The Luxurious Transformation of The Rainbow Towers Hotel & Convention Centre luxury suites Where African Heritage Meets Modern Elegance in the Heart of Harare”
Nestled at the periphery of Harare’s central business district, dominating the city skyline, the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Convention Centre has long been a symbol of luxury and sophistication. With its recent rooms refashioning, the hotel’s luxury suites, aptly called ‘the diplomat-ic suites’ have undergone a stunning transformation, embracing an Afro Chic aesthetic that seamlessly blends African heritage with contemporary design.
The result is a collection of suites that are as rich in culture as they are in comfort, offering guests a unique and immersive experience.
The Rainbow Towers Hotel & Convention Centre was honoured to have hosted the first guests to enjoy these suites, seven of the Leads of State and their delegations who attended the 44th Ordinary Summit of the SADC Heads of State in August 2024.
The Vision: The refashioning of the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Convention Centre’s luxury diplomatic suites was driven by a desire to create spac-es that reflect the essence of Africa while catering to the tastes of today’s discerning traveler.
The design was inspired by the conti-nent’s diverse cultures, vibrant colors, and intricate patterns, resulting in a style that is both authentically African and unmistakably chic.
Large windows provide sweeping views of Harare’s skyline, The suites are designed to be both a retreat and a celebration of Zim-babwean culture, providing an environment where guests can feel truly at home.
Cultural Connection: The Afro Chic design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the suites but also creates a deeper con-nection with the culture and history of Zim-babwe. Each suite features art pieces, cel-ebrating the country’s key tourism wonders such as the mighty Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe. The big five wildlife also feature prominently on the walls. These artworks, combined with the thoughtful design, make each suite a living gallery, offering guests a taste of Zimbabwe’s rich cultural landscape.
Guest Experience: The response from guests has been overwhelmingly posi-tive, with many praising the suites for their unique blend of luxury and cultural authen-ticity. “Staying in these suites feels like being wrapped in the warmth and spirit of Africa,” says one recent guest. “It’s a truly special experience that you won’t find anywhere else.”
By embracing an Afro Chic aesthetic, the hotel has created a space that honors Afri-ca’s heritage while providing the utmost in modern comfort.
Whether visiting for business or leisure, guests of the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Convention Centre are invited to indulge in the beauty and elegance of these newly transformed suites—where every detail has been thoughtfully crafted to reflect the soul of Africa.
The refashioning of the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Convention Centre luxury suites is a testament to the Rainbow Tourism Group’s commitment to offering guests an experience that is both luxurious and culturally enriching.
Moments under the Rainbow with RTG Chief Executive Mr. Tendai Madziwanyika
DZW: Congratulations on the completion of the refurbishment of the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Convention Centre and the Harare International Convention Centre. How much was invested in the refurbishment of the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Convention Centre and HICC Convention Centre?
TM: RTG has invested US$26 million in product refurbishments over the past 5 years, of which US$10 million was invest-ed in the Rainbow Towers Hotel and the Harare International Convention Centre. In the current scope of works a total of US$5 million was utilised for all works to re-do the rooms at the hotel as well as the Harare International Conferencing. In the HICC all carpets and chairs were removed and replaced with modern carpet and chairs. In the hotel three floors were re-done completely including the corridors and rooms.
Rooms:
The rooms were completely stripped by removing all plastering, all fittings & fixtures, ceilings, flooring, electricals, all plumbing and all furniture.
The rooms were recreated, adding modern features such as bulk heads with down-lights, new flooring, complete remodelling of the bathrooms with brand new smart modern features and fixtures that ensure sustainable operations. We replaced all the furniture with brand new contemporary units enveloped by afro-chic décor and artwork.
DZW: What was the scope of the refurbishments?
TM: I prefer to call the work we did – refashioning as it is more holistic in describing the amount of work which was undertaken. The scope of works included the complete refashioning of three floors, where we created six luxury diplomatic suites by collapsing four guest rooms into one Presidential suite. resulting in a luxurious suite comprising 2 bedrooms (both ensuite), one lounge, one dining room, one kitchenette and a visitors bathroom. Over and above the suites we modernised 48 rooms i.e 16 new rooms per each of the three floors.
The Presidential suite has a large bathroom which has a deep soaking bath tub for a rejuvinating retreat to calm the senses and a spacious walk in shower.
Elevators:
The hotel now has four brand new leading global brand; Kone elevators. Our guest elevators now have key-card access control which only gives access to the floor on which the particular guest is booked, thereby enhancing the security and safety of our guests. We are installing two additional brand new elevators for the main kitchen and a service elevator for HICC in the second half of 2024
HICC:
The HICC, for the first time since it was built – was completely revamped and modernized with brand new chairs that are complete with a full set of power charging options including 3-pin, C-type and USB charging ports. In addition the chairs have an inbuilt writing pad for ease of working and new carpets throughout. It is important for me to highlight that the HICC remains the largest single-use amphitheater colosseum-style conferencing venue in Africa. This facility has the capacity to host 4500 delegates. We are now targeting regional and international meetings and conferences as we have a world-class product.
DZW: Will you be doing any further works at the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Conven-tion Centre and the HICC?
TM: We will be installing two more brand new elevators which will service the main kitchen and the a service elevator for the HICC. These are the first replacements since the hotel was built. Other than this we have now completed the refurbish-ments for this hotel. However, we main-tain a product improvement plan which ensures the hotels are refreshed every 5-7 years.
DZW: What feedback have you received from delegates and particularly Heads of State who stayed at your hotel for the SADC events over the past few weeks?
TM: We have received positive feedback regarding both the product and the service. We are awfully proud of the small role we played in the successful hosting of the 44th SADC Summit. This show-cased our abilities to host world-class conferences as a country. We look for-ward to continued conferencing business going into the future.
DZW: How has been the interest on the newly refurbished rooms?
TM: There is a lot of interest in the new rooms. At 38m2 per standard room and over 150m2 per suite, our rooms remain the largest in Zimbabwe. We are situated in a prime location that offers guests a safe, peaceful stay away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD, with well-man-icured gardens where they can enjoy the fresh air without any disturbance or concern for their safety.
DZW: Can you give me an outlook for the hotel and conference centre?
TM: This refashioning of the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Convention Centre has breathed new life into the hotel, offering timeless comfort with a modern twist. The new amenities and features make the hotel a top choice for both business and leisure travellers. We are there-fore upbeat about the current business performance and the future this hotel. Having successfully hosted the 44th SADC Summit, and looked after seven Heads Of State we are now confident that Zimbabwe is now well-positioned as the premier destination for regional and international meetings and conferences.
From: DESTINATION ZW ISSUE 12
