Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) has built a strong name as the most innovative tourism company in Zimbabwe and is now looking beyond hotels for growth as it pursues what it terms an asset-light business model.
Recently, the Company formed a domestic tour operations arm Heritage Expeditions Africa (HExA) which sells and markets tourism packages for destinations around the country and the region. These include HExA’s own packages and also those packaged by other similar service providers.
HExA represents new revenue streams that tap into latent demand for small group transportation needs and the provision of activities to a growing tourism customer base. “We procured a consignment of six 20 – seater buses in May 2019 which will be used for tours and transfers around the country” said RTG chief executive Tendai Madziwanyika.
“We have opened the Heritage Adventure Park at the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre. It is the first zipline attached to a hotel building in Zimbabwe. This activity is normally found in resort destinations but we saw an opportunity to optimise the vast space the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Conference Centre sits on. There was a gap in the market for a facility that offers team building activities.
“The Heritage Adventure Park is an ideal destination for families seeking some high adrenaline leisure experience in an accessible location in the heart of the city!” he said. The Adventure Park also has Wi-Fi connectivity that ensures guests remain connected.
The Sunshine City Tour is a popular offering by HExA, that takes guests on a 2-4 hour tour of the city of Harare. The tour is steeped in the history of the city of Harare, every stop is a history lesson that leaves guests with a better understanding and knowledge of the city.
Stops along the route include Mbare Musika, Kopje view of the city, the National Heroes Acre, Balancing Rocks in Epworth and Mukuvisi Woodlands to name a few.
Set in a lush green garden located behind the Rainbow Towers Hotel & Conference Centre, the Heritage Adventure Park offers adrenalin charged activities which include a double adult zipline, children’s zipline, a high beam & crock walk, paint ball shooting, and a 10-metre drop abseiling and climbing wall.
Another innovation the Company launched is the Gateway Stream mobile and internet application to deliver all things tourism and more for both the local and international market in February 2018. The Gateway Stream is a hotel and tourism industry booking platform that allows guests to book for hospitality and tourism industry products, services and pay for them online. It is made up of a mobile application and a website digital online platform.
Users can download the Gateway Steam on Android and IOS mobile application platform. Users have the option to browse for hospitality services and pay online using mobile money platforms such as Ecocash and M-Pesa, international and local issued bank cards.
The App recently underwent reconfiguration to accept multi-currencies from major African countries (payments can now be made in major local African currencies and via local mobile money wallets such as shillings and M-Pesa for Kenya). The Gateway Stream platform now accepts payments from anywhere in the world in USD.
“In line with the expansion drive to recruit accommodation partners on the African continent, the Company has partnered with a regional online payment company to list partners in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia. To date 15 partners have been recruited in Botswana, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania “said Madziwanyika.
He advised that this is in addition to the regional RTG Virtual partners already listed on the platform; namely, Indaba Hotel, Birchwood Hotel, Sandton Lodge and 48 City Lodge Group hotels. These hotels are now available for booking via the Gateway Stream platform and payment can now be made in US$.
RTG Chief Executive Mr. Tendai Madziwanyika reported that during the first half of 2019, the focus of the Gateway Stream was to enhance the user experience as well as expansion of the platform to include properties outside Zimbabwe.