Zimbabwe’s iconic Meikles Hotel has a new name – Hyatt Regency

HARARE
–
Zimbabwe’s
iconic
Meikles
Hotel
has
been
renamed
Hyatt
Regency,
five
years
after
its
acquisition
for
US$20
million
by
Albwardy
of
the
United
Arab
Emirates.

Albwardy,
which
runs
multiple
hotels
under
the
Four
Seasons
and
Hyatt
brands,
has
decided
on
the
change
at
the
five-star
hotel
in
central
Harare
which
got
its
name
from
the
Meikle
brothers
who
built
it
in
1915
–
John,
Thomas
and
Stewart.

Zimbabweans
have
been
reacting
to
the
change
of
name
on
Twitter.

“It
will
always
be
Meikles,
the
same
way
Trade
Center
is
still
Jaggers,”
wrote
Felix
Kamangira
on
X,
formerly
Twitter.

Changing
the
name
was
“sacrilege”,
protested
another
X
user
Mutape
weChimanimani.

The
hotel
has
been
undergoing
major
renovations,
including
being
repainted.

“Maybe
Hyatt
can
bring
back
the
glory,”
said
another
X
user.

Hyatt
is
known
for
its
high-end,
elegant
hotels
in
prime
locations
around
the
world
targeting
travellers
seeking
luxury
experiences.

In
August,
the
Hyatt
Regency
Harare
is
expected
to
welcome
its
first
VIP
guests
when
regional
leaders
attend
a
SADC
summit
in
Harare.

It
could
also
be
the
main
base
for
cricket
teams
from
around
the
world
in
2027
as
Zimbabwe
jointly
hosts
the
ODI
World
Cup
with
South
Africa
and
Namibia.