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Enacy Mapakame

The US$30 million refurbishment of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Harare is progressing well as the hotelier continues to undergo a transformation process that matches the best international standards.

Located in Harare’s central business district heart (CBD), the newly branded hospitality property, formerly Meikles Hotel, was originally established in 1915, offering 312 rooms in its north and south wings, each overlooking distinctive views of Africa Unity Square.

The hotel has long been celebrated for its unparalleled hospitality and timeless elegance, having hosted global personalities like the late Michael Jackson and the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles the Third.

Dubai-based Albwardy Investments bought the hotel from Meikles Limited for US$20 million in 2019 and vowed to upgrade what is one of the southern African nation’s most well-known hotel establishments.

Taking journalists on a mini-tour of the renovated facility, Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles director of sales and marketing, Mr Nyasha Mwandiambira, said the coming into the country of the Hyatt brand would increase the hotel’s visibility and help it tap into the international market, while the refurbishments were meant to improve ambiance and guest experience.

“We are having a modern look and feel but maintaining the Meikles culture,” he said, explaining some of the new refurbishments, for instance, the new pool deck on the first floor with scenic views of the City of Harare.

The hotel also now boasts a new-look beauty spa that offers a haven for relaxation with a range of services including massages, body wraps, facials, and aromatherapy in addition to a cosy relaxing environment in a sauna.

The hotel also has a fitness centre, which is equipped with the latest gym equipment for a full-body workout. One of the strategies the hotel has adopted is creating versatile meeting spaces suitable for boardroom discussions, grand banquets, and large conferences.

With more than 22 000 square metres of available space, the property offers eight distinct meeting spaces with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and unique workstations. Currently, the hotel has staff from the Hyatt Regency group sharing expertise with local staff members while helping in the fusion of international and local cuisines to appeal to a diverse market.

Additionally, Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles culinary offerings have been carefully selected to whet the appetite of guests looking for a range of dining options, whether it’s a fine dining experience, a live cooking culinary treat, a relaxed afternoon tea, or a refreshing cocktail at the bar. One of the major highlights is The Kitchen, a new all-day dining restaurant that overlooks the Africa Unity Square, which is set to provide wholesome food and an ambiance to match the hotel’s new brand.

Director of communications Middle East and Africa Hyatt, Miss Cloe Duncan, highlighted the brand’s journey of over 50 years and how it will bring value to its new market.

“For more than 50 years, the Hyatt Regency brand has championed fresh perspectives and enriching experiences, while its forward-thinking philosophy provides guests with inviting spaces that bring people together and foster a spirit of community.

“Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts come in a myriad of purposeful shapes, sizes, and styles that reflect each location, however, each property offers an open invitation, boasting collaborative meeting rooms and sweeping ballrooms, seamless guestrooms, spirited restaurants and bars, and an atrium-lobby setting,” she said.

The Hyatt Regency brand is a global collection of hotels and resorts found in more than 200 locations In over 40 countries around the world.