The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) company plans to construct a 300-room hotel and convention centre at its Bulawayo grounds, after completing a feasibility study.
The hotel – the largest in Bulawayo – and convention centre are estimated to cost $11 million and will provide an alternative revenue channel for ZITF.
Currently, the 180-room Bulawayo Rainbow is the largest hotel in the city, with Holiday Inn following with 157 rooms.
ZITF General Manager, Nomathemba Ndlovu told The Source: “What we have done so far is to do our feasibility studies. We did two studies and are now at the stage of flighting an expression of interest.
“In the first quarter you will see us putting more effort toward preparing our project documents and having our bankable proposals being flighted for us to raise the capital.”
The company, according to Ndlovu, is currently upgrading its main Exhibition Hall 2, at a cost of around $250 000-$300 000. “We usually use it for the ZITF International business conference. We are currently upgrading that hall, purchasing conferencing equipment carpeting, redoing the ceilings and parking areas – small things we can do as we build up for the full project.”
More than 168 exhibitors had booked to participate in this year’s trade fair – the ninth – added Ndlovu, compared with 156 exhibitors last year.
