ANDY Conn has been appointed Africa Albida Tourism’s new group operations manager to oversee the running of the company’s portfolio of properties that include the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. He is a former general manager at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (1998 to 2006). Andy took up his new position this month, following his return to Zimbabwe after working as general manager at Mount Grace Country House and Spa in South Africa. Previously, he spent five years as general manager at Indigo Bay Resort, Bazaruto Island, Mozambique.
“There’s been a real sense of coming home, working in an environ- ment where I spent many, many happy years previously. I have a bond with Zimbabwe and what I consider to be my people,” Conn said. With more than 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, much of it outside of Zimbabwe, Conn hopes to use his skills to develop both service and delivery across Africa Albida properties even further. Conn said his new role had provided a bit of a soft landing, because, although he did have some background knowledge, it was not as familiar as he had expected it to be, since there had been so much progress at AAT during his nine-year absence.
“We are lucky to have recruited Andy [Conn] for the second time in his career. He brings another nine years’ worth of wide-ranging experience, exposure and knowledge from some properties that he has managed,” said chief executive Ross Kennedy. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Africa Albida Tourism’s flagship unit, recently underwent a $1 million refurbishment, fully upgrading the 72-roomed property. Africa Albida Tourism’s portfolio also includes the Gold Crown Resort Condominium International, Lokuthula Lodges, the five-star Victoria Falls Safari Club, Victoria Falls Safari Suites and the Ngoma Safari Lodge located in Chobe, Botswana
