PRESIDENTIAL DIAMOND JUBILEE Cresta President Hotel Celebrates 60 Years As A Jewel of Botswana’s Hospitality
In September 2026, the Cresta President Hotel will mark sixty years of existence, a milestone that resonates deeply with Botswana’s own journey as a nation. When it first opened its doors in 1966, the hotel was a modest two‑storey building with just 24 rooms, yet it carried a grand purpose: to host Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the Bechuanaland Protectorate on the eve of independence. That moment placed the hotel firmly in the country’s history, forever linking its story with the birth of modern Botswana. Princess Marina of Kent, who represented the Queen during that visit, also spent a night at the hotel, adding a royal chapter to its legacy and ensuring that the President would always be remembered as a place where history was made, says Mokwena Marulane, Managing Director of Cresta Marakanelo Limited..
The hotel’s location itself tells a story. Nestled between Queen’s Road and Botswana Road, it stands at the symbolic intersection of colonial heritage and national identity. These streets, like the hotel, have witnessed the transformation of Gaborone from a fledgling capital into a thriving city. For decades, the President has been more than a place to sleep; it has been a gathering point for leaders, travelers, and citizens, a witness to conversations that shaped the nation, and a stage for celebrations that marked Botswana’s progress.
General Manager Reginald Hengari has often reflected on the hotel’s significance, noting that while many establishments have changed names over the years, the President has proudly kept its original identity. In his words, “This is the one hotel where Queen Elizabeth slept when she came here. That is history we need to tell our children, so they understand how far we have come as a country.” His sentiment captures the essence of the hotel’s endurance: it is not merely a business, but part of Botswana’s heritage, growing side by side with the nation itself. At 60 years, both the country and the hotel celebrate their shared resilience, their ability to adapt to challenges, and their commitment to progress.
The diamond jubilee celebrations in 2026 will honour this rich past while looking forward to the future. Guests will be invited to relive the hotel’s story through cultural showcases, culinary experiences featuring traditional dishes such as Seswaa and Tswana chicken, and conversations with Botswana’s leaders and cultural figures. The anniversary coincides with Botswana’s own 60th independence celebrations, making the moment doubly significant. Just as the nation has opened itself to the world, so too has the President Hotel, welcoming dignitaries, business travelers, and tourists from across the globe, while remaining a beloved landmark for locals.
From its humble beginnings to its modernized facilities today, the Cresta President Hotel has remained a cornerstone of Botswana’s hospitality industry. It is a place where history sleeps, where heritage is preserved, and where the future is embraced.
As it turns 60, the hotel stands as a living archive of Botswana’s transformation, a reminder that between Queen’s Road and Botswana Road lies not just a building, but a story of a nation and a hotel that have walked hand in hand through six remarkable decades.
