Page 14 - Meetings Zimbabwe 2nd Edition

Operators
Tempting MICE
Lodges such as Singita Pamushana are already well known in the US, its dominant client base, according to European representative, Elle Reinink, who said Europeans looking for a new Africa experience are beginning to trickle in.
“We are also starting to see incentives come back, particularly from mainland Europe,” she added.
It’s a similar picture at African Bush Camps, where international sales & marketing manager Shelley Cox reported occupancy of 80 per cent in 2014 and new markets in Europe and Scandinavia augmenting US and Australia traffic.
“With the softening of media attitudes, we are getting more business and much of this is through word-of-mouth,” she said, emphasising the need for continuous marketing of the country before any property could sell its own product.
Generally, overseas operators are seeing increased demand for Zimbabwe, particularly for round- trip tours ending in Victoria Falls, according to
Christine van der Merwe, director of South Africa- based Terra Nova: “We have struggled with transfer rates but increased capacity at the new airport will help us in booking seats,” she said.
Any improvement in internal links is equally welcomed by New Frontiers’ Craig Smith, but overall he is bullish about growth citing value for money, year-round attractions, accommodation and food quality, and superb guiding as among the country’s plus points.
“The destination is exceptionable value for money and there has been strong growth in quality products and lodges we are able to sell, which has had a positive effect,” he said. “Core markets are the US, Australia and Europe, and we get very good feedback - but the potential of the UK market has yet to be realised.”
And, while FIT business is on the up, equally upscale incentives are also streaming in to Zimbabwe, according to Ross Kennedy, ceo of African Albida, whose Victoria Falls Safari Club was previously honoured with a SITE Crystal incentive award for Best Trip Delivery via Green Route DMC.
This experience backs up Kennedy’s confidence that “Zimbabwe can deliver ... anything and everything is possible.”
He said the level of enquiries from the MICE sector was growing fast with premium bookings such as a VIP group from the US taking exclusive occupancy of the Victoria Falls Safari Club: “We are getting bookings from banks, pharmaceuticals, etc, usually for three nights with a small conference – our experience is that groups of between 15 and 40 are coming back, from the region but also from overseas including the UK and the US, with incentives out of Poland and enquiries from markets such as Russia and Croatia too.”
A corollary to these group movements is the weddings sector which is also on the up: “Victoria Falls is becoming a wedding destination, world class by any standard and this demonstrates the lure of the product,” added Kennedy.
To meet increased demand, Victoria Falls-based Wild Horizons has introduced new corporate team building packages combining high-wire adrenalin challenges with orienteering, physical and mental tasks, with tailor-made options available to suit company requirements.
The Batoka Gorge challenge starts with a canopy tour using GPS points, a gorge swing including water balloon target contest and a tandem zip line, while the Zambezi River Challenge offers a more varied itinerary.
This includes shopping at a food market with delivery of purchases to an orphanage and old age home; raft racing; face painting in African themes; wildlife soccer; tree climbing, quiz and a race, culminating in a dinner cruise.
14 Meetings Zimbabwe 2015