Africa Albida Tourism’s flagship property Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has been voted the Best Resort Hotel for the 20th consecutive year by the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA), and the hospitality group has also won a swag of other awards.
Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) property Lokuthula Lodges won the Best Self-Catering category, while Victoria Falls Safari Club took out Best Boutique Hotel and marketing executive Wendy Bourne won the Most Outstanding Voluntary Service to Travel Agents award.
The Annual AZTA Awards, which reward airlines, lodges, agents and companies with a certificate for their great service, as voted by the Zimbabwe travel industry, were presented at the Meikles Hotel on Saturday.
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, won Best Resort Hotel, ahead of Victoria Falls Hotel, which took second place, and A’ Zambezi River Lodge, which came in third. Lokuthula Lodges took out the Best Self Catering award ahead of Wild Heritage and Blue Swallows Lodges respectively.
Taking second and third places in the Best Boutique Hotel category, after Victoria Falls Safari Club, was Stanley & Livingstone Safari Lodge and Pamushana Lodge.
AAT chief executive Ross Kennedy said yet another milestone had been reached for Victoria Falls Safari Lodge as AZTA members voted it the Best Resort Hotel for the 20th straight year.
“We are so proud of the achievement and prouder still of the amazing team of people who combine across the AAT group to make such success possible,” Mr Kennedy said.
“In addition, Victoria Falls Safari Club’s Best Boutique Hotel award, Lokuthula Lodges’ Best Self Catering award, as well as, once again, further peer and industry recognition for Wendy Bourne, could not make us more pleased and proud,” he said.
Other award winners included Meikles Hotel for Best City Hotel, with Cresta Lodge and Crown Plaza taking second and third place respectively, while Amanzi Lodge won Best Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouse, followed by Wild Geese Lodge and Kariba’s Hornbill Lodge. Best Safari Establishment – Non Tented was won by Camp Amalinda in Matopos, while Best Safari Camp – Tented went to The Hide Safari Camp in Hwange.
