EXCELLING INDUSTRY PLAYERS RECOGNISED AT AZTA AWARDS
Several tourism industry players received prizes at the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents Awards held at the Meikles Hotel on 30 September 2023.
Hosted in Harare every year, each awards ceremony focuses on a new theme for the event. The awards concept is a great way to reward different airlines, lodges, agents and companies with a certificate for their great service, as voted by the Zimbabwe travel industry.
The biggest winner of the night was Africa Albida Tourism, whose several operations went home with awards. The winners included Victoria Falls Safari Lodge for Best Resort Hotel, Victoria Falls Safari Club (Second Runner Up in the Best Boutique Hotel category) and Lokuthula Lodges also in Victoria Falls, who walked away with two awards, one for the Best Self-Catering property for the 9th year and the second for Best Bed and Breakfast facility.
Other winners were Meikles Hotel, which received the award for the Best City Hotel, Palm River Lodge (Best New Establishment), Banff Lodge (Best Bed and Breakfast), Antelope Park (Best Safari Camp (Tented), and Amalinda Lodge (Best Safari Camp (Non-Tented).
Zambezi Expressions won Best Mobile Safari Operator, Airlink (Best Regional Airline) and Emirates (Best International Airline). Amanzi Lodge won Best Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouse, while Best Safari Camp (Tented) went to The Hide Safari Camp in Hwange.
“Congratulations to all of our winners. You are an inspiration to the industry. May you all continue to strive for excellence and a professional travel industry.”
The awards also raised some funds that will be donated to the charity organisation Friends of the Vumba, thanks Terry-Anne and her team from Travelport for taking on the casino.
Evans extended “a very big thank you” to Meikles for making the event memorable even when the hotel was under renovation. “Meikles were all so very helpful and accommodating and as usual, the food was impeccable.”
Live music band FaB Fusion dished a wonderful repertoire! They have such a variety of music to suit all tastes!
During the same event, Evans announced the following outgoing AZTA Awards committee members – Wendy Bourne, Kelly-Anne Tavares, Aqua Evans and Stan Higgins. “For more than 7 years, the quartet gave their time and running around, all that has been very much appreciated”, Evans paid tribute.
AZTA was formed over 60 years ago by a group of travel agents with the intent of joining forces to become one voice for suppliers and authorities, thereby ensuring it would be represented and respected as an industry player. The organization has grown its membership drawn from throughout Zimbabwe and is registered with associations such as IATA (International Association of Travel Agents), UFTAA (United Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations), TBCZ (Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe), FESATA (Federation of Eastern and Southern African Travel Agents), ZTA (Zimbabwe Tourism Authority).
Text by Martin Chemhere
