Only a year after its post-redevelopment reopening, Rupurara Valley Lodge in Nyanga has received a prestigious Association of Zimbabwean Travel Agents (Azta) award.
The Azta Awards are held annually to honour effort and achievement in Zimbabwe's travel and tourism sector. Winners are decided by a vote among the association's members, recognising excellence across the entire industry. Rupurara Valley Lodge was named first runner-up in the Best New Establishment category.
The lodge is a new, premium hotel in a unique setting near the sights and attractions of Nyanga, in the scenic Eastern Highlands. It is managed by Cresta Hotels under a management contract.
Originally opened in 1997 as the Inn On Rupurara, the property closed in 2017. It was acquired by the Public Service Commission Pension Fund in 2023 and underwent a major refurbishment to renew, upgrade, and expand its facilities. The lodge reopened to the public as Rupurara Valley Lodge in September 2024.Cresta Group managing director Rutendo Badenhorst said she was “thrilled with this recognition of Rupurara”.
“Rupurara adds significant value to the overall offering of the Eastern Highlands, an area that has been so strongly showcased by the recent Sanganai expo in Mutare,” Badenhorst said.
“The award we have won will stimulate further effort to promote not only the hotel, but also the wider destination and we look forward to Rupurara increasing its success as a leading venue of choice for the five-star market.”
Cresta Lodge bagged a first runner-up accolade in the best city hotel category.
“We are also pleased with this recognition of Cresta Lodge, which in the past few years has itself undergone a major refurbishment programme and celebrated its 30th anniversary,” Badenhorst said.
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“As with the award for Rupurara, this accolade will stimulate further effort to reach full potential and help position Harare as a destination of choice for business and leisure travellers, as well as the increasingly important meetings and events sector within travel and tourism.”
She said Cresta was gratified by the recognition given by Azta, adding that the awards were warmly received by staff of the two hotels and added further impetus to a company-wide drive for excellence across all fronts.
