Guesthouse caters for business visitors

Fitting out each room with a specially imported silent-running Italian bar fridge, extra-length beds, free Wi-Fi, full DSTV bouquet, a stand-by generator and a chef on the premises are just some of the touches that set the purpose-built Kingsmead Guesthouse in Borrowdale, Harare, apart. Owner/manager Jenny Stijkel set herself an ambitious target when she wrote “the difference between good and great is extraordinary attention to detail” in the promotional material for the 10-bedroom guesthouse, which she opened in mid-2013. Each of the bedrooms is en-suite, and two have small kitchenettes for self-catering. The guesthouse is built on grounds adjacent to the home of the Stijkels who saw an opportunity to cater for the growing business market in the northern suburbs of Harare. “We are well situated, with the Borrowdale Village just over a kilometre away. There are new business parks around 10 minutes away, and we are 20 minutes from the airport,” says Stijkel. “Given that we are catering largely for the business market and longer stays, we do not believe that our guests should have to compromise on the facilities they enjoy at home, such as having the full DSTV bouquet available in each room,” she says. It is also the reason that there is free Wi-Fi, percale linen, seasonal hypo-allergic duvets, a choice of pillows, luxury bath sheets and a selection of toiletries as well as a sewing kit. Building the guesthouse from the ground up gave them the opportunity to include as many “green” elements as possible. The restful gardens are kept damp through a grey water system, the geysers are fed by solar panels, and the lighting is all low voltage. Small touches abound, with the Stijkels taking from the best practices they have experienced in their own travels. The couple – Aldrik and Jenny – worked closely with both a building consultant and architect to ensure that it lived up to their expectations. They are both hands-on and assisted by an experienced manageress as well as a team of well-trained staff, most of whom are new to the hospitality industry. Recruiting staff new to the industry has helped smooth the opening months for the guesthouse, Jenny believes. She was able to instil the high standards she has set for the guesthouse, rather than having to first “unlearn” the way other guesthouses approach service. CAPTION FTW’s Jodi Haigh takes a breather.