one of the rooms
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles, has refurbished its South Wing as part of a phased programme aimed at enhancing guest experience while preserving the hotel’s rich heritage.
The renovation programme which involved extensive improvements to the accommodation spaces, forms the third phase (of the hotel’s renovation programme), which began in 2021 following a change of ownership in 2020.
The hotel adopted a phased approach, starting with public spaces before moving to event spaces and, ultimately, accommodation facilities, to ensure that it continued operating without completely shutting its doors.
Speaking during a tour of the newly refurbished South Wing, the hotel’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Nyasha Mwandiambira, said the renovations were part of efforts to improve the overall guest experience.
“We took a phased approach on how we were going to do the renovations because we didn’t want to completely shut the hotel.
“The phased approach started within the public areas. So from public areas, we moved to the event spaces, similar to the one that we have now, and then the accommodation areas then became the third phase of the renovation,” said Mwandiambira.
Mwandiambira said the improvements included installing individual air-conditioning units in each room, replacing carpets with wooden tiles and upgrading the bathrooms.
“Initially, the air con unit was centrally controlled for the whole block, meaning that it was the same air that was being blown out as cold, warm, hot into the full block.
“So we have made sure now that each and every room has its own air con unit that is fully functional,” added Mwandiambira.
The refurbishment has also seen the introduction of one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments in the South Wing, targeting guests staying at the hotel for extended periods.
The apartments are self-catering facilities designed for clients who may require accommodation for a month or two.
The changes have resulted in the hotel’s room capacity coming down from 318 to 286 rooms, spread across its North and South wings.
Mwandiambira said the renovations would continue, with the hotel expected to start refurbishing the North Wing standard rooms from March next year.
Unlike the South Wing, which required the closure of the entire block because of the extensive work involved, the North Wing renovations will be undertaken floor by floor over an estimated five to six months.
“We are not doing a high closing on the full block. We are going to be working on them floor by floor.”
He further revealed that the renovations were not limited to the physical appearance of the hotel, but were focused on improving the entire guest journey, from the first interaction with the hotel to the time guests depart.
“And the guest experience is starting from the time that you interface with the hotel, either on our website, via phone call, via email, via sales call from one of our very vibrant sales teams, to the time that you walk into the hotel or via boom gate parking your car or walking in the entrance,” he said.
He addes that the experience extended to the hotel’s event spaces, public areas, spa, gym and accommodation facilities.
Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles General Manager, Stefan Bloemker, said the refurbishment was also about maintaining the identity and heritage of the hotel while making its facilities more functional.
He said the hotel was living up to the rich heritage of the Meikles brand, which was evident in various spaces within the establishment.
“It is not that we want to do everything new, but we want to make it more functional and approachable,” he said.
