Great Zimbabwe Hotel starts multimillion expansion as tourism surges

Great Zimbabwe Hotel in Masvingo has launched a multi-million-dollar expansion that will add 71 guest rooms and a new conference centre. The upgrade positions the property as a central hub for the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbabwe World Tourism Expo, scheduled for September 9–12, 2026. 

Masvingo Province will host the 19th edition of the expo, and nearly 100 tourism facilities have already registered over 900 rooms to accommodate international and domestic visitors.

The expansion of the Great Zimbabwe Hotel, located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site estate, reflects growing demand from rising international arrivals, local tourism, and business travel. 

General Manager Areths Takaza confirmed that construction has commenced with approval from the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ). UNESCO guidelines are guiding key aspects of the build, including materials, paint colors, and structural scale, to safeguard the historic site.

Adding 71 rooms to meet demand 

The project will more than double the hotel’s current inventory, which previously included fewer than 50 rooms and a popular campsite.

The new rooms, a mix of standard, family, and executive categories, are designed to complement the low-rise, earthy profile of existing buildings, with stonework and pitched roofs chosen to blend with the surrounding granite kopjes and bush landscape. 

Industry observers note that the expansion will allow the hotel to accommodate larger tour groups, conference delegations, and educational or cultural travel programs.

It may also relieve pressure on informal accommodations during peak periods, providing more reliable options for tour operators linking the ruins with nearby attractions like Lake Mutirikwi and Gonarezhou National Park.

Conference centre to anchor business travel 

A new conference centre is a key feature of the expansion, targeting mid-sized meetings, product launches, training sessions, and public-sector workshops. The facility will feature a main plenary hall, smaller breakout rooms, and upgraded digital infrastructure to support hybrid events. 

Planners hope that situating conference facilities next to the monument will encourage events that integrate cultural tours, performances, and excursions, turning short visits into immersive experiences that benefit local businesses.

Tourism investment boosts local economy 

The expansion aligns with broader efforts to modernize accommodation along the Great Zimbabwe tourism corridor while preserving the cultural and archaeological heritage. Official planning documents emphasize refurbishment of visitor facilities, improved roads, signage, and utilities. 

Local business groups highlight tourism investment as a source of employment across construction, hospitality, transport, and craft sectors.

The upgraded hotel is expected to anchor higher-yield segments, including regional tour groups, diaspora visitors, and cultural tourism operators. 

With the countdown to the 2026 expo underway, attention will focus on how quickly the project progresses and its integration with Masvingo’s transport and community-based tourism initiatives.

For Zimbabwe, the hotel expansion represents a visible example of pairing modern hospitality infrastructure with one of the country’s most iconic historic sites.