Accor enters Zimbabwe with Novotel Victoria Falls deal

 French hospitality giant Accor has announced its entry into Zimbabwe with the signing of a deal for the proposed Novotel Victoria Falls, marking the group’s first hotel brand in the country.

The agreement was formalised during the Future Hospitality Summit Africa that ended in South Africa on Thursday, positioning Accor as a first mover in one of Africa’s most iconic tourism destinations.

“This signing represents a bold step forward in our development strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Maya Ziade, Accor’s chief development officer for the region.

He described Victoria Falls as one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations and noted that the group is “proud to bring the Novotel brand experience to Zimbabwe for the very first time.”

“As a first mover, we see this project as a gateway to long-term sustainable growth in the country.”

Scheduled to open in 2028, the 111-room hotel will be developed in partnership with Eagle Real Estate Investment Trust and located in the Eagle Heights precinct, overlooking the Masuwe River.

The property will feature an outdoor pool, kids’ club and all-day dining, tailored to modern travellers seeking comfort and local immersion.

Eagle Asset Managers managing director Bevin Ngara said welcome the partnership with Accor, saying it will bring an international standard of hospitality to Victoria Falls.

“This project reflects our vision of investing in transformative developments that elevate tourism and deliver value to local communities and investors alike.”

The move comes amid rising regional and domestic tourism in Zimbabwe, with Victoria Falls increasingly positioned as a year-round destination.

Victoria Falls – known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya or “The Smoke That Thunders” – is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Beyond its dramatic waterfall, the resort town is a magnet for adventure tourism, offering white-water rafting, bungee jumping and helicopter tours.

With over 590 Novotel properties worldwide, the Accor’s debut in Zimbabwe is expected to elevate the country’s hospitality offering and support its broader tourism growth strategy.

Source: Accor enters Zimbabwe with Novotel Victoria Falls deal (20/06/25)

See Also

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (8th May 2025) New Vic Falls hotel anchors Fidelity’s new VFEX property fund.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (21st May 2025) US$43million Victoria Falls project takes shape.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (21st June 2025) Accor enters Zimbabwe with Novotel Victoria Falls deal.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (24th June 2025) New Novotel Hotel in Vic Falls Set for Completion in 2028.

Read more on the Keep Victoria Falls Wild website. 

US$200 million Vic Falls tourism project comes alive

THE implementation of Masuwe special economic zone in Victoria Falls is well on course following the completion of a feasibility study by Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development Company, a Cabinet Minister has said.

In a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, said the project will be implemented in two phases.

“Phase One entails the construction of bulk water supply systems for the entire Masuwe Special Economic Zone and the development of internal water, sanitation, roads and storm-water drains at an estimated cost of US$120 million,” she said.

“Phase Two will witness the development of the remaining 930 hectares at approximately US$85 million.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said the project, which is expected to be completed within two years, is meant to boost tourism activities in the area.

Meanwhile, Old Mutual Life Assurance is set to construct a 4-star hotel in the same zone.

“The nation is further being informed that Old Mutual Life Assurance Company will construct a 4-star hotel with a 5 000-seater conference facility, medical tourism facilities, a golf estate and a shopping mall on land which Government will allocate,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“The project will comply with all relevant environmental statutes, including the use of solar to provide clean energy.”

Source: US$200 million tourism project comes alive (22/03/2023)

See Also:

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (15th September 2019) Old Mutual to construct ‘massive’ hotel in Vic Falls.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd June 2021) Old Mutual, Govt strike Vic Falls land deal for new hotel project.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (24th March 2023a) How a ‘Gold Mafia’ is looting Southern Africa, washing dirty cash.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (24th March 2023b) Govt okays Victoria Falls SEZ.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (26th March 2023) Old Mutual gets Vic Falls.

Victoria Falls to set up Masue City, Batoka City

Leonard Ncube , Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Government has made significant infrastructural developments in Victoria Falls despite the Covid-19 pandemic with a number of properties having been built in the past two years in line with the vision to make the tourist destination a conference capital.

Victoria Falls was declared a city in December 2019 becoming the first in the province and in Matabeleland region after Bulawayo metropolitan. President Mnangagwa conferred the status to the city.

Government wants to make Victoria Falls its conference capital and has since approved the Conceptual Development Framework for the Victoria Falls-Hwange-Binga Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

There are plans to come up with Masue City on the outskirts of the Victoria Falls City and Batoka City on the Zambezi gorges, which buttresses the combined development of Matabeleland North as a key component for transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy.

The new developments will come with state-of-the-art facilities ranging from five to seven-star hotels, recreational, banking and sporting facilities and Government is courting investors. The Victoria Falls Stock Exchange was also opened last year to attract foreign direct investment and business into the city.

In an interview yesterday, Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Somveli Dlamini said there was an investment appetite in the country’s tourism destination.

“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Victoria Falls has grown rapidly in terms of infrastructure development such as new businesses, hotels and lodges.

We have got quite a number of them such as The Palm River Hotel which is due for opening next week, Victoria Falls Pioneers Lodge which has been completed and waiting for opening, residential flats for bookings, town houses being built behind Far School, Mbano Manor Hotel which opened last year and other lodges as well as two new indigenous garages.

“All these developments came through during Covid-19 lockdown period and this shows that investors are seriously looking into investing in Victoria Falls,” said Clr Dlamini.

He said the city has run out of land for expansion and was pinning hopes on Government unlocking the land bank in Masue Estate, just outside the city. Clr Dlamini said shortage of land has seen the city’s housing waiting list ballooning to more than 15 000.

Victoria Falls is bordered by Zambezi River, national parks and forest land, and communal land. The city’s Master Plan is now outdated and the mayor said alternative policies were being pursued.

“We have a challenge. Our Master Plan was done way back and now outdated, and while we are waiting for it as it might take long because it requires a lot of funding, we are currently working on coming up with a local development plan.

We will be having it in the next few months and we believe land will be availed to cater for our housing waiting list which is hovering around between 15 000 and 20 000,” he said.

Speaking during the 2022 pre-budget seminar in Victoria Falls recently, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda implored Government to speed up development of the Victoria Falls Master Plan so as to create an appetite for investment in the country’s tourism capital.

Meanwhile, Clr Dlamini during the week met the Zimpapers board and top management on the sidelines of the country’s biggest media organisation’s strategic planning meeting in the resort city. Clr Dlamini said there was appetite by the two organisations to partner each other, which was key to development.

“Zimpapers plays a very crucial role in marketing Victoria Falls and we appreciate its interest in investing and partnering council in marketing Victoria Falls destination and these facilities. We feel marketing and advertising is key in making sure these facilities are exploited,” he said.

Locals have also called upon Government to allow the city to retain a percentage of earnings from the Rainforest for development purposes.
@ncubeleon

Source:  Victoria Falls to set up Masue City, Batoka City (21/11/21)

1 200ha tourism park for Vic Falls

Government has acquired 1 200 hectares of land in Victoria Falls for the construction of a tourism park as the country gears for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly meeting next year. Zimbabwe will co-host the world tourism conference -- to be graced by more than 3 000 delegates -- with its northern neighbour Zambia

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said last week preparations for the event were proceeding smoothly.

Minister Mzembi said several infrastructural developments were in the pipeline.

“We hope that construction work on the theme park will start in June this year on an initial area of about 80 hectares,” said Minister Mzembi.
“The park will house a state-of-the-art convention centre, casinos and shopping malls, among other structures that are aimed at making sure that the next year’s event is a success.”

The UNWTO General Assembly will help Zimbabwe and Zambia, which share the might Victoria Falls, to showcase their tourism potential to an larger international audience expected to grace the event.

Source: 1 200ha tourism park for Vic Falls (06/05/2012)