by Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole
HARARE – Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) is completing a US$2.5 million refurbishment and expansion of Montclair Resort and Conference in Nyanga, a move the group says will position the Eastern Highlands as a major alternative to Victoria Falls for conferences, leisure and regional tourism.
The refurbishment, scheduled for completion soon, will increase the resort’s room capacity from 85 to 110 rooms. RTG achieved the expansion by optimising underutilised space within the existing property, including former storage areas and excess office space, rather than building a new wing.
The RTG acquired Montclair in 2025 and has since integrated it into the group’s operating, sales, reservations, procurement and revenue-management systems.
“RTG’s strategy is to position the Eastern Highlands as one of Zimbabwe’s most compelling tourism alternatives to Victoria Falls. While Victoria Falls remains the country’s leading international tourism destination, the Eastern Highlands offers a different but equally attractive combination of mountains, forests, waterfalls, outdoor adventure, heritage, cooler weather and scenic landscapes,” said RTG Chief Executive Tendai Madziwanyika.
The upgraded resort is being positioned as the activity centre for Nyanga, with capacity to host larger groups, corporate retreats, government strategy sessions, weddings, sporting events and regional meetings.
According to RTG, the expansion is designed to benefit the wider Nyanga economy, not just the resort.
The company expects stronger occupancy, improved room yields and higher revenue from food and beverage, conferencing and leisure. When Montclair reaches capacity during peak events, overflow demand will be directed to smaller accommodation providers and service operators in the area.
“This approach is intended to create a multiplier effect. A stronger Montclair can attract larger conferences and events that may not otherwise come to Nyanga, while surrounding businesses benefit from additional room demand, transport requirements, local excursions, food supplies and visitor expenditure,” Madziwanyika said.
RTG anticipates spillover benefits for tour operators, event planners, transport companies, farmers, artisans and other local businesses.
The refurbishment includes environmentally conscious features such as smart energy-management systems, water-efficient flushing systems and low-flow shower technologies, aimed at cutting utility consumption and operating costs in line with RTG’s ESG objectives.
The group is also exploring plans to add a further 40-room accommodation block at Montclair in a future phase to handle even greater volumes of conference, group and leisure business.
To drive bookings, RTG will leverage its conferencing expertise and its event planner programme, which allows independent planners to use Montclair’s facilities while retaining client relationships. The resort will also be supported by RTG Mobile, the group’s outside catering platform, for destination weddings and off-site functions across the Eastern Highlands.
The Montclair upgrade comes as RTG reports strong growth. In the first half of 2026, all business units recorded higher occupancy, Group revenue rose *29%*, and EBITDA more than doubled.
“By transforming Montclair into a destination anchor, RTG is not only expanding its own room inventory. It is also creating a platform from which the Eastern Highlands can attract new events, longer stays, increased investment and wider participation by tourism businesses throughout the region,” the group said.