A TALK WITH A HOSPITALITY TRAILBLAZER
Hazel Gumpo BUILDING PEOPLE AND DREAMS IN AFRICA’S TOURISM LANDSCAPE
By Louisa Choruma
H
ead Hunting or scouting implies ‘’handpicking” a candidate for the job or selecting that individual with the desired qualities to best fill a role. Usually akin to sport – Hazel Gumpo brought this to Hospitality. Well respected among her peers as the ‘’Queen of the Brand’’ who personally identified employees to occupy gaps in the lodge, her meticulous approach, together with her eye for detail, taste for the finer things and passion for people has led to Hazel Gumpo’s unmatched legacy of as a trailblazer in Zimbabwean hospitality. Having been headhunted by the ‘’Queen’’ myself, I was thrilled to catch up with Ms Hazel Gumpo, after having last seen her over a decade ago, when I worked under her leadership in the prestigious Functions Department of one of Victoria Falls’ top lodges.
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WHERE IT ALL BEGAN FOR HAZEL TO NOW ‘’My love story with hospitality began when from a young age, my father's many international travels brought diverse sets of guests to our doorstep over the years. My siblings and I would assist with the hosting, which I found fascinating and highly enjoyable. It’s safe to say that was when the seed was sown. Over the ensuing years, various other influences, whether in media or the world around me conspired to lead me to my preferred career choice - hospitality, “ recounts Hazel. “I spent a number of years training in Germany, a period during which my gastronomic skills were piqued and honed. Because it is so important to stay current, I researched and followed trends to stay on top of my game,” she adds. Now a seasoned professional with a career spanning 30 years in hotel management and ca-
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