Hospitality company, the Spencers Creek Group, is set to open a new luxury hotel in 2020, on the banks of the Zambezi in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The 70-room hotel will be called Palm River Lodge.

The group has set aside about $15 million for the development of the project, which is being undertaken by Kiggen Construction Company.

Jim Brown, CEO of the Spencers Creek Group, said: “Given the continued growth of Victoria Falls as one of the premier destinations in Africa, we feel that there is room in the market to offer another high-quality, luxury hotel for the discerning traveller. The new hotel will be built in the Queenslander architectural style, making it completely unique to any other hotel in Victoria Falls. Its enviable location right on the banks of the Zambezi River will offer guests idyllic views and a relaxed ambience. The Palm River Lodge is set to open in May 2020.”

Hotels Association of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls Chapter, says it is positive to see new tourism products being developed in the resort town. “It is critical to highlight that Victoria Falls still has a deficit of rooms, which all players should to continue to invest in, now and in future. All local and international companies are welcome to invest in Victoria Falls; we are open for business. For Victoria Falls to be competitive as an international destination, we need over 2 500 rooms, up from about 2 000 at the moment, which include hotels and lodges,” says the association.

The group also owns Ilala Lodge, one of the top hotels in Victoria Falls, and the Ra-Ikane, a luxury river cruise company that operates on the Zambezi.