Zimbabwe has once again been put on the global tourist map, with Victoria Falls Safari Lodge being named among the 500 best properties in the world by prestigious United States magazine Travel + Leisure.
Each year, the readers of Travel + Leisure — the largest travel media brand in the United States, with an audience of 8.1 million — share their thoughts on destinations, city hotels, resorts, and more in the World’s Best Awards survey.
Drawing on the Travel + Leisure 2020 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey results, Travel + Leisure has recognised the best hotels in the world by naming them to this year’s T+L 500 list. The hotels are listed alphabetically, not in a ranked list, and are grouped into eight geographic regions: Africa and the Middle East; Asia; Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific; Canada; the Caribbean; Europe; Mexico, Central America, and South America; and the United States. Readers rate hotels on their rooms and facilities, location, service, food and value.
Africa Albida Tourism chief executive Ross Kennedy said: “We are absolutely thrilled to once again feature on the US publication Travel + Leisure’s annual list of the Top 500 hotels in the world , and in particular, to have been selected as one of the Top 5 Africa Resort Hotels.
“To be recognised in the same company as The Oyster Box in Umhlanga, Durban; La Residence in Franschhoek; Tongabezi Lodge in Livingstone, Zambia and Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania is truly incredible as it is the travellers and readers who vote,” Kennedy said.
“This is a testament to our operations team, and every member of staff who plays a role in delivering the experience, service and quality to each guest. We are so proud of this recognition.”
Kennedy added, “This announcement, coming almost a year into lockdown, has been extremely uplifting for us all, and with vaccinations now being rolled out across the globe, we are looking forward to the recovery of our industry as travellers are motivated to venture to long-haul and bucket list destinations.
In its statement, Travel + Leisure highlighted that the 2020 World Best Awards survey had been closed on March 2, just before the lockdown measures were implemented due to Covid-19, and so the results feature their readers’ experiences before the pandemic. The Travel + Leisure 2021 T+L 500 list is featured in the March issue of Travel + Leisure, now available on newsstands. For more information visit www.travelandleisure.com
The T+L 500 list is a trusted resource to help inspire and guide travellers on their future adventures, wherever and whenever they may take place.
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Africa Albida Tourism’s flagship property, was also named in the Travel + Leisure’s Top 5 Resort Hotels in Africa in 2019, while it was named in their Top 500 List for Best Hotels in the World in 2005 and in the Top 25 properties in Africa and the Middle East in 2004.
Africa Albida Tourism is a leading Zimbabwean hospitality group, operating a portfolio of properties in Victoria Falls, which also include Victoria Falls Safari Club, Victoria Falls Safari Suites, Lokuthula Lodges and The Boma –Dinner & Drum Show.
