Chiku Mulinde, chairman of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe Matabeleland South, projected brisk business for the local hospitality
industry during the annual trade fair.
“Bulawayo hotels are prepared as usual, although a challenge has been
posed with the shifting of the dates as there were already other
commitments for the new dates.However, the situation is manageable,”
Mulinde, who is also the general manager of Holiday Inn Bulawayo, said.
“All hotels are already at 100% booked for the ZITF period. Some
lodges are also fully booked during the period. However, a few are yet
to fill up.”
ZITF general manager Nomathemba Ndlovu
Exhibitors usually book well in advance of the trade fair and by the
beginning of April there would be no room for accommodation.
This year’s exhibition will run under the theme “Simulating Trade: Seizing opportunities to accelerate growth”.
Germany, India, Malawi, Mozambique, Pakistan, Poland and South Africa
are some of the countries that have so far confirmed participation at
this year’s show and ZITF general manager Noma Ndlovu last month
indicated enquiries had come from other European and Asian countries.
Last year, 19 countries, including the United States, which had not
set foot at ZITF for 10 years, and close to 400 firms, participated.
China was the biggest exhibitor in 2014 occupying more than 1 000m2
up from 600m2 in 2013, but there were no major companies; just
small-to-medium enterprises.
