04 May 2014

 

Service delivery remains a challenge in the hospitality industry, says Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama.

Officially opening Cresta Jwaneng hotel recently, Mr Khama called on the hotel management to always strive to improve their customer service standards and bear in mind that they compete with other international hospitality businesses.

“Service delivery is of utmost importance because we have many competitors and the cake is not getting any bigger,” he said.

The successes of a business, he said, could be recognised by excellent customer service in order  to lure clients and retain existing ones.

Furthermore, Mr Tshekedi noted that Botswana tourism was not only about the Okavango area, hence the need for hospitality businesses to up their game to attract tourists.He said the upcoming Toyota Desert Race provides a good opportunity for Jwaneng and its hospitality facilities, including Cresta Jwaneng hotel.

The minister also commended Cresta for making footprints in the western side of the country, saying this has opened opportunities for other people as well.

He however decried low employment rates in the hospitality industry, saying currently there were over 3 000 interns trained in tourism, but only 50 of them had been absorbed in permanent positions.

The industry players were also advised to take the environment into account as their operations prosper and urged to employ best environmental practices that could help preserve the environment.

For his part, the Cresta Marakanelo managing director, Mr Tohanda Makaya said part of their strategy was to expand their operations to the southern parts of Botswana, noting that Jwaneng Cresta hotel was just the beginning as they intended to go further into the Kalahari Trans frontier region.

Mr Makaya noted that the Jwaneng Cresta would also follow suit and undergo refurbishment as other Cresta facilities. 

The refurbishment, he said, was intended to maintain consistency of the Cresta brand. He also promised that they would continue to enhance an employee friendly environment since they recognised the role played by the human resource in the business operations.

The managing director said Cresta would soon give back to the community within which they operate through charitable services. Ends