Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG)

The Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) has expressed its commitment to a greener future. The hospitality group revealed this in a post on its LinkedIn page last week to mark this year’s World Environment Day, whose theme was “Beat plastic pollution.”

The company used the commemoration of the day to outline the various initiatives which it is undertaking as part of its ongoing efforts to champion sustainability.

The tourism entity highlighted its eco-conscious hospitality initiative and efforts to reduce the use of plastic in its operations.

“We are actively reducing single-use plastics across our hotels with a goal of complete elimination. This alongside embracing energy-efficient systems like key card-activated in-room power and low-energy LED lighting,” the group posted.

The RTG gave an overview of its investment in clean and renewable energy.

“We’re advancing towards net-zero direct emissions by investing in solar (energy). A 300KVA solar plant is operational at the Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre, with 200KVA being grid-tied to support the town’s energy needs. A further US$1 million is being invested for a 1 megawatt plant at our flagship (facility), the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre,” the entity said.

The hospitality group is involved in an afforestation programme and the promotion of biodiversity.

“Our tree planting campaigns across Zimbabwe have seen 16 000 trees being planted, with a firm target of 100 000 trees by 2027. Through the Heritage Expedition Africa, we are also championing low-impact travel experiences that preserve heritage and support local communities,” the company disclosed.

The entity, which is a major business events player through the provision of accommodation and venues, is using its refurbishment programme to practise sustainable operations and adopt green design.

“Recent refurbishments at hotels like the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre and the A’Zambezi River Lodge have integrated sustainable materials, smart energy-saving heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and low-flow water systems. Our comprehensive waste management includes segregation, composting, and channelling non-organic waste for recycling,” it posted.

Sustainable practices are very crucial for hotel industry players due to their positive impact on the environment, profitability and brand reputation. Hotels can reduce their environmental footprint attract environmentally conscious travellers and event organisers’ business and improve their economic performance by implementing sustainable measures.

Nathan Guma

TOURISM and hospitality giant Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) says the ongoing massive refurbishment of its flagship Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre in Harare, the first such undertaking in 39 years, will help push revenue performance as the company seeks to enhance its competitive edge in the market.

The RTG is the dominant player in Zimbabwe’s tourism industry specialising in hotel and conference services, tour operations and operates the largest tourism online booking platform in Zimbabwe, the Gateway Stream App.

The group has six hotels located across Zimbabwe.

Its flagship hotel, the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre is currently undergoing a complete overhaul aimed at modernising the infrastructure.

RTG’s major renovation in 39 years

As part of the transformation of the facility, some of the hotel’s standard rooms are being remade into executive rooms, while all elevators have been completely modernised.

More work is also underway, with the 500-seater Conference Centre, housed at the ~~hotel~~, being revamped, as part of the company’s US$10 million re-fashioning investment.

A tour by the media at the facility confirmed the massive refurbishments aimed at modernising the Rainbow Towers Hotel and the Conference Centre.

At the Conference Centre, all carpets in the amphitheatre will be replaced while all chairs will be replaced by July, bringing a makeover to the centre.

RTG chief executive officer, Tendai Madziwanyika is upbeat about the refurbishment exercise, telling the media: “The product improvement projects that we are undertaking are really aimed at various aspects of the hotel. Remember, this hotel was launched in 1985 and ever since there has never been a total rebuild of the place.

“So what we have done is that we have targeted areas that will make the biggest impact. I will give you an example. We have renewed all the lifts in the hotel. Those lifts are synchronised. So this will help in terms of movement of the guests to the rooms. We are going to have totally refashioned them to become world-class. We have taken off plumbing, electricals, plastering and everything.”

Madziwanyika added: “So those rooms are brand new. All the chairs have been removed and the carpets. It’s the first time this has happened over the past 40 years. We think that this will be serious business as it will be brand new.”

The group has already invested US$10 million in rooms re-fashioning at Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre over the past five years.

In 2020, the RTG invested US$4.6 million in the re-fashioning of 183 guestrooms and two state-of-the-art elevators, with the presidential suite completed in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The presidential suite is being overhauled together with diplomatic suites. Madziwanyika said the renovations to the conference centre are in preparation for the upcoming SADC Summit to be hosted by Zimbabwe in August.

“As you can see, we are doing major works. This is the first time we have conducted works such as these ever since the construction of this hotel in 1985. We have taken out the old chairs and the old carpets. And the aim is that we would have all taken out the old chairs and carpets,” he said.

“This is being done to showcase this place as the best in Africa. As you can see the shape of it is very unique. It has what we call the amphitheatre shape. So it is very unique and there is no facility like this in Africa. Beyond thisConference Centre, we have changed all the lifts. They are going to be talking to one another so that guests do not have to wait for long after calling a lift.

Added Madziwanyika: “We are also completing the refashioning of all our guest rooms. We have the largest guest rooms in the country, at 38 square metres per room and we have changed everything about them. All 300 or so rooms are going to be re-done by the time of the SADC Conference.”

Listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange, the RTG is a dominant player in the tourism industry with six hotels located across Zimbabwe. Two are in the capital city Harare, one in the mining town — Kadoma, one in the country’s second largest city — Bulawayo and two in the resort town of the world-renowned tourist attraction Victoria Falls.

Nathan Guma is a multi-award-winning journalist who writes for The News Hawks. This article was first published by The News Hawks under the headline: “RTG in its first major renovation in 39 years”

We committed to a sustainable future – RTG

Rainbow Towers Hotel in first major renovation in 39 years