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Pote Hill, a two-star hotel in Zvishavane, seeks a three-star status following the completion of a $400,000 expansion and refurbishment exercise

Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
ZVISHAVANE-based hospitality concern, Pote Hill Hotel has invited the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) to inspect its facilities as it garners for three-star status following the completion of a $400,000 expansion and refurbishment exercise last year.

The hotel attained two stars last year and is the only one in the Midlands province with such status.

The new look Pote Hotel has 12 additional rooms after the expansion programme, which increased its room complement to 50.

Hotel manager, Victor Mavingire said the hospitality facility’s long term vision was to attain five stars.

He said plans were underway for a second phase expansion programme, which would see the construction of a bigger kitchen, restaurant and a casino.

“Our long term vision is to ensure that we achieve five stars and so far we are waiting for the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to come and assess our standards so that we’re given one more star.

“We’ve adhered to the recommendations by the ZTA that we should finish our expansion exercise, which we have done. I’m confident that we’ll get one more star,” he said.

“In our quest to become the first five star hotel in the Midlands, we’ll soon embark on another expansion programme, which will see the construction of a kitchen, restaurant and a casino. We’re still coming up with the cost of the project and by July something will start happening on the ground.”

Mavingire said an inspection by officials from Caf, Zifa and the PSL prior to the visit by teams playing in the Orange Caf Confederations Cup against FC Platinum recently had placed the hotel’s standards at three star level.

Caf has set minimum standards for hotels hosting visiting teams at three stars.

Kenya’s Sofapaka outfit, which was knocked out by FC Platinum in the preliminary stages of the Caf competition, was booked at Pote Hill Hotel.

Last year the hotel retained the Best Hospitality of the Year award for the Midlands at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce provincial awards.