Harare — The Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles Hotel has completed a three-phase refurbishment programme covering public areas, conference facilities and guest accommodation, reducing its room inventory from 313 to 286 as part of a repositioning strategy targeting corporate travellers and long-stay guests.

The programme followed the hotel’s 2024 rebranding from Meikles Hotel to Hyatt Regency Harare The Meikles, linking the 1915-established property to Hyatt’s international portfolio.

Speaking during a media tour of the refurbished facilities, director of sales Nyasha Mandihimbira said the third and latest phase focused on the south wing, which was closed in September or October 2024 to allow extensive works. The closure was necessary because the scale of construction would have made it difficult to continue accommodating guests in the affected area.

The south wing refurbishment included redesigned room layouts, replacement of centrally controlled air-conditioning with individual units, and substitution of carpeted interiors with wood-effect tiled flooring. Bathroom fittings and layouts were also upgraded.

The room count reduction resulted from converting part of the south wing into one- and two-bedroom self-catering apartments, a new accommodation category aimed at guests staying in Harare for one to two months.

“These are self-catering apartments. If you want to cook from there, you can, or you can use the hotel,” Mandihimbira said, adding that the investment was intended to “upgrade the comfort, looks and feel of our rooms.”

The second phase upgraded event and conference facilities on the ground and first floors, including lighting, ceilings and ambience. The spaces accommodate meetings of 10 to 15 participants as well as larger conferences, supported by audiovisual equipment, public-address systems, projectors and screens.

“Why are the conference spaces important? Because we have a larger element of our offering which focuses on conferences and board meetings,” Mandihimbira said. “We attract a lot of corporates coming into Harare, meetings with the Government and meetings with a number of stakeholders.”

The first phase addressed public spaces. Additional changes include a relocated swimming pool — moved from the south wing rooftop to the first floor — with a new restaurant outlet serving pool users, a wellness centre with a new gym replacing the former spa, and the Regency Club, established in the former rooftop pool space. The club offers complimentary snacks, light meals and skyline views to eligible in-house guests.

The hotel’s food and beverage offering includes Thursday barbecue buffets, Sunday breakfasts and Indian cuisine prepared by an Indian chef. The property is also working with Schoperade on garden landscaping and lighting.

The refurbishment’s commercial success will depend on occupancy levels, room rates, length of stay and demand for the new apartment category, with the hotel seeking to grow conference and events revenue while expanding its appeal to leisure and long-stay visitors.