NEWS

The Saudi based hospitality brand, Rani Resorts, is to start construction on a new $100m resort in Mozambique. ...

The Sofitel So Mauritius hotel has opened its doors to guests yesterday. After Sofitel Imperial at Flic en Flac, this second Accor resort in Mauritius has been built at Bel Ombre, on the South coast. ...

Best Western International “extends its presence in Africa with the opening of the Best Western Coral Beach Hotel in Tanzania. The hotel will be located in Dar Es Salaam, in the exclusive Msasani Peninsula area, a prime location. ...

The development of cruise tourism would advance South Africa’s reputation as a world class globally spirited tourism destination. ...

Qatar Airways further expands in East Africa adding with 12 flights across Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. These routes will be operated with an A320 aircraft, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 in Economy....

The African Business Travel Association (ABTA) was launched in Johannesburg recently with the aim of providing a platform for African business travel professionals to work together to raise the standards of the business travel industry across the continent. ...

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has once again confirmed his commitment to tourism as one of the top priorities of his country. In a meeting attended by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, on the occasion of the 10th Tourism Convention Day, the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism set the stage for the official launch of Morocco’s ‘Tourism Development Strategy Vision 2020’ (Marrakesh, Morocco, 30 November). ...

A new segment of customers are reportedly boosting the sales of Acacia Africa. The operator claims to have been introduced to a new type of customer all through recession. This is the kind of customer who wanted to experience something ‘rawer’. With the economy hitting the rock bottom, the tour operator profited from bookings outside the usual core market – older nomads, luxury adventurers and families opting to cut back on their travel plans, explained Heath Ashcroft, marketing director at Acacia Africa. ...

Zimbabwe’s largest hotel group, African Sun managed to reduce its full-year loss to half on Thursday, but failed to reach the targeted figures of break even, due to higher fixed costs and lower occupancy at some of its properties. The hotel group said it was adversely affected by higher utility rates and property costs, coupled with reduced demand at its businesses outside of Zimbabwe. ...

South Africa Tourism (SAT) is going to be one of the most socially busy brands in the worldwide travel landscape. Joining hands with dedicated travel and lifestyle social network WAYN.com, SAT looks forward to growing its fan base across the globe, while bringing into line its sales and marketing strategies with the intentions of broadcasting its following....