Travellers hail 5-star Meikles as best hotel

ONE of Zimbabwe’s 5-star hospitality facilities, Meikles Hotel, has been named the best hotel for 2023 based on reviews by travellers.

The rating was done by Tripadvisor, a global online platform where travellers provide their experience on tourism and hospitality facilities and services.

Mr Wengayi Nhau

On Tripadvisor, different tourism and hospitality operators can list their profiles and service such that when travellers book services during their tour of tourism resorts in various destinations, they write reviews and rate the services of particular providers on a scale of 1-5.

A 5-star rating is an excellent achievement, and the more reviews and rating a property collects, the more prominent it becomes.

Such rating has a bearing on the property’s search engine optimisation, and the more the ratings the quicker the profile pops up at the top ahead of others. “It gives us great pleasure to announce that Meikles Hotel has been awarded the Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2023,” said Meikles.

“A huge thank you to all who have stayed with us and have taken the time to share their experience on Tripadvisor.”

The 312 room-hotel is partly owned by Africa Sun Limited and was opened more than 100 years ago, providing premier luxury five-star silver service with gracious charm.

It has been voted the Best City Hotel for many years. Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) head of corporate affairs Mr Godfrey Koti said Meikles Hotel is leading by example as Zimbabwe’s flagship tourism property. He said the award comes at the right time when Zimbabwe’s tourism is on a recovery path post Covid-19.

“As ZTA we congratulate Meikles Hotel for recognition as one of the best. This is our flagship 5-star hotel as a country and is currently undergoing renovations, which is what we are yearning for as a country to see most of our properties sprucing up,” he said.

“We are happy for Meikles, it’s a recognition that goes to the whole destination. Our tourism is on a recovery with 108 percent growth on arrivals in the first quarter and we are looking at this development as something that can help us back to pre-Covid levels,” said Mr Koti.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) head of corporate affairs Mr Godfrey Koti

Meikles Hotel is located within Harare’s central business district. Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe president Mr Wengayi Nhau said the award reignites Harare’s competitiveness as a destination, as well as enhancing brand Zimbabwe.

“This is an endorsement to profile, which goes a long way in attracting travellers. Most people now travel independently without the help of travel agents as they rely on making bookings online and the decisions that make on choosing a destination are dependent on such ratings.

“This is also for Harare and Zimbabwe at large. Having more operators in Harare being on Tripadvisor will go a long way in bringing Harare back to its former glory and with more airlines coming, the city is becoming a gateway into the region,” he said. —-chronicls