Tanzania: New High Class Hotel - A high-class tourist hotel, the 'Snow Crest' which recently opened at Kwa Ngulelo area is reported to have invaded a road reserve area meant for the development of a four-lane motor highway, authorities have confirmed. [AA Urbanisation]

Zimbabwe: NSSA to Resume Construction of Hotel - The National Social Authority (NSSA) will soon resume the construction of a US$12 million hotel in Beitbridge amid doubts the facility will be ready for the 2010 soccer World Cup. NSSA is constructing the hotel on behalf of the Rainbow Tourism Group and will own 10% of the business once the project is complete. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Five Star Hotel For Kano Soon - Kano State government is putting arrangement in top gear to embark on the building of a five-star hotel to be sited near Kofar Nassarawa in Kano metropolis. [AA Construction]

Botswana: Cresta Hotel Unveils New Brand - Cresta Thapama Hotel has been refurbished at a cost of P20 million. [AA Construction]

Ethiopia: National Consultants - Hopeful Bidder to Design ET's Four-Star Hotel - The private architectural firm, National Consultants, is emerging as a potential contender to bag a multimillion Birr consulting contract from the Ethiopia Airlines (ET), which is planning to build its own four-star hotel in a vast plot near Bole International Airport, sources disclosed. [AA Construction]

Bentel International Associates (BAI) is one of South Africa's foremost pioneers of outstanding commercial architecture. The company is widely respected for its innovative yet functional designs across a wide range of sectors. The company's prestigious portfolio includes major retail centres, mixed-use developments, office, hotel and apartment buildings in Southern Africa, West Africa, the Middle East and India.

Designed by BAI and currently and owned by Liberty Group, a new three-storey hotel in Pietermaritzburg is currently under construction. Hotel construction commenced in February on a 1 500 m2 site on existing Liberty Midlands Mall land, adjacent to the shopping centre. The well-located hotel site is adjacent to Sanctuary Road and is conveniently located near the N3 highway. BAI also designed the highly successful Liberty Midlands Mall, which has undergone two extensions to keep up with the demand for its facilities.

Tanzania: Hilton to Open Two New Hotels in Dar - Doubletree, a franchise of the Hilton Hotels Corporation, yesterday signed two franchise license agreements in Tanzania with the owners of the Opulent Hotel Group that would see the country open two world class hotels. [AA Construction]

By Bongekile Mhlanga

Malalane - Partners are being sought to develop the first-ever hotel for the Kruger National Park.

The hotel, which was initially set to be built inside the park's boundaries, will now be built near Malalane.

South African National Parks (SANParks) wants to enter into a public private partnership to build the hotel.

“SANParks is looking to generate money for itself, to alleviate poverty through job creation for the communities around the Malalane entrance gate, develop the community, and promote tourism, biodiversity protection and conservation,” said SANParks spokesperson Ronald Thakhuli.

The hotel was to be situated at the confluence of the Matjulu and Crocodile rivers, near the entrance gate.

“There has been opposition to building the hotel inside the park and we are still conducting research to find a suitable location for it,” added Mr Thakhuli.

He said a hotel in Malalane burnt down in 2008, prompting SANParks to look into building its own hotel in the area.

Liberia: First-class Hotel Unveiled - Unveiling what is now known as Liberia’s first class hotel, American Millionaire Robert L. Johnson minced no words in heaping praises on the government of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and also expressing the need for improvement of the investment climate in Liberia so as to encourage more investments and give Liberians employment opportunities. [AA Urbanisation]

Huambo - The central Huambo Province will get next year new hotel units whose construction is to start still this year, revealed to ANGOP the provincial director for hotels and tourism, Delina Cuaiela Samessele.

According to the official, the provincial department of hotels and tourism received from national and foreign businesspeople proposals for the construction of 10 or 8 new hotels, which will reduce shortage of these services.

On the other hand, the provincial director of Hotels and Tourism expressed some concern about the upgrading of hotel staff, which in some cases has influenced on the quality of services provided by these establishments at local level.

She revealed also the holding soon of some upgrading courses directed to hotel staff, in different areas of expertise, aiming at improving the quality of their services.

The central Huambo Province currently has three hotels with three-star rating.

ANGOP

Angola: Chicoil Group Invests U.S. $200 Million in Construction of Hotels - Angolan CHICOIL Business Group is investing USD 200 million since 2008 for the construction of five hotels in the provinces of Huíla, Namibe, Benguela and Lunda Sul, part of a programme to expand the network of hotels in the country. [AA Construction]

Botswana: Holiday Inn to Move Into Country Soon - Internationally recognised hotel brand Holiday Inn is set to bounce back into Botswana early next year in time to capture visitors coming to Southern Africa for the FIFA 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. [AA Construction]

Uganda: $80m Hotel for Shimoni School Land - AZURE Holdings, partners in the Kingdom Hotel Kampala, yesterday said they had entered into a joint venture with Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal to build a five-star hotel on the land formerly occupied by Shimoni Demonstration School. [AA Construction]

Rwanda: 6,000 Hotel Rooms Needed By 2012 - The projection comes at a time when the country has been ranked among the top 10 travel destinations by travel guide Lonely Planet, which is likely to result in more tourists visiting the country. This will put extra pressure on the 163 hotels currently operating. [AA Construction]

Rwanda: Bed And Breakfast Services Take Over Kigali Posh Residences - Having a big beautiful home is every person's dream. There are some who have managed to achieve this and millions more are working hard to get to a place where they can be called the proud owners of big, beautiful and expensive villas. [AA Urbanisation]