24 Jul 2016

Tlotlo Hotel and Conference Centre has celebrated its official opening after 14 years of existence.  

Speaking at the occasion, Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Advocate Sadique Kebonang commended the owners of the hotel for taking advantage of one of the government programmes that have been hatched to support businesses and drive economic diversification, noting that the project was funded by the Citizen Entrepreneurship Development Agency (CEDA).

“In view that diamonds are not forever, government started to put in place strategies to diversify the economy from mineral dependency to sectors such as manufacturing, trade, communications, hotels and restaurants,” he said.

Advocate Kebonang congradulated the board of Tlotlo Hotel for managing to navigate the stormy waters of entrepreneurship. 

He said the success of the hotel was a testimony that Public – Private  Partnerships could aid in achieving economic empowerment.

“Tlotlo Hotel is one of the many enterprises that have benefitted from CEDA funding.  Tlotlo Conference Centre started in 2002 with a CEDA loan of P2 million. It had three conference rooms and 14 employees, with a turnover of P3 million,” he said.

Minister Kebonang further explained that after clearing the loan in 2010, the hotel received another loan from CEDA for P30 million to finance its expansion project.

“Today the hotel boasts eight conference rooms seating up to 1 000 people and 84 accomodation rooms. It has also increased staff to 84 of which 90 per cent are citizens with turnover  increasing from P4 million to P20 million after the developments,” he said.

Advocate Kebonang said the story of Tlotlo demonstrates government’s commitment to promoting business in the Small – Micro, Medium enterprise (SMME) sector. 

“Government’s radar of aid reaches also the informal sector. We are cognisant that these sectors play a significant role in employment creation and bridging the skills gap,” he said.

 He said it was pleasing to witness the increasing participation and involvement of women in business and at senior managerial levels both in the country and the region.

For her part, the owner of the hotel, Ms Antonia Majinda encouraged women to venture into business as they could do anything that men do.

“We should not be intimidated by men when it comes to running a business. I believe that we should all compete on an equal footing,” she said.

She noted that the industry has been difficult over the past years, having seen the mushrooming of hotels across Gaborone and other strategic places in the country.

“Competition has indeed become relentless. As a country, the global economic downturn that we have seen over the past affect major trading partners such as United States and Europe resulting in the slowing down of economic activity in our country,” she said.

Ms Majinda commended CEDA for the role they played in nurturing her business, not only through financing, but also through training, promoting and mentoring programmes. Ends