Sunbird to continue promoting music after Sand Festival

Sunbird Tourism Limited has promised to continue supporting music events in fulfilment of its business plan, group marketing manager Daniel Tambala has said.

Tambala told the press in Blantyre recently the hotel chain decided to host the four-day Sand Festival starting at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi tomorrow not only to celebrate Malawian talent but also in line with its strategic plan which promotes music tourism.

With a target of 4 000 people and Lucius Banda as its poster face, the three-year-old fair on the southern shores of Lake Malawi coincided with Wilderness Safaris Malawi (WSM) Moon-Rock Festival slated for Chintheche in Nkhata Bay.

“We have no issues with any festival. The roads are fine and people can go wherever they want. As Sunbird, we have seven hotels [and resorts] and we will give anybody we partner with the best hospitality and services that we are known for,” said Tambala during the unveiling of National Bank of Malawi (NBM) sponsorship.

NBM chief marketing manager Wilkins Mijiga said Sand Festival presents an ideal place for promotion of tourism and Transact Smart mobile banking solutions, including Point of Sale (POS) visa, Mo626 Ice SMS and Banknet platforms.

“Sunbird is one of our major customers. Through the festival, we will be helping them and other clients near Nkopola to grow. We believe the festival must be supported because of its critical role to showcase and market the country’s superb talent and attractions,” said Mijiga.

He said the bank will brand Nkopola as a cash-free zone, giving revellers the ease to buy tickets and do all their transaction on their mobile phones.

The bank was expected to give away 50 Sand Festival tickets and a night for three at Sunbird Nkopola yesterday.

Elsewhere, Moon-Rock will give prominence to the silent giants of Malawian music and benefit WSM’s Children in the Wilderness charity.