URBAN LIFESTYLES GROUP OF HOTELS LUXURY REDEFINED

A New Chapter in ZimbabweanHospitality

Urban Lifestyles Group of Hotels stands as a compelling expression of Zimbabwean entrepreneurship, innovation and purposeful leadership. Based in Masvingo, Zimbabwe’s oldest town, the Group has grown beyond the conventional definition of a hotel to become a destination where hospitality, business, tourism, investment and opportunity converge. At its foundation is a simple but powerful belief: exceptional hospitality must create value not only for guests, but also for employees, business partners, local enterprises and the communities in which it operates. Urban Lifestyles Hotel & Conferencing Centre offers 47 rooms, comprising two Presidential Suites alongside Executive, Deluxe and Standard rooms, complemented by the 17-room Urban Lifestyles Guest House. Together, these properties provide a comprehensive accommodation portfolio designed to serve a diverse clientele, including business executives, corporate travelers, diplomats, government delegations, families and leisure visitors. The Presidential Suites provide an elevated experience with spacious living areas, separate lounges and king-size accommodation. Executive and Diplomatic accommodation caters for guests who require both comfort and an environment conducive to private meetings, extended stays and executive engagements. Deluxe and Standard rooms provide stylish, comfortable and accessible accommodation for a broad range of travelers. Yet, Urban Lifestyles is deliberately more than an accommodation provider.

A Strategic Business and Events Destination

The Group has established itself as a trusted host for conferences, corporate functions, government engagements, premium weddings, institutional gatherings and social events. Its six conference halls, including the iconic Glass Arena Hall, provide professionally managed and adaptable venues capable of accommodating gatherings of varying scale. This positioning enables organizations to conduct meetings, workshops, conferences and executive engagements within an integrated hospitality environment, supported by accommodation, dining and event services. The Group’s restaurant and leisure facilities further enhance the guest experience, offering an environment where local flavors and international culinary influences meet. The outdoor swimming pool provides an additional dimension of relaxation, while the hotel’s location places visitors within convenient reach of some of Masvingo Province’s most significant tourism assets, including Great Zimbabwe and Lake Mutirikwi. Urban Lifestyles therefore occupies an important intersection between business and tourism: a place where a delegation can meet, an investor can engage, a family can relax, and a visitor can experience the historical and cultural richness of Masvingo.

Innovation Driven by Local Ingenuity

A defining feature of the Group’s journey has been its commitment to innovation. Urban Lifestyles developed its own Property Management System (PMS) to support the management of its properties, including Urban Lifestyles Hotel and Urban Lifestyles Guest House. This locally developed solution reflects more than technological advancement. It demonstrates a willingness to identify challenges, develop local solutions and continuously improve operational efficiency. In an industry increasingly shaped by technology, such initiatives demonstrate that Zimbabwean hospitality enterprises can innovate from within and build solutions responsive to their own operational realities.

Leadership with Purpose

At the center of this story is CEO Shanna Mazorodze, whose leadership combines entrepreneurial ambition with a strong sense of responsibility towards people and community.Her vision extends beyond growing a successful hospitality enterprise. It is anchored in the conviction that business can become a vehicle for empowerment—creating employment, developing skills, nurturing talent, supporting local suppliers and enterprises, and broadening opportunities for Zimbabweans to participate meaningfully in economic development. What distinguishes her leadership is the understanding that exceptional hospitality begins with exceptional people. For Shanna Mazorodze, building a strong service culture requires investing in people, cultivating professionalism, encouraging accountability and creating a team capable of leaving a lasting impression on every guest.

Her leadership has received notable recognition, including the Platinum Woman of Substance Integrity & Professionalism of the Year Award, Best Woman in Hospitality and Event Planning, Outstanding Woman in Event Management of the Year, and the 2026 Diamond Businesswoman of the Year – Masvingo Region. Urban Lifestyles Hotel has likewise received recognition as Best Business in Hospitality Accommodation. These honors are regarded not as destinations, but as encouragement to pursue greater standards of excellence and to deepen the Group’s contribution to Zimbabwe’s hospitality and tourism sector.

Contributing to Masvingo’s Economic Transformation

Urban Lifestyles’ growth comes at an important moment in the development of Masvingo Province.
The province possesses immense potential across tourism, agriculture, mining and other sectors. Growing activity around mineral resources, including lithium and gold, alongside expanding commercial and tourism opportunities, is attracting investors, professionals, companies and business delegations. Against this backdrop, Masvingo is increasingly evolving from a traditional stopover for travelers heading towards Great Zimbabwe and the Lowveld into a destination where business is conducted, partnerships are forged, investment opportunities are explored and economic relationships are established. Urban Lifestyles is positioned to support this transformation by providing the hospitality infrastructure required by an increasingly sophisticated business and investment community. Its executive and diplomatic accommodation, conferencing facilities, corporate support and integrated hospitality services respond directly to the needs of visitors who require more than a room—they require a professional environment in which they can work, meet, engage and build relationships.

Creating Opportunity beyond the Hotel

The Group’s contribution to Masvingo cannot be measured solely by the number of rooms, conference halls or facilities it provides.Its broader impact is reflected through employment, skills development, local procurement, business partnerships, event activity, tourism support and the opportunities created around its operations. Every conference hosted, every delegation accommodated, every event delivered and every partnership established contributes to the circulation of economic activity within the local community. This is the essence of responsible enterprise: building a business that is commercially sustainable while simultaneously creating value beyond its own walls.

A Vision Aligned with Zimbabwe’s Future

Urban Lifestyles Group of Hotels represents a story of growth, resilience, innovation, service and purposeful leadership. It is a story of a Zimbabwean enterprise responding to a changing economy, recognizing the potential of Masvingo and positioning itself to serve the people, businesses and visitors who will shape the province’s next chapter. As Zimbabwe continues to pursue investment, tourism development, enterprise growth and inclusive economic participation, institutions such as Urban Lifestyles demonstrate the vital role that indigenous businesses can play in translating opportunity into tangible economic value. Urban Lifestyles is not merely preparing for Masvingo’s future it is actively participating in its creation. A hospitality brand rooted in Masvingo, driven by Zimbabwean ingenuity, and committed to creating a future where excellence, opportunity and economic progress converge.

From Destination Issue 27