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Expo Supplement Excerpts


NEW YORK TIMES
TRAVEL EXPO
Feb. 27-29
“HANDS ACROSS
THE OCEAN


Three Cities Group Enters Tanzanian Market

The Three Cities Group Ltd has been contracted to operate five Tanzanian hotels in a joint venture with Hotels & Lodges Tanzania, the new owners of the establishments. This will see the group hold 42% of the beds on the lucrative Kilimanjaro tourism circuit in the northern region of Tanzania.

"All five of the hotels will now be run privately and each one will undergo a complete refurbishment in the forthcoming months," commented Three Cities Executive Chairman, Russell Stevens. "The contract is a great scoop for the group - the hotels are situated in Tanzania's prime tourist locations and in the best hotel sites in these destinations", he added. Three Cities staff is in place at each establishment - these include general managers, chefs and public relations personnel who have already introduced improved levels of food and service. In addition, Three Cities has opened a Tanzanian head office situated in Arusha to oversee the lodges and operate a central reservations facility.

In terms of marketing, the group's extensive northern European and American sales team has been boosted with the appointment of Ferruccio Tirone in Milan, Italy, who will assist the existing team in selling these resorts internationally.

Two of the lodges are situated in the world-famous Serengeti National Park. Both offer prime locations for spectacular viewing of the annual animal migration. The 75-roomed Lobo Wildlife Lodge borders the Masai Mara and is the northern most lodge in the Serengeti. Seronera Wildlife Lodge, comprising 75 rooms is in the central Serengeti.

Also offering an array of magnificent wildlife is the 75- roomed Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge situated on the rim of the Ngornogoro volcanic crater, and Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge - a 100-room hotel overlooking Lake Manyara National Park.

The fifth hotel situated on the eastern side of Zanzibar Island is Zanzibar Safari Club, which will open in February 2004. Situated at Chwaka Bay the resort is an easy drive from Stone Town and the international airport. The hotel will offer accommodation in 40 rooms, direct access to a private beach and a choice of dining options. The beach restaurant promises true island- style dining, and a jetty and deck going out to sea will offer themed dinners.

Commenting on the recent rates increase, Alan Vels, Managing Director of the Three Cities Group explained that although there has been some resistance to the increase, the new rates are being set in consultation with all local operators. "We have no intention of overpricing the hotels in the future, but are positioning these products in the market at a fair price, which was not done in the past". "The hotels have been grossly undersold considering the prime locations in which they are situated," he said. "Issues such as the improved service levels and forthcoming refurbishments have been taken into account", he added.

For Reservations in Tanzania, email: <mailto:sales@hotelsandlodges-tanzania.com>sales@hotelsandlodges-tanzania.com

Three Cities Group

Three Cities Group is a major hospitality management, marketing and training group serving the Southern African hospitality industry. The group presently manages and markets some 35 properties made up of city hotels, game lodges, resorts and luxury boutique hotels as well as being a leader in the hospitality training industry with three hotel schools and two bush academies.

http://www.threecities.co.za

For sales support and further information, please contact:

Cheryle Schumacher Velsor

North American Sales Representative, Three Cities Group

Central Reservations: mailto:ceres@threecities.co.za

email: mailto:cvelsor@bellsouth.net

voice: 954-922-8097