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| Features |
| Business Model: Alissa Makawa |
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by
Frank Phiri, 09 July 2006
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07:33:37
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They say life begins at 40, and for Alissa Makawa, it may just have begun. To turn 40 in September, Makawa is the wheel moving Alexander Hotels Limited (AHL), a fairly new name in the country’s hospitality and tourism industry. An admirer of Hilton—a worldwide famous hotel chain—Makawa is determined to continue where her father left in 2001, to build Malawi’s own hotel empire. I had a chat with her.
Who is Alissa Makawa?
I am the Managing Director of Alexander Hotels Limited. I am the second born daughter in a family of eight children. I was born Alissa Ashani on September 26, 1964, and come from Matapila Village in Lilongwe. I am a widow with two children—John Richard and Edda Makawa. I did my primary school at Guillime Girls Boarding School and later at Phwezi and St. Michael’s Girls Secondary School. In 1987, I did my Food Production Training at Malawi Institute of Management. I also did my In-Service training at Mt. Soche in Food Production. In 1988, my father sent me to Switzerland for a Hotel Management course at the International Hotel and Tourism Training Institute in Lurchen. In the first two years, I did Certificate in Hotel Operations, one and half years I did Diploma in Hotel Management.
How did the name Alexander evolve?
Alexander is my late father’s first name and we came up with this name to honour him for the great work he did to us as his children and we are what we are now because of him. He was a tobacco farmer and invested a lot in our education as he did in real estate. Many hotel chains in the world like Hiltons, started small. The same can be said of Alexander Hotels.
What is the present capacity of Alexander Hotels Limited (AHL)?
AHL is a holding company of three hotels—Shire Highlands in Limbe, Boadzulu Holiday Resort in Mangochi and Kambiri Lodge in Salima. The three hotels employ up to 250 people. My dad started with Boadzulu in 1992. It has got 51 rooms and 12 tents at the camp site. It also has a conference hall which accommodates 250 people classroom style or 200 people U-shape. There is also a small one which sits 25 people classroom style or 20 people U-shape, a restaurant and beach bar. In December 2001, I acquired Kambiri Lodge in Senga Bay, Salima. It has 51 rooms, two bars, two conference centres which sit 150 people classroom style or 100 people U-shape, 50 people classroom style or 30 people oval shape respectively and a Restaurant facing the Beach. On February 1, 2005 we acquired Shire Highlands Hotel. It has a conference centre which can sit 150 people classroom style or 60 people U-shape, and a small one which can accommodate 25 people classroom style or 20 people U-shape. There are also two bars, a restaurant, business centre and swimming pool.
Latest official reports indicate that the number of tourists increased by 5.5 percent. Does this reflect in Alexander Hotels?
Yes, Alexander Hotels has benefited from this cake because a number of tourists have visited our hotel and lodges.
It is often said that tourism is one of the sectors with potential to move the economy to prosperity. As one of the key players, do you see things that way?
I strongly feel tourism is one of the sectors with potential to greatly compliment the economy in view of the problems facing tobacco.
What do you think needs to be done at policy level for tourism to benefit companies like yours?
At policy level, I think they should look into tax concessions such as waiving duty on hotel machines, building materials and possibly linen. There is also need for sponsorship in order to train hotel managers outside the country to match with the international operators. Public investment in training hotel personnel is also needed because we have problems in hiring [qualified] hotel personnel.
Do you have any free time?
When I do, I like chatting with family members, but most of the time, I am busy doing hotel work which needs total commitment.
Any fond memories of your life?
When I graduated from hotel school in Switzerland.
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