FULL STATEMENT:

Cresta Hotels to close for 3 months

STATEMENT BY CRESTA HOTELS ZIMBABWE

March 27th 2020

The following is a statement from Ms Chipo Mandela. Managing Director for Zimbabwe of the Cresta Hotels group, issued today, Friday March 27 2020:

After wide-ranging discussion with key stakeholders and considerable deliberation within the company, it has been decided that all five Cresta Hotels properties in Zimbabwe will temporarily cease operations from April 2020 until further notice. Our last day of current operations will be March 31.

This difficult decision has been taken as a result of the current situation arising from the international Covid-19 crisis, with the primary factor being the safeguarding of the health of customers and staff, as well as their families and the community at large.
The secondary objective is to allow for longer-term survival of the businesses of the group. which is essential for all stakeholders. most notably staff, customers. the travel and tourism sector in Zimbabwe and further afield and for Zimbabwe as a whole.

These businesses are Cresta Lodge and Sango Conference Centre, Cresta Oasis Hotel and Apartments and Cresta Jameson Hotel in Harare, Costa Churchill Hotel in Bulawayo and Costa Sprayview Hotel at Victoria Falls.
While all planning in the current crisis remains difficult to undertake, it is hoped to recommence operations on Wednesday July 1, subject to decisions being made either to extend the period of closure or, preferably, to shorten this planned closure of operations. All related decisions will be decided with the guidance of relevant health authorities, including the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation.

This decision has not been taken without considerable forethought and thorough consideration, as well as an examination of all options, and it is our belief that in doing so we are serving the best interests of all stakeholders, especially in the longer term.

This correspondent, when last in Zimbabwe late last year, stayed at the Cresta Oasis Hotel in Harare and expresses commiseration and best wishes to the fabulous staff of that hotel!