African Sun expanding

The capacity expansion initiative would raise the hospitality groups capacity to 8 500 rooms by 2012 from the current 3 000 rooms. African Sun also recently indicated it would spend US$15 million on face-lifting its local hotels ahead of the soccer showpiece.

African Sun chief executive Shingi Munyeza said 75 percent of the expansion would be in the region and the remainder in Zimbabwe. “We hope to spend US$60 million up to 2012 on increasing the number of our hotel rooms. “Three quarters of that would be in the region and 25 percent in Zimbabwe,” said Munyeza.

This resolution came on the back of reports that there would be a massive shortage of accommodation in South Africa, which presented hospitality companies with a huge business opportunity. Zimbabwe has 6 700 hotel rooms, the second largest capacity in the region after South Africa.

This meant South Africa would be overwhelmed by the demand for accommodation and regional countries would have to chip in. More than 450 000 visitors would descend in South Africa for the soccer World Cup and 50 000 rooms would be required. South Africa is believed to have just over 32 000 hotel rooms and would experience a deficit for accommodation of 18 000 hotel rooms.

Munyeza, who is the chairman of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, said they would re-engage Match, Fifas accommodation company, for the country to be listed among countries capable of providing accommodation to visiting World Cup soccer fans.