The hotel, which is owned by the Zimbabwe Farmers' Union, has since been renamed as Upper City Hotel.

The hotel has already undergone extensive refurbishments that have already consumed US$570 000.

An addition US$180 000 is expected to be invested into the project to ensure the successful completion of the refurbishment programme.

According to Mr Chirenje, the hotel will officially open its doors on February 15 although the hotel has already had a soft opening.

He said their main aim was to make the city hotel the place for discerning business executives and business people as well as their wives and children.

"We are targeting those executives or business people that want an executive place to relax and unwind.

"We have also taken heed of the call by city fathers to businesses to help rejuvenate the city centre," he said.

The hotel boasts of a complement of 39 rooms equipped with 32-inch plasma screens, air conditioning and DSTV.

There are also 11 modern single rooms that used to share communal ablution facilities but have now been fitted with shower cubicles and 12 economy single rooms with soft furnishings.

Mr Chirenje said they were expecting to increase their room capacity to 44 in the near future.

The hotel already has a staff complement of 26 which is expected to increase to 40 once the hotel is fully functional.

The hotel bar, the royal league cocktail bar with a capacity to host 100 people has also been fitted with soft wood furnishings, a fitted raised stage, conducive lighting and a spacious dance floor.

The hotel will also have the Nhandare club bar situated on the first floor, fitted with Internet wireless connectivity, wi-fi with broadband access that will cater for exclusive discerning guests.

"Since it's an exclusive club, Nhandare club bar will be strictly by invitation because we want to maintain the highest standards," Mr Chirenje said

Mr Chirenje said that their rates would be in the US$40 to US$60 range and their target was to lure long-term stay business.

"We are targeting the sales or marketing executive and business people from out of town who travel weekly or monthly to Harare and spend two to four days doing business in the city."

Mr Chirenje said they were also keen to cash in on business generated that will be generated by the World Cup in South Africa in June.

Turning to issues to do with perception, Mr Chirenje said that their rates have been specifically determined to discourage prostitution within the facility while staff members are being trained to look out for "unwanted" guests.

In addition, he said they hope that the attainment of a rating from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority would help lure their preferred clientele.

He added that they were working with the police to ensure that clients that come to the hotel are not unnecessarily harassed.

"We also have our own security staff that patrols the front area of the hotel to ensure security of our clientele as well as their vehicles and a resident parking lot at the back for conservative clients."