Radisson Blu
Vibrant oasis in the heart of the city
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine (Click to enlarge)
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA - Radisson Blu is a luxury five star hotel located only 5 km from the city centre and 7.5 km from Lusaka International Airport. Featuring modern interior design, excellent leisure facilities and dining options, this trendy hotel is definitely one of the best accommodation options in Lusaka.
Fashion Studio Magazine had the pleasure to stay at Radisson Blu for two nights in December 2014. We were not only impressed with the professional and super friendly customer service, but we also enjoyed the hotel's unbeatable location (just opposite the Arcades Shopping Centre and not far from Lusaka's premier shopping destination - Manda Hill) and bold contemporary design.
Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
TRENDY GUEST ROOMS
142 rooms and suites with free high-speed wireless internet offer a lot of comfort and privacy. Business Room 344 is not only spacious and well-designed, but also very quiet - both during the day and at night. Comfortable king size bed guarantees a good night's sleep.
"Decorated in black and white with bold bursts of red and purple, the rooms and suites at this accommodation in Lusaka offer edgy modern style and an abundance of space." - radissonblu.com
Welcome to My Room!
African art in room 344 (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
Room 344
Comfortable bed
Spacious room
Healthy breakfast
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Bold room design
Welcome snack on our arrival
Modern black and white bathroom is definitely one of the best features of the room. It is not only very bright and spacious, but also features a separate shower and a jacuzzi bathtub where you can relax and rejuvenate at the end of the day.
The private bathroom comes with a hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. You can even find a small mosquito repellant here!
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
PERFECT FOR BUSINESS
Radisson Blu offers an excellent setting for business gatherings or special events.
"The hotel’s expansive meeting facilities include multiple conference rooms, a sophisticated ballroom and a pre-function area, and event hosts can take advantage of the services of a professional conference coordinator.
"Experience Meetings” is Radisson Blu’s new concept for meetings and events that harmonises the meeting essentials: breakout rooms, food and connectivity with service, satisfaction and sustainability." - radissonblu.com
View from room 344 (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
Radisson Blu may be mainly a business hotel, but it has all the leisure facilities you need. Outdoor swimming pool at the back of the hotel is very quiet and relaxing. It features a trendy Pool Bar where you can enjoy a snack or a cold drink.
Uzuri Spa offers a wide variety of massages, facials, body wraps and other personalized treatments performed by highly trained technicians. It is surrounded by tranquil gardens where you can relax after your appointment.
Uzuri Spa offers a wide variety of massages, facials, body wraps and other personalized treatments performed by highly trained technicians. It is surrounded by tranquil gardens where you can relax after your appointment.
Uzuri Spa (Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
PACE Fitness Centre
Pool Bar
Outdoor swimming pool (Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
The capital and largest city of Zambia, Lusaka, is one of the fastest-developing cities in Southern Africa.
Although Zambia lies within the tropics, the climate is tempered by its high altitude. There are three main seasons: Cool and Dry from May to August, Hot and Dry from September to October, Warm and Wet from November to April. Average midday temperatures vary from a maximum of 31°C (88 F) in October to a minimum of 10°C (50 F) in June. Even during the hottest months, the nights in Lusaka are always cool and pleasant.
Main tourist attractions in Lusaka include: Munda Wanga Environmental Park, Kalimba Reptile Park, Kabwata Cultural Village, Sunday Market at the Arcades Shopping Centre, Manda Hill, Levy Junction, and newly established EastPark Mall. There are several good restaurants, bars, cinemas, local markets, and hair & beauty salons across the city.
Fashion & Design:
Other recommended places to visit: stylish Latitude 15 ("taking the best of Zambia and mixing it with international ingredients"), Vala Design House (Zambia’s first concept store), The Cotton Pod, Kutowa Designs, and Buloz Fashion House.
Zambia’s first concept store (Photo courtesy of Vala Design House)
Local products at the Sunday Market (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
- Spacious room (344)
- Black & white colour palette with bright red accents
- African art featured in the room
- Comfortable bathroom with relaxing jacuzzi bathtub
- Nespresso coffee machine
- Mini bar with local and South African beers
- Complimentary breakfast served in your room
- Outdoor swimming pool
- PACE Fitness Centre and Uzuri Spa
- Excellent customer service
- Convenient location
- Stylish lobby
'Best of Zambia' book available at the hotel - great source of information about the country!
LOCATION
Located only 7.5 kilometers from Lusaka City Airport and 5 kilometers from the city centre, the Radisson Blu Hotel is both easy to reach and a perfect starting point for exploring the city. Guests can take advantage of the city bus system from the nearby Arcades stop or travel by car, thanks to the capital’s efficient road network. This hotel in Lusaka puts Zambia visitors near many of the capital’s most appealing attractions.
Source: radissonblu.com
Nearby Transport:
- Arcades bus stop - 100 m
- Lusaka City Airport - 7.5 km
Photo courtesy of Google Maps (Click to enlarge)
19029 Great East Road
10101 Lusaka, Zambia
Phone: + 26 (021) 1368900
_____________________________________________________________________
Interview Time!
During our stay in Lusaka, we had a chance to meet and interview Nils Rothbarth, General Manager of Radisson Blu. Read the most interesting bits of our conversation below.
FASHION STUDIO: How would you describe the style and atmosphere of this hotel?
NILS: I would describe it as stylish, modern, urban and upbeat. We are definitely not traditional.
FASHION STUDIO: What is the main difference between Radisson Blu and other luxury hotels in Lusaka?
NILS: We’ve got the decor, the design and the layout that sets us apart from the competition. We don’t have traditional / colonial design. We are modern and very fresh. Our rooms are the largest in Lusaka. The size of the room is already quite a unique selling point.
Lusaka impressions (Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine) Click to enlarge
We offer free unlimited WiFi (*Radisson Blu was the first hotel and it is still the only one in Lusaka offering unlimited internet access that is free of charge). It is definitely one of our unique selling points as well.
We have very modern, fresh approach to meetings and events. For instance, we offer very light digestible food including many healthy options - to keep your nutrition balance right throughout the day.
Our staff has strong "Yes, I can" attitude. That sets us apart from the rest. When we first opened, we hired about 70% of staff without hospitality experience. We took people with the right attitude and we trained them. It was definitely not the traditional route. We have the right mix of young people and the older generation as well.
We also have a very good gender mix: 45% women and 55% men. We’ve got 55% women in management. I think that gender balance is very important at the workplace.
Radisson Blu is also running the Women in Leadership program in all our African hotels. We are taking an active approach and initiative in everything we do.
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
Room 344
Photos by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine
FASHION STUDIO: What are the advantages of the hotel’s location?
NILS: We have a very good location. Lusaka is growing out of the city centre and it's growing in our direction; we are close to the airport. There is an easy access to three major shopping centres. Traditional areas and government areas are nearby as well.
It is a perfect location for us.
FASHION STUDIO: How would you describe a typical guest staying at the hotel?
NILS: Majority of our quests are corporate. They come here for business - meetings and conferences. Tourism is still a growing market here. Zambia is not a major tourist destination yet.
We have both local and international guests. Most tourists come from America as well as continental Europe and the UK. One of the strongest markets is definitely the US.
Lobby (Photo by Eva Fydrych / Fashion Studio Magazine)
FASHION STUDIO: What is the busiest period for Radisson Blu?
NILS: September, October, November - a very strong corporate market. December and January tend to be slower months. Travel starts again from February onwards.
FASHION STUDIO: How would you attract Fashion Studio Magazine readers to visit Lusaka?
NILS: I think Lusaka has quite a unique mix to offer. Unlike many countries these days, Zambia is a safe country to travel. It’s a very safe destination I would say. It makes travel easy and fun because you can engage with people.
Lusaka has a lot of hidden gems - from nightclubs to formal dining; a lot of outdoor activities. The city has a lot to offer.
We have more and more people coming to Lusaka from Livingstone and Copperbelt for leisure activities, shopping, dining; for experiencing the city lifestyle in general. Tourism Department has realised that there is a huge opportunity for domestic tourism in Lusaka too. It is a growing market.
FASHION STUDIO: Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with Fashion Studio Magazine readers!
FASHION STUDIO: Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with Fashion Studio Magazine readers!
Nils Rothbarth (C), General Manager of Radisson Blu Lusaka and Eva Fydrych (R)
ABOUT
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The group currently features a portfolio of more than 1,300 hotels in operation and under development, a global footprint spanning 100 countries and territories and a powerful set of global brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson Red, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Quorvus Collection).
The group plans to grow the portfolio to nearly 1,500 hotels in operation and under development by 2015. In most of the group’s hotels, guests can benefit from the loyalty program Club CarlsonSM, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands employ more than 85,000 people. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, USA and Brussels, Belgium.
Source: media.corporate-ir.net
_____________________________________________________________________
*Special thank you to Radisson Blu for hosting Fashion Studio Magazine in December 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment