• RTG revenue rose 32% to US$11.41 million in the first quarter ended 31 March 2026, while occupancy increased to 51%.
• RevPAR gained 19% to US$57, while foreign-currency revenue rose 21% and resort-hotel revenue increased 40%.
• RTG will invest US$1.8 million in the refurbishment of 100 rooms at Montclair Resort and Conference Centre from June 2026.

Harare - Rainbow Tourism Group Limited (RTG), Zimbabwe’s second-largest hotelier, has recorded a 32% increase in revenue to US$11.41 million for the first quarter ended 31 March 2026, from US$8.65 million in the corresponding period last year, according to the latest trading update.

The revenue advance was underpinned by higher hotel occupancy, stronger room yields and growing demand across the group’s resort portfolio. Occupancy rose to 51% from 48%, while revenue per available room increased 19% to US$57 from US$48.

RTG’s RevPAR growth places the quarter’s performance beyond a volume recovery. The higher room yield points to improved monetisation of available inventory, supported by guest spending and stronger pricing across the portfolio. Food-and-beverage activity also contributed to revenue growth, widening the income base beyond room sales.

‘’The growth was driven by increased food and beverage activity across the city hotels, as well as continued strong business growth at the resort hotels.,’’ the company said.

Foreign-currency revenue rose 21% during the period, supported mainly by resort hotels, where revenue expanded 40%. The growth strengthens RTG’s exposure to tourism income streams that are directly linked to international arrivals, leisure demand and higher-spending visitor segments.

The group’s resort business has become increasingly important to its earnings mix as Zimbabwe’s tourism sector rebuilds international traffic and conference activity. Victoria Falls remains central to this recovery, while the resort portfolio extends RTG’s ability to capture domestic leisure, corporate conferencing and destination tourism demand across the country.

Global developments placed pressure on travel activity, with Middle East tensions driving higher fuel prices and flight cancellations by regional airlines. These disruptions increased the importance of air connectivity, international visitor arrivals and travel affordability for the group’s full-year performance.

The hospitality group is pairing stronger operating activity with a renewed property investment programme. RTG refurbished 14 rooms at A’Zambezi River Lodge during the quarter, covering interior upgrades, aesthetic enhancements and general improvements.

The next phase of the capital programme begins in June ( this month), when RTG plans to commence a full refurbishment of 100 rooms at Montclair Resort and Conference Centre. The project carries a US$1.8 million budget, equal to an average allocation of about US$18,000 per room.

The Montclair investment places the Eastern Highlands property at the centre of RTG’s strategy to deepen its premium leisure and conferencing offering. Room upgrades, service quality and destination positioning will determine the group’s capacity to lift room rates, conference volumes and ancillary guest spending after the refurbishment is completed.

RTG also completed the integration of Batoka Safaris into its Heritage Expeditions Africa subsidiary, following the acquisition of the tourism operator in July 2025. Revenue at the consolidated subsidiary increased 36%, supported by demand for curated tourism experiences across Zimbabwe.

The integration expands RTG’s ability to package accommodation, transport, tours and destination experiences into a single visitor offering. This creates a larger share of wallet opportunity from each traveller, particularly in Victoria Falls and other leisure destinations where tour activities form a major component of visitor expenditure.

Looking ahead the company expects sustained demand growth during the 2026 financial year, supported by the continued recovery in international tourism into Victoria Falls and an expanding conferencing pipeline. The group also expects operating margins to improve through cost-reduction measures, product initiatives and operational-efficiency programmes.

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