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CRESTA Hospitality says it is targeting 10 percent growth in revenue by year-end following its $7 million investment into the refurbishment of the Cresta Lodge and its inroads into other markets within the Sadc region.

In an interview with our Harare Bureau after a tour of the refurbished hotel, Cresta Hotel chief executive Glenn Stutchbury said revenue will likely grow despite stiff competition from private lodges in the country.

He said between January and June this year, revenue went up three percent and the number of both local and foreign visitors grew by seven percent although average room rate declined due to the liquidity situation.

He said the group is also expecting to expand its business into other markets.

“We’re targeting to expand in the region in 2016 in areas like the northern parts of Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia and other Sadc countries to fully service the market,” he said.

Stutchbury said online bookings had increased year-on-year in terms of the take-ups and they were planning to use that platform, partnering up with travel agents, to showcase the new refurbishments.

The refurbishment at Cresta Lodge started in 2013 focusing primarily on the North and South wings consisting of six blocks with a total of 171 rooms.

“We’ve finished the refurbishment of the last 55 rooms out of the 171 rooms at this hotel to give them a new look and meet the travel business demands,” said Stutchbury.

During the refurbishment, the group was targeting the removal of the carpeting in favour of floors, small fridges, electric safes with passcodes, and decorations in the bathrooms.

The reception was expanded into a free area with space to sit and the former continental lounge was changed into a coffee shop named “Cool Beans” which offers free Wi-Fi with any purchase. Part of the refurbishments also included sprucing up their online packages.

Stutchbury said the group was taking the online platform more seriously as it will anchor the future of the business.

Cresta is a unit of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed investment group, TA Holdings, with a footprint extending across Africa.

The group manages and operates 13 hotels in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Ghana with a strong international representation in South Africa, Europe, America and Asia. — BH24