MPILO Boutique Hotel, an entity that has been operating for the past five years has been forced to close shop permanently, due to loss of income.
business
Feb. 10, 2021
NEO SENOKO
3 min read
Mpilo Boutique closes shop
The Mpilo Boutique Hotel
This, the hotel says is mainly because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has resulted in serious loss of business as customers are not allowed in.
The unexpected turn of events has raised panic buttons throughout the entire hotel and hospitality industry, with those that are still pushing beginning to worry about their survival capabilities.
On Tuesday, Mpilo, which was home to a total of 75 employees, made the shocking announcement about finally closing its doors for business.
“In November 2015, we were extremely excited to bring to our Kingdom the very first boutique hotel. Finally, our very own classy hotel. Little did the whole world know that a monster was getting ready to destroy good things we have worked so hard for. COVID-19 has truly changed all our lives. This monster has taken our loved ones and completely destroyed many dreams.
“Mpilo Boutique Hotel could not survive this monster and today we officially say goodbye. It has truly been an exciting, fun, joyful and memorable journey. Thank you for your support and love, we have enjoyed serving you through the years. We pray for an end to this pandemic,” the statement reads.
The hotel belonged to the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC) which is owned by Maseru business tycoon Sam Matekane.
Head of MGC’s corporate communications and marketing, ’Mamotake Matekane also confirmed that they are closing down and never coming back and again.
She told Metro that they were losing huge sums of money since the outbreak of the pandemic because there was little to no movement at all.
“If people are not coming in then it means loss of income. We were now only dealing with expenses because we were still incurring costs, having to pay things such as electricity and water,” Mrs Matekane said.
She noted that they have decided to turn the place into an office park and rent out office space. At the moment, only the Ministry of Small Business Development, Cooperatives and Marketing has already rented space at the building.
The closure of the luxurious hotel has threatened the existence and sustainability of the hotel and hospitality industry in the country.
The Lesotho Hotels and Hospitality Association (LHHA) has jumped on to the matter, expressing its shock, while also blaming the government for making matters worse.
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“Yes we are shocked by this and while we agree that these are the results of the COVID-19 pandemic, we still believe that the government should have relaxed lockdown restrictions for the survival of the industry. We would ensure that we align our services with the necessary regulations,” the acting Chairperson of LHHA ’Mamothe Mohapi shared with Metro on Tuesday.
She said this is a threat to the industry and a clear sign that more businesses will keep closing down, adding that some will face liquidation because of debts.
“So many businesses have been closing, Oxbow Lodge is another classical example. These businesses are closing because they cannot survive the current conditions. And by the look of things, more businesses are still going to suffer unless government thinks otherwise,” Mrs Mohapi also noted.
Situated in the heart of Maseru, Mpilo Boutique Hotel was a luxury hotel that offered modern comforts that appealed to both leisure and corporate clients. The facility also offered elegant accommodation with rooms fully equipped for a stay in unrivaled luxury.
It was centrally located, minutes away from all amenities, including the city centre, the Maseru Golf Course, major attractions and was the business hub for all local and international corporates.
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