RTG Virtual will serve as a partnership platform for local hotels in Zimbabwe and South Africa, helping revenue increase by covering a larger area through its central reservation desk on commission.
Shupai Marware, commercial director at RTG, said the new platform offers a “one-stop shop” for local and global bookings and enquiries to clients,The Herald reported.
While national queries will be managed by the RTG Central Reservations Office in Harare, Zimbabwe, international customers will be attended to through the South African central office.
“This… facility will result in increased convenience and choice for customers as recommendations of facilities will be done depending on the customer’s needs,” Marware said.
The director explained the virtual system will also serve to bridge the geographical gap of operations across other regional and international destinations.
“There is need for hotels to be innovative or they die,” he said.
Partnership goal estimations are set at 23 by August and 30 for December, with recent regional collaborations with hospitality establishments formed in Mutare, Nyanga and the Eastern Highlands.
Gift Madhlayo, representative of Inns of Zimbabwe, believes RTG Virtual will transform the Eastern Highlands, also referred to as the ‘Switzerland of Zimbabwe’, into an active destination because of increased accessibility.
“RTG has used competition as a way to coordinate and integrate players in the hospitality thus growing the industry,” he said.
Marware believes the hospitality and tourism industry and economy benefits from partnerships as it drives hard work.
The programme also supports the efforts of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry as part of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority on the National Tourism Masterplan .
“It is an affordable, seamless and complementary platform for individuals and organisations wanting to consume tourism and hospitality services across Zimbabwe,” he said.