Blantyre Hotels Limited first half profit down 12%
Malawi Stock Exchange-listed Blantyre Hotels Limited plc which owns Ryralls Hotel, has registered a 12 percent drop in profit for the six months period ended March 31, 2020.
This is according to interim financial statement the firm published yesterday.
The statement signed by Blantyre Hotels Limited Chairman, Vizenge Kumwenda, shows that profit for the hospitality firm went down to K1.74 billion compared to K1.99 billion recorded during similar time last year.
It further indicates that the hotels occupancy rate decreased by 6 percentage points to 52 percent in the period.
This is attributed to combined effects of travel restrictions across the globe due to Covid-19 pandemic and closure of the Chileka Airport.
However, in an interview, Blantyre Hotels Limited Managing Director, David Church, said business is slowly picking.
“The whole hotel is now open and we are observing all necessary protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus from the temperature checks, offering hand sanitisers and reduction of the siting capacity in our restaurants,” Church said.
Meanwhile, Church said the hotel has since introduced local dishes on its menu to enhance its restaurant business.
“We have three Malawian dishes that will be changing daily that we never focused on before, we will also continue with the tradition of the 21 Grill so we will have two or three great choices, so what we are doing mainly is combine the local and international dishes on our menu.
“We have looked at the current situation on the market and everyone is having a tough time and 21 Grill has been famous for a place you want to propose or go for a birthday so we are trying to make sure it’s affordable so the prices are starting from K12, 000,” Church said.
