It’s no secret that our staff are one of the top reasons why guests choose Ilala Lodge Hotel as their number one accommodation option in Victoria Falls!
To honour our exceptional team members, every year we hold a Long Service Awards Ceremony at Ilala Lodge Hotel. The ceremony aims to recognize key members of our team and reward them for their unwavering dedication and commitment to our hospitality family.
This year’s lineup includes an impressive 14 individuals who have each played an integral part of the Group’s hospitality success as long-serving loyal staff members. While we are exceptionally proud of each one of our staff members for their attentive service, we have chosen a highlight four of our longest-serving members, one of whom has worked at Ilala Lodge Hotel since its opening in 1991!
Lucky Shoko
POSITION: Barman
YEARS WITH THE COMPANY: 25 years
Lucky began his career at Ilala Lodge Hotel as a kitchen porter, he then transitioned to a stores hand and worked his way up to a stores clerk. From there Lucky moved over to the hotel’s laundry and finally progressed into the Food and Beverage team as a bar hand. With his friendly smile and stories that keep guests well entertained, Lucky progressed to a waiter and then onto the head barman – where you’ll now find him serving up his signature show-off cocktails!
Soja Dube
POSITION: Storeman
YEARS WITH THE COMPANY: 20 years
Soja is passionate about numbers, which makes him perfect for his role in the hotel’s stores department. He takes great pride in his work particularly in completing stocktake tasks and ensuring his recordings are perfectly balanced. Soja loves working within the tourism industry, progressing from a general hand in 2002, to cashier in 2005 and then into his current position as a storeman. Soja hopes to pass on his expertise and experience to his daughter so she too can excel in an industry he so admires.
Berrington Mathe
POSITION: Maître D’
YEARS WITH THE COMPANY: 25 years
Berrington began his career at Ilala in the hotel’s lush gardens as a gardener, he then moved across to become a bar hand which shortly progressed into becoming a restaurant waiter. With his great smile, attentive service and eye for detail, Berrington was promoted to Head Waiter and ultimately became Maître D’- a position he has proudly held for the last 2 years. Berrington’s dream aspirations include owning and managing his own grocery store someday.
Shepherd Mudimba
POSITION: Laundry Hand
YEARS WITH THE COMPANY: 32 years
Shepherd has been with Ilala Lodge Hotel since its opening in 1991 and has only ever wanted to work for one company. His aspirations include building his own house on a residential site here in the heart of Victoria Falls.
Our long-serving staff are an integral part of the hospitality family, congratulations to each of our members on this huge milestone and we thank each of you for your loyalty and unwavering dedication!
