Ilala Lodge Backend

Category: Staff

  • Bidding Farewell to an Ilala Legend

    Bidding Farewell to an Ilala Legend

    The end of 2024 marked the closing of an incredible chapter for Ilala Lodge Hotel as we bid farewell to Peter Msindo, a beloved member of our hotel family, who retired after 33-years of service.

    Peter’s story is so closely intertwined with the very essence of Ilala Lodge Hotel that it is almost impossible to imagine our every day without him. On 1 March 1991, as we opened our doors for the very first time, Peter was there, stepping through them as our front porter and beginning what would evolve into a long and fruitful career. Over the years, he became a living testament to dedication, growth, and exceptional service – qualities that have defined his time with us and left an indelible mark on Ilala Lodge Hotel.

    Peter’s unwavering commitment and natural leadership abilities allowed him to rise through the ranks with grace. In 1999, he was promoted to Head Porter, and not long after, he transitioned to our front desk team.

    For nearly 25 years, Peter greeted countless guests with the warm, welcoming smile that became his signature and the hallmark of Ilala Lodge’s hospitality. Whether it was offering directions, sharing local insights, or simply making a guest feel truly at home, his genuine kindness made all who entered our doors feel like part of the Ilala family.

    Born and raised in Mhondoro, near St Theresa Nyanda School in Zimbabwe, Peter has always maintained a deep sense of humility and family. His unwavering dedication to Ilala Lodge never took away from his role as a loving husband, father to four children, and proud grandfather to five grandchildren. His family values have always shone through, not only in how he cared for his own but also in the way he treated every guest and colleague as part of his extended family. His approach to hospitality was not just professional, it was personal – built on the same love, respect, and care that he showed those closest to him.

    As Peter embarks on this new chapter of his life, we celebrate not just a colleague, but a true cornerstone of Ilala Lodge’s legacy. His exceptional service and heartfelt hospitality have shaped the heart and soul of our hotel. However, his impact will continue to resonate in the way we serve our guests and welcome visitors to Victoria Falls.

    Peter, thank you for your 33 years of dedication, hard work, and unwavering positivity. You have touched the lives of countless people and made Ilala Lodge Hotel feel like a second home to all of us. We wish you a retirement filled with well-deserved joy, relaxation, and precious moments with your family.

    You will always have a special place in the heart of your Ilala Lodge family, and we will carry your legacy of warmth and generosity forward with us.

    Farewell, Peter. We miss you already!

  • Celebrating Decades of Dedication at the Palm Hospitality Group

    Celebrating Decades of Dedication at the Palm Hospitality Group

    At Palm Hospitality Group, we take immense pride in our team of dedicated professionals who have been the driving force behind our success. Their unwavering commitment, hard work, and loyalty have been instrumental in shaping our organisation into a renowned name in the hospitality industry both at Ilala Lodge Hotel and the Palm River Hotel.

    During an in-house ceremony held at Ilala Lodge Hotel, we commemorated the incredible journeys of a few of our longest-serving employees who have been with the group for more than 20, 25, 30, and even 35 years.

     

    20-25 Years of Service: Paving the Way for Growth

    Tendai Ndlovu, Dainocious Zula, Ranganai Shumba, Reggie Ncube and Qhubani Ncube and Tracy Baard have served the company for an impressive two decades. While Cephas Ndlovu, Patson Ndlovu, Thando Ncube, Patience Mpofu, and Jane Masamba have each dedicated a quarter-century of their lives to the Palm Hospitality Group. Their stories are a testament to the incredible growth opportunities that our company offers.

    Cephas Ndlovu’s journey began as a bouncer at what used to be the hotel’s nightclub and has evolved through various roles, including a kitchen porter, head gardener, and his current position as a laundry hand. Patson Ndlovu has been a dedicated gardener for the past 25 years, nurturing the beautiful landscapes that define Ilala Lodge Hotel.

    Thando Ncube’s career has been a remarkable ascent, starting as a waiter at Ilala Lodge Hotel and progressing through roles from a switchboard operator, receptionist, reservationist, through to becoming our esteemed Debtors Clerk.

    Patience Mpofu’s culinary expertise has been honed over the years, as she climbed the ranks from a Commie Chef to her current position as Senior Sous Chef, ensuring our guests experience the finest dining experiences.

    Jane Masamba’s journey is a true inspiration, transitioning from a curio shop attendant to in-house activities consultant, then onto the activities consultant manager and then the hotel’s Deputy General Manager. From here Jane continued to progress as she seamlessly filtered into her current role as the Hotel General Manager, overseeing the operations of our iconic Ilala property.

    30 Years of Service: Pillars of Dedication

    Dumisani Lunga, Kanyeka Muleya, Charles Ndlovu, and Dingumuzi Masuku have each devoted three decades of their lives to the Palm Hospitality Group, showcasing their unwavering loyalty and commitment.

    Dumisani Lunga’s journey began as a laundry hand, and he now serves as our esteemed Head Front Porter, ensuring a warm and welcoming experience for every guest.

    Kanyeka Muleya’s versatility has been a significant asset, as she has held various positions, including a laundry hand, bedroom hand, wine steward, receptionist, reservationist, night auditor, debtors clerk, and now serves as our Group Revenue Controller.

    Charles Ndlovu’s career started at the Zambezi Leather Workshop as an assembler, and he now plays a vital role in our security team, ensuring the safety and well-being of our guests and staff.

    Dingumuzi Masuku’s journey began in our kitchens as a porter and has since spanned roles such as a barman, head barman, acting bars manager, and bars/stock manager, before transitioning to his current position as a storeman.

    35 Years of Service: Unwavering Loyalty

    Siyatimba Muleya’s exceptional dedication to the Palm Hospitality Group spans an incredible 35 years. He joined us as a stores clerk at the Zambezi Leather Workshop and has since held positions as a storeman and now serves as a valued member of our security team.

    At the Palm Hospitality Group, we are immensely grateful for the extraordinary contributions of these individuals and the countless others who have chosen to grow with us. Their stories are a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional learning and development opportunities, fostering an environment where talent can thrive, and recognising the immense value of our team members.

    As we celebrate these milestone achievements, we reaffirm our dedication to creating a workplace where every individual can unlock their full potential and be a part of our ongoing journey of excellence.

    Nurturing Talent, Fostering Growth

    The remarkable journeys of our long-serving employees are a direct reflection of the Palm Hospitality Group’s unwavering commitment to nurturing talent and fostering personal and professional growth. We firmly believe that our people are our greatest asset, and investing in their development is key to our continued success.

    Through customised development programs tailored to each individual’s strengths, aspirations, and career goals, we have empowered our team members to unlock their full potential. The organisation actively promotes internal career progression, enabling employees to explore diverse roles and responsibilities across its two luxury properties, fostering a culture of continuous learning and job satisfaction.

    The remarkable success stories of Cephas Ndlovu, Thando Ncube, Patience Mpofu, Jane Masamba, and many others are a testament to the transformative power of our development initiatives. Their journeys serve as inspiration for our entire team, reinforcing our commitment to investing in their growth and empowering them to reach new heights in their careers.

  • Ilala Lodge Hotel celebrates decades of staff loyalty

    Ilala Lodge Hotel celebrates decades of staff loyalty

    It’s no secret that our staff are one of the top reasons why guests choose Ilala Lodge Hotel as their number one accommodation option in Victoria Falls!

    To honour our exceptional team members, every year we hold a Long Service Awards Ceremony at Ilala Lodge Hotel. The ceremony aims to recognize key members of our team and reward them for their unwavering dedication and commitment to our hospitality family.

    This year’s lineup includes an impressive 14 individuals who have each played an integral part of the Group’s hospitality success as long-serving loyal staff members. While we are exceptionally proud of each one of our staff members for their attentive service, we have chosen a highlight four of our longest-serving members, one of whom has worked at Ilala Lodge Hotel since its opening in 1991!

     

    Lucky Shoko

    POSITION: Barman
    YEARS WITH THE COMPANY: 25 years

    Lucky began his career at Ilala Lodge Hotel as a kitchen porter, he then transitioned to a stores hand and worked his way up to a stores clerk.  From there Lucky moved over to the hotel’s laundry and finally progressed into the Food and Beverage team as a bar hand. With his friendly smile and stories that keep guests well entertained, Lucky progressed to a waiter and then onto the head barman – where you’ll now find him serving up his signature show-off cocktails!

    Soja Dube

    POSITION: Storeman
    YEARS WITH THE COMPANY: 20 years

    Soja is passionate about numbers, which makes him perfect for his role in the hotel’s stores department. He takes great pride in his work particularly in completing stocktake tasks and ensuring his recordings are perfectly balanced. Soja loves working within the tourism industry, progressing from a general hand in 2002, to cashier in 2005 and then into his current position as a storeman. Soja hopes to pass on his expertise and experience to his daughter so she too can excel in an industry he so admires.

     

    Berrington Mathe

    POSITION: Maître D’
    YEARS WITH THE COMPANY: 25 years

    Berrington began his career at Ilala in the hotel’s lush gardens as a gardener, he then moved across to become a bar hand which shortly progressed into becoming a restaurant waiter. With his great smile, attentive service and eye for detail, Berrington was promoted to Head Waiter and ultimately became Maître D’- a position he has proudly held for the last 2 years. Berrington’s dream aspirations include owning and managing his own grocery store someday.

     

    Shepherd Mudimba

    POSITION: Laundry Hand
    YEARS WITH THE COMPANY: 32 years

    Shepherd has been with Ilala Lodge Hotel since its opening in 1991 and has only ever wanted to work for one company. His aspirations include building his own house on a residential site here in the heart of Victoria Falls.

    Our long-serving staff are an integral part of the hospitality family, congratulations to each of our members on this huge milestone and we thank each of you for your loyalty and unwavering dedication!