Culinary group executive chef of African Sun, Dr Simon Davey, creates colourful, flavourful menu that combines two popular cuisines

The Grace in Rosebank has launched its new African Asian fusion menu, created by group executive chef of African Sun Dr Simon Davey. The dishes are a mix of the vivid colour and strong flavours of Africa with the more delicate and unique flavours of Asian cuisine.

Davey, originally from the UK, intends with this new a la carte menu to showcase his signatory style of French classical/modern with Asian fusion. He has extensive international experience in multi-national and -cultural establishments, including five-star hotels and Michelin star restaurants.

The menu includes dishes such as sweet chilli Cape gambas with prawn and coriander toast; chestnut soup served with a curried coconut foam; and smoked biltong and avocado salad tossed with sundried tomatoes, pickled cucumber and a ginger dressing for starters.

Main course include slowly braised springbok shank with bok choy, oyster sauce and pancetta crisps as well as oven roasted kingklip pierced with lemon grass and served on vanilla and wasabi mash.

A new introduction to the hotels restaurant, named The Dining Room, is a pre-dessert option, which includes crispy goats cheese with caramelised apple tian and hazelnut oil as well as a pan fried chicken terrine with three cheeses. Desserts include pan fried bananas flambed with saki, a lychee parfait with Chinese gun powder tea and lemon marmalade, and butter and ginger fritters served with African wildberry chutney.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (2010) more than 235 million people are working in and for our sector at present. It is in fact, one of the world's most important sectors generating 9.2% of the world's GDP in 2009. What is more, Travel and Tourism is expected to increase by 4.4% per annum in real terms between 2010 and 2020 which means that it will grow to represent 9.2% of total global employment or 1 in every 10.9 jobs. A pretty compelling argument for the hospitality sector to invest in human capital now!

We at African Sun see this as a clear validation of our strategy of partnering with educational institutions, as well as investing in our own hospitality training schools, to ensure that our people deliver the best service (and thus African Sun experience) possible. Renowned hospitality educator, Dr John Hogan, once said that service is the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life, which means that our employees are – and always will be – the difference between an excellent or poor guest encounter.

Tourism is the fastest growing industry on the planet, and with that rapid growth comes the need for workers at all levels. African Sun believes that it is also a vital enabler for the continent's development. However, in order for it to achieve fruition, sector leaders must invest in skills development so that we can execute on that potential flawlessly. People are the key to African's Sun's success and we are committed to investing in them, just as they invest in us.

Zimbabwean listed, African Sun Limited (ASL), has re-launched the Best Western Lagos under its management, reaffirming the hotel group as the leading pan African hospitality company with international brand associations and partnerships.

'The re-opening of the Best Western Lagos could not have come at a better time while we celebrate Nigeria's Golden Jubilee. Lagos is the business centre of West Africa, and the Best Western is perfectly located to provide the business community of Lagos with quality accommodation and services service as they work and look forward to the next 50 years of economic growth,' says Farayi Mangwende, Group Corporate Communications Manager for African Sun Limited.

Over the past 50 years the Best Western has been a hotel synonymous with providing the best hospitality services across the world, and that legacy will continue under African Sun's management.

"Nigeria is a very exciting market for us and The Best Western Lagos was a perfect fit with our strategy of increasing rooms in West Africa's growth cities. The Best Western Brand is well known in the USA, Canada, Asia and Europe and becoming increasingly popular in Nigeria. This investment will also add value to the West African market in terms of international brand associations,' says Cornelius Nyahunda Operations Director for African Sun Hotels, West Africa.

The Best Western Lagos is located at the heart of Ikeja, 10 minutes from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport. The four star hotel has 112 medium sized rooms comprising four business express rooms, six business deluxe rooms, six suites and 96 business plus rooms; offering guests a variety of options for their needs. The hotel also features state of the art conferencing facilities for up to 100 delegates seated cinema style and 12 seated boardroom style, with must-have features such as wireless internet and a business centre. The hotel is conveniently located to provide guests with access to local culture and historical sites in Lagos including the Didi and National Museums, the Murtala Muhammad Memorial Botanical Garden, Lekki Conservation Centre and Lagos Zoo to name a few.

African Sun is not a new brand in the country; the group manages four other properties including Obudu Mountain Resort, Nike Lake Resort, Amber Tinapa and Utanga Safari Lodge. All ASL hotels in Nigeria employ Nigerian citizens to ensure skills transfer and best practice of pan African hospitality The African Sun Way ensuring growth through partnerships.

For more information on The Best Western Lagos you can contact visit www.africansunhotels.com or email to pacro@africansunhotels.com

U.S. Ambassador Charles A. Ray and Fred Mutanda, Chairman of the American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ), today announced the winners of the first annual "Investing in Zimbabwe's Future" Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards: Econet and African Sun Zimbabwe Limited.

The "Investing in Zimbabwe's Future" Corporate Social Responsibility Awards are being launched for the first time this year by the U.S. Embassy and the American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ). The awards will be given at the ABAZ Just Business Forum closing reception at the Celebration Centre September 29.

Intended to be an annual recognition of outstanding displays of corporate social responsibility, the Investing in Zimbabwe's Future award winners are selected by a group of ABAZ board members and U.S. Embassy officials. Criteria for selection includes demonstrated commitment, including leadership and resources, to improving the lives of the future generation of Zimbabwe and concrete efforts to open education and job opportunities for young Zimbabweans.

Econet and African Sun Zimbabwe Limited continued investing in Zimbabwe's youth by supporting young, gifted but economically disadvantaged Zimbabweans as they work to build their educational and professional capacity. This support, for example, enabled nine disadvantaged Zimbabwean students to travel to the United States for tertiary education.

The nine students were among the 23 students who were awarded scholarships by American colleges and universities to pursue degree programs after undergoing the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP) in 2009-2010. Their scholarships in the U.S. cover full board and tuition for four-year degree programs.

Leading telecommunications service provider Econet Wireless Ltd donated US$20,000 to six USAP students on their way to the U.S. to begin studies this September. The funding covered various urgent needs including university fees shortfalls and personal expenses for Hazel Zengeni – MIT; Rudo Mudzi – Mt. Holyoke College; Tracy Lukwani – Mt. Holyoke College; Desmond Rgwaringesu – Reed College; Elvis Rambanapasi – Quinnipiac College; and Tinashe Mubvuma – Swarthmore College. All six students are previous beneficiaries of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Scholarship fund, a Pan-African scholarship fund to which Econet is the main benefactor.

Leading hotel and leisure group African Sun Limited donated U.S.$7,500 worth of airline tickets for three USAP students to travel to the U.S. The students are Tendai Mudyiwa – Kalamazoo College; Norman Chamusa -- College of Wooster; and Chido Matara -- Berea College.

Ambassador Ray encouraged other corporate interests similarly to contribute to building a better future for Zimbabwe's young people. "It is our hope that through more public-private partnerships like these, Zimbabwe will build a much better future where young people have many education and employment opportunities to choose from. This will take hard work and the private sector must be fully engaged. Through these CSR awards, we are very proud to recognize the dedication of certain companies to create a better future for all the people of Zimbabwe, and especially for young people."

The American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ) is the collective voice of U.S. business and investment in Zimbabwe. It serves as both a forum and representative body for U.S. business and Zimbabwean/American business interests to encourage a better understanding of the role of business in a competitive market system. The 2010 Just Business Forum seeks to make a significant contribution to debate on economic policy in Zimbabwe and the development business-friendly economic policies contributing to economic recovery and growth.

Comments and queries should be addressed to Sharon Hudson-Dean, Public Affairs Officer. E-mail: hararepas@state.gov Tel. +263 4 758800-1, Fax: 758802.