Hospitality News South Africa

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge terminates Three Cities contract

After a mutually beneficial 20 year relationship, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (VFSL), the flag ship of Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) in Zimbabwe will not be renewing its marketing and technical services agreement with Three Cities, as the contract expires in June 2014.

Ross Kennedy, CEO of AAT said, "We have grown as a group, with new properties in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Chobe, Botswana in the last three years and have now created our own team of key skills and personnel, along with sales, marketing and PR resources locally, regionally and internationally. All additional resources or advisors that may be necessary will be appointed on an ad hoc basis."

Kennedy, went on to say that the "Three Cities Group (TCG) helped us plan and open the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge in 1993/94 and contributed to our early successes. It is now time to move on and forge ahead, building our own brand and group. In the last three years, we have developed and opened three new properties, Ngoma Safari Lodge in Chobe, Botswana; Victoria Falls Safari Club and Victoria Falls Safari Suites in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. We are currently completing a USD1 million upgrade, which includes the refashioning of all 72 rooms at VFSL, which will be completed by mid-July this year."

"I thank the team at Three Cities for their support, contribution and efforts over the last 20 years and wish them well as they too enter a new phase in their history with recent changes announced," Kennedy ended.

Mike Lambert, CEO of Three Cities Group added, "Three Cities Exceptional Hotels has enjoyed a long and rewarding relationship with Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and as with everything, these have a life cycle. We appreciate and understand Africa Albida Tourism's past growth and future aspirations and as such wish them well in their future endeavours. "

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