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Harare Bureau
Listed hospitality concern, Rainbow Tourism Group has been honoured for promoting domestic tourism following its extensive investment in the local markets with the group receiving the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism Achievement in Marketing Award at the inaugural Havergal Marketing Tourism Achievers Awards.

One of the key elements in the selection process as highlighted by the judges was the company’s deliberate effort and investment in the promotion of domestic tourism.

This has been achieved through various promotions offered at extremely affordable prices making hospitality services accessible to all.

RTG is riding on the growth in internet and mobile penetration to promote local participation in tourism in a bid to increase occupancy across its hotels through the recently launched RTG Online Auctions.

Zimbabwe’s internet penetration is about 50 percent while mobile penetration rate is about 106 percent.

RTG expects to improve on the 36 percent occupancy recorded in the five months to May as the group relied more on individual stay as opposed to the traditional conference market.

The RTG Online Auctions concept, a first in Zimbabwe, is an online platform which allows customers to bid, win and pay for accommodation, conferencing and banqueting packages.

Group chief executive officer Tendai Madziwanyika hopes the growth in penetration rates will spur a growth in room sales.

“We can’t run away from ICTs. Any business that does not optimise the usage of ICTs isn’t going to go far. We believe that the ICTs are an enabler of business. It’s that highway that gives access business to customers and customers to business. We think that this is one way of bridging the gap,” said Madziwanyika.

The Achievement in Marketing Award is presented to the hospitality player which exhibits creative, high quality and extensive marketing coverage in the local, regional and international markets.

RTG won the best accommodation stand at Sanganai in 2014, and 1st runner up for best accommodation stand in 2015, the latest award confirms its firm position as the industry’s marketing leader, the group said.