News

The University of Botswana (UB) has entered into a partnership with Sky Cloud (Pty) Ltd for the revitalisation and operation of the UB Conference Centre and Hotel under the internationally recognised Best Western Hotels & Resorts brand.

The partnership, formalised through a lease agreement valued at approximately P4 million, was signed on the 26th of February 2026 between UB and Sky Cloud (Pty) Ltd, which will serve as the local operating partner. Through this arrangement, the facility will be operated under the Best Western franchise with operations scheduled to commence on the 2nd of March 2026.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, UB Acting Vice Chancellor and Chief Operations Officer, Mr Dawid Katzke, described the development as a significant milestone in unlocking the potential of the University’s infrastructure.

“For nearly eight (8) years, this hotel facility has stood dormant, a visible reminder of unrealised potential. Today we restore that potential through a structured and disciplined partnership that repositions this asset under the internationally recognised Best Western brand,” he said.

Mr Katzke noted that the agreement enabled the University to reactivate the hotel without deploying significant upfront capital while ensuring professional management under a globally recognised hospitality brand. He added that the partnership would generate 98 direct employment opportunities and provide a valuable experiential learning platform for students enrolled in the University’s Tourism and Hospitality Management programmes.

“Operating under the Best Western brand will expose our students to international hospitality standards while strengthening the university’s third-stream income and aligning institutional growth with broader economic opportunities,” he said.

Managing Director of Sky Cloud (Pty) Ltd, Mr Bruce Leonard Nkgakile, described the partnership as a major step forward for Botswana’s hospitality industry. He said the collaboration would contribute to skills development by providing young professionals with opportunities to work within an internationally aligned hospitality environment.

“This joint venture will help equip hospitality students with practical industry exposure while positioning Botswana within global hospitality standards,” he said, adding that the initiative would also contribute to national efforts to create employment and strengthen private sector participation in the tourism sector.

ASH Hospitality Management Chief Executive Officer, Mr Charles Van Wyk, explained that the company would manage the hotel’s daily operations on behalf of Sky Cloud (Pty) Ltd.

“As the professional third-party management company, our responsibilities will include overseeing day-to-day operations, financial management, strategy implementation as well as marketing and sales,” he said.

Mr Van Wyk emphasised that adherence to international hospitality standards would guide the hotel’s operations to ensure the facility delivered high-quality services aligned with the expectations of the Best Western brand.

The reopening of the UB Conference Centre and Hotel marks a significant step in revitalising a key university asset while strengthening industry partnerships and expanding experiential learning opportunities for UB students.