RAINBOW Tourism Group yesterday launched a new partnership platform for local hotels to partner the group and drive revenues in areas that the hotel does not cover.

The platform, RTG Virtual, presents small hotels with a chance to partner with RTG so that they can get customers through the RTG Central Reservations Desk for an agreed commission.

Under the programme, Rainbow will leverage on its commercial capabilities, market presence and linkages in the local regional and international markets to generate additional business through creating tour packages in its hotels and virtual partners.

RTG commercial director Mr Shupai Marware said RTG Virtual presents a one-stop shop for its customers as all local bookings and enquiries would be processed through the RTG Central Reservations Office in Harare while international enquiries would be handled through the RTG Central Reservations Office in South Africa.

"This one-stop shop facility will result in increased convenience and choice for customers as recommendations of facilities will be done depending on the customer's needs," he said.

He said small hotels and lodges do not have the capacity to market themselves on a large scale so RTG Virtual would provide that opportunity and grow the hospitality and tourism industry in the process.

Mr Marware said the platform would also open up international and global gateways to smaller, local hotels and tourism operators.

"International, regional and local customers have been enquiring about hotels in areas we do not operate and we were turning them away, but now we have realised that we can actually offer them what they want through this platform. There is need for hotels to be innovative or they die," he said.

He said the group had already brought on 13 partners who had been approved while five were still under consideration.

The group, which has already engaged hotels such as Montclair Hotel in Nyanga, Regency Flamboyant in Masvingo, Rhodes Nyanga, Inns of Zimbabwe in the Eastern Highlands, Chengeta Lodge, Pamuzinda and Golden Peacock in Mutare, is targeting 23 partners by August this year and 30 by December.

"When RTG works with other partners, not only is it good for the group, it is good for the hospitality and tourism industry and also for the economy because we all work harder," he said.

Mr Marware added that the programme was complementing the efforts made by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry together with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority on the National Tourism Masterplan.

"It is an affordable, seamless and complementary platform for individuals and organisations wanting to consume tourism and hospitality services across Zimbabwe," he said.

He added that organisations no longer need to build equity and growth in their industries alone and owning everything but thrive on open and integrative platforms.

He said the group was also working on other income-generating programmes that will help increase their revenue base.

Speaking at the launch, Inns of Zimbabwe representative Mr Gift Madhlayo said the virtual platform would transform the Eastern Highlands from a dormant "Switzerland of Zimbabwe" to an active hub as they would be able to access more clients.

"RTG has used competition as a way to co-ordinate and integrate players in the hospitality thus growing the industry," he said.