O&L hotels increase revenue

O&L Hotels and Lodges said since it assumed responsibility for the Mokuti Etosha Lodge and Midgard Country Estate properties in July 2012 from the international Kempinski Group, their turnaround strategy has been successful. At Mokuti Etosha Lodge revenue grew by 85% since 2012 while the average daily room rate increased by 23% and the average annual occupancy by 44%. The group says its earnings before interest and tax increased by 343%. Mokuti’s General Manager, Lance Hurly, said customer satisfaction also increased and it was ranked 15th of 33 accommodation establishments in 2012 by TripAdvisor and it continuously improved to reach fifth place this year. Results of the Midgard Country Estate indicate that revenue increased by 79%, the average daily room rate by 12% and annual occupancy by 46% while earnings before interest and tax was raised by 114%. General Manager at Midgard, Diether Zevenster, said since 2012 they have firmly positioned Midgard as a Conferencing and Wedding venue of choice in Namibia by improving service standards and staff motivation. “I am extremely proud of how our team in the properties and at our central office have performed achieving these sterling results. “It is also rewarding to see how our re-branded company and its management have been accepted by all our clients and guests resulting in these results,” said O&L Leisure’s Managing Director Bruce Hutchison. He further elaborated on the development of the new 125-room Strand Hotel Swakopmund that will open its doors on October 9 this year and added that they are completing the exciting Chobe Water Villas on the banks of the Chobe River in Namibia’s Zambezi Region and directly opposite the Chobe National Park. It is due to open next January. “Our Chobe Water Villas product promises a new and exciting safari experience. In Africa there is an abundance of such lodge products and it is an extremely competitive market. “At Chobe Water Villas we have come up with a new and very contemporary interpretation of the African Safari Lodge. I firmly believe it will excite and entertain all who visit this luxury boutique lodge where the bedrooms are actual villas built right at or even over the Chobe River with panoramic views over Sududu Island and into the Chobe National Park,” said John Simpson, O&L Leisure’s General Manager of Development. With the opening of the new Strand Hotel Swakopmund the O&L Leisure Team aims to provide all Namibians and visitors a new benchmark in creativity and quality. “We have developed a “gemütlich” hotel which correctly represents Namibia and Swakopmund by being respectful to its location and this location’s history and heritage. We then went on to create an exciting collection of restaurants, bars and other guest facilities which on the 9th of October will be welcoming not only hotel guests but all visitors and residents in Swakopmund,” said Hutchison. WINDHOEK ELLANIE SMIT