Zim hotel adapts to meet new demand

THE 180-room Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe has seen its average room occupancy increase to around 45% since launching a major marketing campaign, which included several educationals for tour operators, in the United Kingdom earlier this year. As such, the hotel will seek to grow its relationship with the UK trade even further and has adapted its product offering to meet increased demand. Emma Seaman, marketing manager for Victoria Falls Hotel - operated by the Meikles group - says the hotel plans to extend its average length of stay from two to four nights by demonstrating to travel agents the number of activities which are available at the hotel, including Zambezi water cruises, adrenalin sports, cultural experiences and safaris. Furthermore, in an effort to meet the growing UK market demand for family products, the hotel launched a special children's package at WTM, offering among others a baby-sitting service, story-telling evenings, a specially-created garden nature trail to educate children about the indigenous fauna and flora and a special children's menu at the restaurant. (Adele Mackenzie)