The Jameson Hotel is one of the grand old dames that have been part of Harare’s history and social scene since 1959. On November 18, 2023, Cresta Jameson Hotel celebrated its 65th anniversary. Today, the hotel remains an enduring landmark in the city centre. Luxurious enough for you to forget you’re there on business, in the heart of Harare’s cosmopolitan centre lies the legendary Cresta Jameson.
The hotel which belongs to the Cresta Hotels Urban Hear beat gateway seeks to serve guests who want to stay in the middle of it all. The hotel was built during the commercial boom of the 1950s and was situated close to a number of new high-rise office blocks being built along what is now Samora Machel Avenue. It has been a major hospitality landmark in Harare for business and leisure visitors, as well as for city residents, who have long used it as a venue for celebratory and special events.
A Historical Overview
Cresta began hotel operations in 1958, managing the Jameson Hotel in Harare. It was opened in 1958 and became Zimbabwe’s first four-star hotel in the late 1970s.
Modern Amenities and Services
At the Jameson Hotel in Harare, guests are accommodated in 122 air-conditioned and en-suite rooms, with a choice of twin or double beds. With service standards that meet the changing expectations of guests who prefer accommodation, banqueting and conference options in the central business district at competitive prices, the hotel is popular among locals and regional travelers alike.
The business centre, conference facilities and Wifi connectivity at Cresta Jameson will ensure a successful business trip, while the executive Usual Place Bar and the health and beauty spa will leave you relaxed and unwound in no time.
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The Jameson Hotel offers some of the finest conference and meeting facilities in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. The ultimate one-stop-shop for borderless buying and selling.
Two years ago, the team at Cresta Jameson embarked on a drive to spruce up the hotel and we are proud to say that the gem is starting to shine again!
Recent Renovations and Upgrades
This article contains some of the exciting new things to expect next time you visit the Cresta Jameson.
- Refurbished rooms: The Cresta Jameson now boasts of a total of 121 refurbished rooms with new paint, new carpets, vinyl tiling, brand new beds, and modern furniture! All this to make your stay more memorable.
- Expanded parking: By extending their roofed, secure parking to accommodate more cars Cresta Jameson is ensuring all its guests have less trouble in accessing a true African hotel experience.
- Improved security: Cresta Jameson has improved its security by controlling access to guest facilities, common areas and elevators using guest key cards to ensure that, only guests, can access and enjoy the hotels facilities. Ensuring a more secure environment for the hotels valued guests. Guest security and privacy are very important to us as Cresta Hotels, and we always strive to ensure that our guests are safe and secure.
- New state of the art video conferencing equipment: The Cresta Jameson now has state of the art video conferencing facilities which allow guest to have meetings and conferences with people anywhere in the world. The hotels new video conferencing equipment is robust and uses broadband internet connectivity to ensure conferencing guests’ have interruption free meetings.
Cresta Jameson February Special
Dining Experience
Tiffany’s Restaurant at the Jameson Hotel offers a set menu for lunch and dinner, while the Sandawana Coffee Shop serves delicious English buffet breakfasts, buffet lunches as well as buffet and a la carte dinners which made Harare a well-known city. The Lounge on the mezzanine floor which offers light meals and is very ideal for short business meetings is a popular place.
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A new and refreshed Tiffany’s restaurant
The Tiffany’s restaurant, which is the main restaurant at the Cresta Jameson recently received a facelift to make it spacious, comfortable, and ultimately enhance guests’ dining experience. Cresta Jameson’s Tiffany’s restaurant, which was already loved and known for its fine dining experience, wide range of dishes and A la carte and buffet menus has just become better. With better natural lighting, comfortable chairs, and a lot more space; dining at the Tiffany’s will not be the same again.
Cresta Hotels: A Regional Brand
CM: Cresta is a regional brand, with hotels in Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. Cresta Hotels is built on past success and is poised to not only maintain its position, but to enhance that position through innovation, creativity and purposeful change.
Cresta Hotels is one of Southern Africa’s leading hotel management groups, operating business and resort hotels in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa. All 17 Cresta properties offer modern, comfortable facilities for both leisure and business travellers. The group is renowned for personalized service and authentic African luxury. Experience the true warmth of African hospitality at Cresta Hotels, where we’ll do whatever it takes to make your trip a memorable one.
Among its celebrated leisure destinations are Mowana Safari Resort & Spa and Cresta Sprayview in Victoria Falls.
- Mowana Safari Resort & Spa: Perfectly positioned on the banks of the Chobe River in Botswana, Mowana Safari Resort & Spa offers spectacular river views, with guest rooms designed in an ethnic style that complements the natural surroundings. The spa provides a haven of relaxation, while game drives and sunset cruises complete the experience.
- Cresta Sprayview: Located just 1.4 kilometres from the Victoria Falls Rain Forest, Cresta Sprayview is ideal for adventure seekers exploring the resort town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The hotel was completely remodelled in 2013 and offers a welcoming retreat for solo travellers, groups, and honeymooners alike.
Cresta Marakanelo Limited (CML)
Cresta Marakanelo Limited (CML) operates 11 Cresta Hotels in Botswana. From an initial portfolio of fewer than 100 rooms, the group now manages over 1,000 rooms in Botswana. The company continues to expand, with new ventures in the pipeline to be announced soon.
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Established in 1987, CML was formed when Cresta Hospitality was awarded the management contract for the Marakanelo Hotels by the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC).
CML is jointly owned by the Botswana Government, through the BDC, and TA Botswana.
The Botswana Development Corporation, established in 1970, is the investment arm of the Botswana Government and serves as the country’s main agency for commercial and industrial development. For more information, visit www.bdc.bw.
TA Botswana is ultimately owned by Masawara PLC Limited, a Jersey-registered company listed on the AIM Stock Exchange in London. For more information, visit www.masawara.com.
Challenges and Hopes
There are a number of challenges that face hospitality operators, chief of which is the high cost of running a business in Zimbabwe. It is our hope that private and public sectors will work together to resolve this situation and to help operators offer competitive rates on the back of reduced and managed input costs.
Harare is primarily a destination for business travellers, but also welcomes a small but useful number of leisure travellers.
If you have not tried the Cresta Jameson, this your chance. Cresta Jameson Hotel is set in the middle of vibrant Harare, where hustling and bustling is the order of the day.
Yes, I have enjoyed a delightful and enjoyable two decades in the Cresta group, firstly in the finance operations and latterly in executive management. It is rewarding to know that we have so many friends and supporters throughout the community and across the world in the travel and tourism sector. To have emerged strong and resolute, and to have so quickly taken up the challenge to regroup, refocus and restart was exciting.
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1958 |
| Anniversary | 65th anniversary celebrated on November 18, 2023 |
| Rooms | 122 air-conditioned and en-suite rooms |
| Restaurants | Tiffany’s Restaurant, Sandawana Coffee Shop, The Lounge |
| Location | Central Business District, Harare |
| Renovations | Refurbished rooms, expanded parking, improved security, new video conferencing equipment |
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