity said their hotel had started receiving bookings from outside the city as well as other countries.
The official would, however, not be drawn into revealing the number of rooms that had so far been taken up at the hotel.

To ensure successful hosting of the event the government has committed $9 million for sporting infrastructure upgrades and $4.5 million for operations towards the games.
Upgrading of sporting facilities such as White City and Barbourfields stadia and other infrastructure around the city is in progress.
Most of the athletes will be accommodated at Hillside Teachers College which has been designated as the games village.