Business Traveler

THE TMC SPACE 

Embracing technology 

SA TOURISM 

Local leisure at its best 

ZIMBABWE 

Clawing its way back 

TRAVELIT 

Simple yet Powerful 

ISSUE 119: SEPTEMBER 2017 

www.businesstravellerafrica.co.za

Thank You 

for Voting for Us 

Best Airline In Africa 

www.ethiopianairlines.com

John Smith 

@ModernBusinessTraveller 

No wonder Silverbirch @ 

Birchwood won a Certificate of 

Excellence from TripAdvisor. 

September 2017 

Silverbirch @ Birchwood has been specially developed for the discerning and 

modern business traveller. 235 beautiful rooms, positioned and designed to 

ensure a comfortable and peaceful night’s rest. Set apart with access control in a 

tranquil part of the Birchwood grounds, far from the conference bustle. 

Express Check-in 

Exclusive Dining Options 

7km from OR Tambo 

Free Wi-Fi* 

Upmarket Meeting Facilities 

Free Shuttle and Airport Waiting Lounge 

To experience your finest business stay, call 011 897 0000 or email reservations@birchwoodhotel.co.za. 

www.birchwoodhotel.co.za

48 

Contents 

64 

58 

59 

18 

Tourvest 

Tourvest Travel Services is a leading integrated travel 

group, with products and services ranging from travel 

management companies through to foreign exchange 

bureaux. Its foray into the travel technology space has 

involved integrating travel arrangements onto a single 

platform by taking industry knowledge and technological 

expertise to create Travelit. The online solution drives 

cost savings, streamlines booking processes, improves 

reporting and provides full visibility of travel spend. 

16 

20 

48 

FEATURES 

TMCs in Africa 

Travel management companies the 

world over have had to change the 

way they do business and re-look 

their models, with technology driving 

this change. As a result, TMCs look 

a lot different to what they looked like 

10 years ago, with a nearly complete 

overhaul of the TMC offering. 

Zimbabwe 

As the country edges closer to its next 

general election, the world speculates 

about Robert Mugabe’s future and the 

possibility of a coalition government 

strong enough to unseat the long-time 

president. Despite rising political tension, 

Zimbabwe is still a fairly straightforward 

business travel destination to visit. 

REGULARS 

04 

06 

16 

17 

Message from the Team 

What’s the editor ranting about now? 

News 

Airline, hotel and other travel news 

from Africa and beyond 

W Hospitality Column 

Managing Director Trevor Ward gives 

us his take on the West African hotel 

industry 

ASATA Column 

The latest from Chief Executive Officer 

Otto de Vries 

58 

60 

62 

64 

Tried and Tested 

Hotel Check 

• Sun Meropa 

Flight Check 

• Virgin Atlantic 

Q & A Interviews 

• Sally George – Singapore Airlines 

• Andy Hedley – Amadeus 

People on the Move 

The movers and shakers – 

what they’re up to now 

Bite with the Editor 

Neil Bald – aha Hotels & Lodges 

Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 3

ED’S LETTER 

Nigeria continues to struggle to bounce back 

from the troubles of the past few years. 

The latest reminder, a report on travel to 

Africa, produced by ForwardKeys, which predicts 

future travel patterns by analysing 17 million 

booking transactions a day. It showed overall double 

digit growth in flight arrivals to Africa for the first 

half of this year and little indication that the pace of 

growth will slow down soon. The wider report makes 

encouraging reading for airlines, governments and 

hoteliers, but not for those with a vested interest in 

Nigeria. 

Looking at Africa’s top ten destination countries, 

there were stand-out performances from Tunisia 

and Egypt, which are recovering from notorious 

terrorist attacks two years ago, up 33.5% and 24.8% 

respectively. In addition, Morocco and Tunisia 

received a huge boost in arrivals from China, up 

450% and 250% respectively, after they relaxed visa 

restrictions. 

Nigeria, though, remains the one disappointment, 

thanks to a 0.8% drop in the wake of the recession in 

2016 caused by a collapse in the oil price to a 13-year 

low. Further to that, if one looks at the scheduled 

capacity for the August-December 2017 period for the 

top ten airports in Africa, in terms of traffic, Lagos is 

the only city showing negative growth. Its domestic 

capacity is down 16% and international, 9%. 

Elsewhere, the picture is a little rosier. 

The report revealed that in the first seven months 

of the year, total international flight arrivals grew by 

14% over the same period in 2016. Most significantly, 

growth was stronger for travel to and from the 

continent than within Africa. Arrivals from Europe, 

which make up 46% of the market, were up 13.2%. 

From the Americas, arrivals were up 17.6%; from the 

Middle East, 14% and from Asia Pacific, 18.4%. By 

comparison, intra-African air travel, which makes up 

26% of the market, was up 12.6%. 

Looking ahead, the picture remains an 

encouraging one, according to the ForwardKeys 

report. 

Bookings for flights to Africa were – as of mid- 

August – 16.8% ahead of where they were on 31 

July, 2016. Bookings from Europe were 17.5% ahead, 

from the Americas 26.6% ahead, from Asia Pacific 

11.5% ahead, from the Middle East 8.2% ahead, and 

bookings for intra-African air travel were 11% ahead. 

All of which makes for great reading for those with 

a vested interest in Africa and the African business 

travel market. 

It’s been a tough few years and challenges remain, 

but reports like the ForwardKeys report are a 

reminder that the overall African picture is a positive 

one with much potential to still realise. 

PUBLISHER 

Richard Lendrum 

EDITOR 

Dylan Rogers 

dylan@thefuture.co.za 

JOURNALIST 

Kate Kennedy 

DESIGN AND LAYOUT 

Nadette Voogd 

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND PRODUCTION 

Mabel Ramafoko 

mabel@thefuture.co.za 

SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICE 

Postal Address: 

PO Box 1746, Saxonwold, 2132 

Physical Address: 

247 Jan Smuts Avenue, Randburg 

Telephone: +27 11 327 6107 

NIGERIAN OFFICE 

3rd Floor, EuniBrown House195, 

Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove,Lagos, Nigeria 

Tel: +234 1 740 3236 

Mobile: +234 803 963 0155 

PUBLISHER – NORTH & WEST AFRICA 

Tope Ogbeni-Awe 

tope.ogbeni-awe@topcommng.com 

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 

Mohammed Abdullahi 

Business Traveller Africa is published under licence from Perry 

Publications Limited. 

Warwick House, 25 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0PP. 

Tel: +44 20 7821 2740 

www.businesstraveller.com 

Dylan Rogers 

Editor 

dylan@thefuture.co.za 

Follow us on: 

4 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za


NEWS 

Radisson Red Coming to Cape Town 

The V&A Waterfront’s newly revamped Silo District, which is shaping up to be a vibrant hive of cultural activity for 

travellers and Cape Town locals alike, is home to Africa’s very first Radisson RED – a unique hotel culture inspired by 

all things art, music and fashion. The hotel is set to shake up the South African hospitality industry with its bold new 

philosophy. The hotel offers an exuberant and unique take on modern hospitality as it embraces freedom, flexibility and 

fun. Radisson RED is inspired by the trends and lifestyle of the millennial, tapping into modern, high-tech travellers. 

In addition to the 252 contemporary rooms and fully equipped gym, the hotel will house four events and games studios 

for up to 90 guests – ideal for hosting meetings and social occasions. Guests are encouraged to use the ping pong tables 

in the events rooms while listening to their favourite tunes on the record player available. Furthermore, guests will be 

able to access super-fast free wi-fi and 24/7 entertainment tech throughout the property. Additional good news for all 

animal-lovers out there is that all animals of eight kilograms or under are welcome to stay at the hotel too. For the more 

chilled guest, the RED Roof is the ideal early-to-late hangout. Celebrating the best views of Table Mountain, this will be 

the spot to sit back and enjoy a local craft beer or take a splash in the pool. While food and drinks can be enjoyed at the 

OUIBar and KTCHN, the resident restaurant and bar, there will also be the option to order in via the RED app for those 

wanting some down time. The Cape Town Radisson RED Hotel follows successful launches in Brussels, Minneapolis and 

Campinas, with Glasgow set to launch soon. 

6 | SEPTEMBER2017 

For more news, visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za

ABTA 

Need some inspiration in your 

role as a Travel Buyer or Supplier? 

Look no further than the African Business Travel Association, 

where you can become part of a well-informed and 

performance-driven Business Travel community. 

Through a variety of ABTA Events and online platforms, 

ABTA Members have access to resources, cutting edge developments 

and peer-to-peer networking. This access to best practice information 

and practical guidance will give you the extra inspiration needed 

to perform at the top of your game and demonstrate true value 

for your organisation. 

ABTA Premium Membership 

R2 900.00 / $215.00 per annum 

- Complimentary attendance to all relevant local ABTA events 

(excl. Conference) 

- Individual Membership Certificate 

- Access to ABTA’s Information Station 

- Reduced rates for Visa processing in partnership with Visa’s & 

Passports Unlimited 

- Complimentary Data on Mobile Roaming device in partnership with ExecMobile 

- Reduced rate on lost luggage tracker with LugLoc 

Sign up online at www.abta.co.za 

More information: +27 11 888 8178

NEWS 

Four-Star Grading for Mayfair Hotel 

The Mayfair Hotel in Umtata (Eastern Cape) has been awarded a four-star grading by South Africa’s Tourism Grading 

Council. This makes the $9.8 million (R130 million) hotel the latest of just a handful of four-star graded establishments 

in the city which, until recently, lacked the accommodation and entertainment facilities which larger centres boast. Billion 

Group began investing in Mthatha two years ago with the development of the first major shopping centre in the region – 

the BT Ngebs City mall. The Mayfair Hotel adjoins the mall, with ground set to break on another first for the region later 

this year: a $11.3 million (R150 million) casino and entertainment complex, complete with state-of-the-art cinemas. The 

hotel boasts 96 rooms, including a luxury three-room penthouse suite, a two-room presidential suite, two executive suites, 

and 88 bed-and-breakfast suites. There are also several well-appointed conference halls. 

Air France Offers VR Entertainment 

In order to surprise its customers and offer them a new form of entertainment, Air France is rolling out a brand new 

immersive entertainment system in partnership with the start-up SkyLights. Customers will be offered a virtual reality 

headset in which films and series are screened in 3D or 2D. The system has been tested on the Paris-Charles de Gaulle 

– St. Martin and St. Martin – Paris-Charles de Gaulle routes. Customers travelling in business class onboard the A340 

operating on this route can now try this new form of in-flight entertainment for themselves. Four headsets will be offered 

on board with a selection of 40 films and series. At the end of this test period, this new system could be rolled out on other 

flights in the months ahead. 



Faircity Hotels 

Welcomes Kievits Kroon 

Kievits Kroon Country Estate and Spa, situated 

in Pretoria to the north of Johannesburg, is now 

part of the Faircity portfolio. Negotiations to buy 

the property began at the end of 2014 and the 

sale was recently finalised. It will take a couple of 

months for the property transfer to be completed, 

so in addition to the purchase agreement, there is 

also a management agreement in place to ensure 

continuity for the transition period. Kievits Kroon 

– a high-end four-star property – will strengthen 

Faircity’s footprint in Pretoria, in terms of 

conferencing, events and functions. Faircity says it 

has big plans for Kievits Kroon, and after a period 

of consolidation, the group will start introducing 

new things to the hotel’s offering. The existing staff 

will be retained. Faircity now operates seven hotels 

in the Gauteng province. 

India Issues Multi-Entry 

Visas for SA 

The High Commission of India in Pretoria has 

announced that the government of India has 

decided to issue multi-entry business visas with 

10-years validity to South African business people 

with immediate effect. The business visa holders 

can continuously stay during each visit to India not 

exceeding 180 days without registration. 

Join the Avis Preferred Loyalty Programme 

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and more time enjoying the benefits of priority 

service, upgrades, free additional driver and 

free weekend rentals* 

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*Terms and conditions apply. Excludes contracted rates. 

For more news, visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za ASEPTEMBER017 | 9

NEWS 

Lufthansa Takes A350 to Hong Kong 

Lufthansa will be offering flights to Hong Kong on the Airbus A350-900 from 12 September. Due to the flight distance – at 

10,000 kilometres – Hong Kong will be served by two aircraft flying alternatively. These will be the fourth and fifth A350- 

900 aircraft due to be delivered to Lufthansa on 12 August and 2 September respectively. The A350’s maiden flight to Hong 

Kong will take off on 12 September at 22h30 and be welcomed for the first time in Hong Kong 11 hours later at 15h35 local 

time on 13 September. The first of 15 A350-900’s arrived in Munich in February. By September, five of these aircraft will 

be taking off from their home base of Munich to fly to Boston, Delhi, Mumbai and Hong Kong. The A350-900 has space 

for 293 passengers – 48 in business class, 21 in premium economy and 224 in economy class. It uses 25% less kerosene, 

produces 25% fewer emissions and is significantly quieter on take-off than comparable types of aircraft. 

Preferred Welcomes 

New Hotels 

Preferred Hotels & Resorts has announced the 

addition of 23 new member hotels and resorts 

across 13 different countries. Highlights of 

the new hotel additions include Hotel MiM 

Sitges in Spain, the Ambassador Chicago 

in the United States, the Cerulean Tower 

Tokyu Hotel in Japan, the Merchants Manor 

Hotel & Spa in the UK and the Iberostar 

Grand Hotel Rose Hall in Jamaica. Travellers 

can access exclusive member rates and earn 

reward points at many of these properties 

through the Preferred Hotels & Resorts iPrefer 

hotel rewards programme. Free to join, the 

programme extends points redeemable towards 

free nights and other on-property expenditures, 

elite status, and other complimentary benefits 

to guests. Bookings can be made online at 

PreferredHotels.com or on the iPrefer mobile 

app, available on Android and iOS. 



Sun 

International 

Unveils New Hotel 

Sun International has opened a new 

hotel at the Sun Meropa complex 

in the city of Polokwane in South 

Africa’s Limpopo province. The group 

invested R76-million ($5.7 million) 

in the project and construction has 

been underway since September 2016. 

The new Sun Meropa Hotel flows 

seamlessly into the casino complex and 

has a Moroccan theme to it, reflected 

in the architecture and aesthetics. 

The hotel boasts 60 rooms, including 

four suites and two luxury suites. Sun 

Meropa is a vibrant entertainment 

hub at the heart of Polokwane. 

The complex features the upmarket 

Harvest Grill & Wine restaurant; the 

contemporary Jembe Tavern which 

hosts regular live entertainment; and a 

well-equipped and versatile conference 

centre. The casino itself boasts 417 

slot machines and 17 tables, including 

classics like Roulette, Blackjack and 

Poker. (See page 58) 

Get straight 

to business 

Same day return flights between 

Cape Town and Pretoria 

If time is money, we can help you spend it wisely. 

Our new weekday 06:45 flight makes travelling to Pretoria’s Wonderboom 

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on www.flyairlink.com 

flyairlink.com @fly_airlink Fly Airlink 


NEWS 

British Airways Invests in First 

British Airways is continuing to invest in other improvements to its first class, including a refresh of its flagship Concorde 

Room at Heathrow Terminal 5, which is to be unveiled in October. The lounge, which is exclusive to First customers, will 

receive an updated look and feel, as well as improvements to the terrace area. Additionally, new Liberty London washbags 

have taken to the skies. The kits feature prints from Liberty’s vintage textile archive. The gentlemen’s washbag features 

Refinery’s revitalising moisturiser, lip balm, deodorant stick and shave gel, as well as a razor, brush and comb, toothbrush, 

toothpaste, eye mask, socks, ear plugs and pen. The ladies’ kit includes Aromatherapy Associates triple rose renewing 

moisturiser, hydrating hand lotion, renewing cleanser and deodorant stick, along with a lip balm, cotton wool pads, 

toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush and pen. 

XL Sandown Travel 

Kopanang BEE 

Accreditation 

XL Sandown Travel Kopanang has confirmed its 

existing Level 1 BEE official SANAS accreditation. 

The accreditation was run on the revised Codes 

of Good Practice. Servicing the corporate travel 

market, the Sandown Travel Group has been in the 

industry for over 45 years in South Africa. It is also a 

founding member of the XL Travel Group and global 

member of ATG international. The XL Sandown 

Travel Kopanang offering covers corporate travel, 

group and MICE specialist services, VIP and travel 

concierge services, travel data management, duty of 

care, online booking tools, and in-house visa and 

forex provision. 



KWAZULU NATAL MIDLANDS 

SLOW XS Launches at 

Lanseria 

Comair Limited has launched SLOW XS, a new 

lounge at Lanseria International Airport to the 

north-west of Johannesburg. SLOW XS is the latest 

addition to the suite of existing SLOW Lounge 

experiences across South Africa. It opened at 

Lanseria’s domestic terminal and will be exclusively 

available to qualifying kulula.com, FNB, RMB 

and Comair Limited VIP guests. The SLOW XS 

concept has been specifically designed to address 

the discerning traveller’s need for dedicated transit 

spaces within smaller airport environments, such 

as Lanseria. The spatial constraints of its present 

location have led to a paring down of certain services, 

such as buffet catering, in-house spa and private 

washroom facilities. Partnering with design agency 

UNKNOWN in developing and realising the lounge 

concept, the notion of scale was extended across a 

range of elements, from a limited edition volume of 

hand-made guest books and sustainability-sensitive 

reusable water bottles to a taster-inspired menu, coldbrewed 

coffee selection and boutique, small-batch 

alcohol labels from micro-distilleries. 

Looking for the ultimate 

multifunctional 

conference destination? 

From high-level board meetings to interactive conferences, the 

Agility Hub at Brahman Hills is the first truly multifunctional venue in 

the KwaZulu Natal Midlands. With a host of other rooms, venues 

and breakaway spaces available on the property, it’s no surprise 

that Brahman Hills is considered the ultimate conference 

destination! 

Conference Venues 

• The Nguni Room seats up to 20 people 

• The Lake House seat seats up to 150 people 

• The Glass House seats up to 400 people 

• The Stables Boardroom seats up to 18 people 

• The Agility Hub seats up to 100 people 

Accommodation 

60 people (single occupancy) 120 people (shared occupancy) 

Accommodation is spread between our hotel rooms and cottages. 

+27(0)33 266 6965 reservations@brahmanhills.co.za 

For more news, visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za www.brahmanhills.co.za Brahman ASEPTEMBER017 Hills | 13

NEWS 

Airlink Starts Using New E190 E-Jets 

Airlink has put one of its three recently-delivered Embraer E190 E-jets into service, using the aircraft on the 

Pietermaritzburg and Bulawayo routes. Airlink’s new flagship aircraft type will slowly be phased in to replace the fleet of 

12 Avro RJ85s currently used on various routes, including Pietermaritzurg and Bulawayo. The E-Jets provide customers 

with additional seat pitch and a business class product that will be introduced on both of these routes. The E-Jets provide 

Airlink with superior operational performance range and efficiency, coupled with an enhanced cabin environment. The 

cabin layout features two plus two seating, with large eye-level windows. Under-seat areas are free of support railings, so 

that passengers can stretch out in greater comfort. The eight rows of economy seats forward of the emergency exit feature 

a 33-inch seat pitch, providing added personal space on longer sectors. Airlink will make use of air-bridges at O.R. Tambo 

International Airport in Johannesburg to facilitate quick and convenient boarding. The E-Jets are configured with six 

business and 92 economy class seats. 

Travelport and Mobacar 

Extend Partnership 

Travelport has extended its partnership with car rental 

and ground transportation technology Mobacar. Building 

on the success of the existing relationship, this longterm 

agreement now makes Mobacar a preferred global 

technology partner. Travelport, in partnership with 

Mobacar, intends to dramatically increase the global car 

rental and ground transportation content available to its 

travel agency customers. With this real-time connectivity to 

hundreds of car rental and ground transportation suppliers, 

Travelport can provide customers with the widest choice 

of relevant car transportation offers. With the Smartpoint 

tool and UAPI or mobile, Travelport-connected agencies 

have a one-stop-shop for their global car supply and 

ground transportation needs. The partnership will help 

car suppliers and travel agencies add a door-to-door driver 

service to the journey. 



Mövenpick Ambassador Launches ‘Kilo of Kindness’ 

Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra in Ghana is one of 46 Mövenpick properties around the world calling on guests and 

residents to donate food, clothing and educational supplies to help local families in need, as it launches the 2017 ‘Kilo 

of Kindness’ charity drive. The global campaign, which marks the UN International Day of Charity on 5 September, will 

see donated items distributed to disadvantaged local communities by each hotel’s charity partner. Guests and visitors are 

invited to drop off at least one kilo of food, clothing and educational supplies in the hotel lobby during the two-week 

campaign, which runs from 1-15 September. They will be donated to Chance for Children, a local charity that looks after 

street children, keeping them safe and providing them with a school education and professional opportunities, with 150 

youngsters currently in its care. To date, more than 60 former street kids have completed school and professional training 

with the support of CFC and are now living independently or have been reintegrated into their families. Although each 

guest is encouraged to donate a ‘Kilo of Kindness’, all contributions are welcome. Educational supplies in demand include 

books, notebooks and stationery such as pens, pencils, rulers, erasers, sharpeners, glue and scissors. Clothing donations 

will be well received too, as well as canned and dried (non-perishable) foods such as rice, beans, oats, pasta, cereals, flour 

and powdered milk. 

BACK TO BUSINESS 

IT’S OUR BUSINESS TO ENSURE YOU HAVE 

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BON Hotel Abuja, Maitama 

BON Hotel Stratton Asokoro, Abuja 

BON Hotel Grand Pela, Abuja 

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Protea Hotel Ikeja operated by 

BON Hotels, Lagos 

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For more news, visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za ASEPTEMBER017 | 15

COMMENT 

An Eye on 

West Africa 

Trevor Ward 

MD: W Hospitality 

Group 

There is no doubt that 

the arrival of so-called 

disruptive business 

models like Uber and Airbnb has 

generated more heated discussions 

on government regulation, ethics 

and the limits of free enterprise 

than any business model in 

history. Not surprising, as these 

business models question the very 

foundations of commerce as we 

have always experienced it. Well… 

as we have always experienced it… 

that’s probably a very subjective 

statement given that we evolved 

from trading by barter to the 

use of standardised, universallyaccepted 

currency, a change which 

must have been quite disruptive in 

its days. 

So what exactly is disruptive 

about renting an apartment in 

Arequito, Bansko or Calapan, 

anyway? I’ll wager my $10 that 

you’d be hard pressed even to find 

these cities on a map. But that’s 

the point. From a consumer’s 

perspective, perhaps a disruptive 

business model is what is needed 

to find flexible, convenient and 

affordable accommodation in a 

little corner of the world. That’s 

the whole idea. Airbnb, quite 

simply, is a means for homeowners 

to connect with bargain seekers 

for short stay accommodation. 

The statistics bear witness to the 

fact that more and more people 

are buying into the idea. Airbnb 

currently operates in 191 countries 

(heck, there are only 196) with in 

excess of 200 million users to date. 

That’s roughly the population of 

Brazil! 

And where does Africa feature 

in all of this? There are an 

estimated 77,000 property listings 

in Africa, according to Airbnb 

CEO Brian Chesky. With around 

17 countries in Africa operating 

on the Airbnb platform, South 

Africa is by far the largest market, 

where the concept has had a 

presence since 2015. Today the 

list of African locations includes a 

host of cities in Kenya, Morocco, 

Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, 

Namibia, Rwanda…and yes, even 

Somalia. Talk about expanding a 

global brand into the unknown – 

as many people refer to business 

in Africa. 

If South Africa is the key 

player, what do the numbers say 

about the West African region? 

Well, there are an estimated 

2,600 properties listed in the 

sub-region, with new ones added 

on a daily basis. When you look 

at W Hospitality Group’s 2017 

dataset of rooms in the hotel chain 

development pipeline in West 

Africa, it stands at a little over 

20,000. Working the maths, that 

means that the since the launch of 

Airbnb on the continent in 2015, 

the platform has grown to be over 

10% of the planned hotel rooms. 

If the number of listings continues 

to rise as is predicted, then in the 

next two years Airbnb could be 

a significant competitor for the 

traditional hotel sector. 

There are questions about how 

sustainable this model is, but 

also several reasons why Airbnb 

will continue to work in Africa. 

The opportunity for homeowners, 

up-and-coming entrepreneurs, 

to share easily in the economic 

benefits of a global brand by 

offering their apartments is one, 

bringing income direct to the 

individual. Nigeria, for instance, 

has one of the youngest techsavvy 

demographics in the world, 

and can readily take advantage of 

an online business platform such 

as Airbnb. Secondly, adventure 

seekers can have a real feel of 

what life is like in Africa at 

the grass roots, living ‘just like 

the locals’. And not every city 

has a hotel that appeals to the 

international traveller, so with 

Airbnb visitors have access to 

secure and trusted accommodation 

almost wherever they choose to 

travel. Nicola D’Elia, Airbnb’s 

Regional Manager for Africa and 

Middle East comments: "We want 

to bring tourists to parts of the 

continent that aren't covered by 

traditional accommodations — 

only places where you could stay 

in other people's homes". 

The highly successful model 

of sharing one’s personal space 

with virtual strangers can raise 

issues, at least in more developed 

countries. In an age when terror 

attacks are frequent, communities 

which now find themselves 

hosting strangers, who have no 

ties nor accountability to those 

communities, express concerns 

relating to the safety and security 

of their permanent residents. 

This is, of course, not only an 

African issue – the Department 

of Business Affairs and Consumer 

Protection in Chicago recently 

announced plans to register 

Airbnb hosts, with penalties for 

non-compliance. 

Opposition from governments 

has been rising over the years, 

as the number of Airbnb listings 

increases. Evidence of this was 

clearly shown recently with new 

legislation passed in New York 

protecting local housing, a move 

which is set to redefine the very 

business model on which Airbnb 

is built. The main reason for the 

Nee York law was the misuse of 

Airbnb by commercial landlords, 

and the loss of badly-needed 

residential space in the city centre. 

Such regulation has been seen 

in other cities such as Berlin and 

even San Francisco, the home of 

Airbnb. 

And the hotel sector complains 

about the entry into the market of 

accommodation providers who are 

not regulated, encounter very few 

barriers to entry, and are largely 

untaxed. 

Whilst Airbnb claims to be 

increasing its penetration of 

the corporate market, its real 

role in Africa is to expand the 

reach of product available to 

the leisure market. Sadly, many 

traditional hotels which are ‘off 

the beaten track’ in West Africa 

are sometimes unappealing even 

to the hardy backpacker, and the 

home stay, with an endorsement 

from Airbnb, has the potential to 

readily fill that gap, without the 

capital investment required to 

build a new hotel. C 

www.w-hospitalitygroup.com 


COMMENT 

Does South Africa need its own 

‘travel warnings’? 

The recent release of Stephen 

McGowan has prompted 

security experts to call upon 

the government to do more to warn 

South Africans about the dangers 

when travelling abroad. 

Terrorism expert Jasmine 

Opperman told Business Day she 

believes the government should 

be issuing travel warnings and 

advisories to South Africans 

travelling to countries such as Mali 

and Somalia. Ryan Cummings‚ 

Director at Signal Risk‚ agreed 

with Opperman‚ saying the South 

African government should be 

providing information to citizens 

about "where it is safe to travel 

and where it isn’t". However, 

the Department of International 

Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) 

says South Africa doesn’t have a 

policy to issue travel warnings to 

fellow African countries. 

Although the government 

might not have a policy in place 

to issue travel warnings, travel 

consultants and TMCs associated 

with the Association of Southern 

African Travel Agents have a duty 

to divulge information about 

‘dangerous’ destinations as well 

as unusual threats to their clients. 

Your peace of mind when travelling 

is a top priority for any ASATAaccredited 

travel consultant. That 

is why they will make sure they 

disclose any red flags or warnings 

about a destination, including 

terror threats and tropical diseases. 

Business travel has grown 

significantly over the last decade 

with businesses sending employees 

to a wider range of territories 

including high risk or extreme risk 

regions. In these cases, your travel 

consultant will be able to update 

you on the latest security measures 

and highlight risks. However, the 

truth is that today even the most 

low-risk destinations can become 

high-risk in a matter of just a 

couple of hours. 

When disaster strikes in what is 

considered a ‘low risk’ destination, 

it is a huge relief for the traveller 

to know that their ASATA travel 

consultant is available to assist 

with advice and solutions. The 

modern 21st century travel agent 

has the right expertise and will 

endeavour to resolve travel issues 

if they arise, including making 

alternative travel arrangements, 

or at least provide the traveller 

with useful information to manage 

travel issues and reduce the 

travellers’ levels of uncertainty and 

feelings of helplessness. 

So, although travel warnings are 

invaluable for business travellers, 

what’s more important still, is to 

have a true travel professional at 

their side at all times. C 

Otto de Vries 

ASATA CEO 

Walkersons Hotel & Spa has captivated visitors to Dullstroom 

for more than twenty years – the stunning views, the wellstocked 

trout dams, the spa, accommodation with all the 

modern comforts and fine country dining, make Walkersons a 

charming and memorable destination. 

This haven of serenity in Mpumalanga, with elegant dining 

rooms, a gorgeous terrace, the cosy Peggy’s Bar and lovely 

lawns leading to the hidden swimming pool and a stylish, old 

world country atmosphere, has the perfect balance of proximity 

and distance (both Johannesburg and Pretoria being three 

hours away), making it an ideal location to hold a conference. 

The hotel has two dedicated conference venues available for 

use, with the Walker Room able to accommodate a capacity 

of up to 100 delegates. Alternatively, retreat to the seclusion of 

the Tapestry Room for a more private and exclusive meeting. 

Day and overnight special packages are available. 

Tel: 013 253 7000 • Email: reservations@walkersons.co.za 

• Web: www.walkersons.co.za 


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FEATURE – TMCs 

Embracing 

Technology 

The traditional travel management company model has had to evolve, 

largely due to the technological advancement that has changed our lives 

and changed the way people book and engage in travel. 




It’s a different world out there. 

The times are changing 

and they are changing 

quickly. Technology dominates 

our lives and it’s technology that 

is ever evolving, with increased 

information at our fingertips 

and trends changing all the 

time. Throw in some economic 

uncertainty and increased 

competition, and you have a 

challenging environment in which 

to operate. 

That applies to just about 

every industry, but what does 

it mean for the travel industry, 

and specifically those in travel 

management? 

Well, quite simply, the role of 

a travel manager has become 

increasingly complex. The influx 

of online travel agencies and 

platforms has meant that more 

and more consumers are opting to 

be their own travel manager. 

The demands of the corporate 

traveller are becoming more 

challenging too. Budgets have 

contracted, yet the travel needs of 

businesses have largely remained 

the same. In fact, many travel 

managers believe the cost of travel 

is actually increasing. 

So, where does that leave the 

travel management company? 

“Defining our value as travel 

professionals is perhaps the 

biggest challenge facing TMCs 

today,” says Euan McNeil, 

General Manager of FCM Travel 

Solutions, part of the Flight 

Centre group in South Africa. 

“Corporate travel agents were 

in the past transactional and 

earned their revenue based on the 

transactions they performed on 

behalf of the client – booking a 

flight or hotel, changing the date 

of a ticket etc. With the advent of 

travel technology, customers have 

become empowered (although not 

necessary inclined) to conclude 

some of these transactions 

themselves. The result is that the 

transactional part of the job of 

travel agent has been eroded, and 

the requirement by customers is 

thus a more consultative approach. 

Herein lies the challenge, as TMCs 

work to define and communicate 

effectively the consultative value 

they bring to the end customer 

and determine what to charge for 

that value.” 

McNeil touches on the essence 

of the thread that will be explored 

throughout this piece, as there 

is no doubt that technological 

advancement has had the greatest 

impact on the role that TMCs now 

play, as it relates to their clients. 

“Every TMC is currently under 

“ Defining our value as 

travel professionals is 

perhaps the biggest challenge 

facing TMCs today. ” 

pressure to showcase their 

value to clients due to enhanced 

technology available in the 

market,” says Yasmeen Khan, 

Head: Business Development, 

Corporate at Wings Travel. “This 

requires a consistent approach in 

terms of managing the clients’ 

travel spend and demonstrating 

in various ways the true value of 

our partnership.” 

“Our challenges are the same 

as most TMCs,” says Bronwyn 

Humphries, Marketing Co- 

Ordinator, Harvey World Travel 

Franchise Support Team. “This 

would be new competitors in 

the market as well as online 

travel agents. There’s also a 

definite shift to online tools for 

corporate clients, with corporates 

more likely to book their own 

‘bleisure’ trips, for example, 

along with cutting their costs.” 


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TECHNOLOGY 

“Corporate travel is finally 

starting to learn lessons from the 

consumer travel space, mostly 

because business travellers have 

been trained by their leisure travel 

to expect robust booking tools 

and more control over their trips,” 

says Andrew Sheivachman, Senior 

Writer at Skift, an intelligence 

platform providing media, insights 

and marketing to key sectors of 

travel. “The travel management 

companies that focus the most on 

improving their traveller-facing 

technology will win this battle, 

and improve their clients’ travel 

experience in the process.” 

So, what are TMCs doing to 

stay ahead of the game and 

remain relevant? Specifically, what 

technology and services are they 

developing to remain of value to 

their clients? One way is to go the 

‘whole hog’ and develop your own 

tech. 

“At Tourvest Travel Services we 

have developed our own online 

travel management solution 

called Travelit (see page 18), which 

was developed not just with the 

customer in mind, but also the 

travel consultant,” says Claude 

Vankeirsbilck, Chief Sales & 

Marketing Officer. “This means 

our travel consultants work on 

the same technology platform 

as our clients, offering full 

transparency and a more efficient 

service delivery process. There are 

weekly product enhancements and 

developments driven by our own 

developmental team. This allows 

TTS to be more competitive, more 

efficient in service delivery, and 

ultimately offer more value to 

our customers, as our technology 

solution adds value to the 

customer’s bottom line.” 

That’s the key, isn’t it? 

Adding value by recognising 

the complementary relationship 

between the TMC and the 

technology. It seems almost 

obvious to say that those TMCs 

who view technology as a threat 

are dead in the water. It’s all 

about embracing the tech out 

there, identifying which tech 

complements the TMC’s existing 

offering, and then rolling it out in 

a way that provides the customer 

with that value and ultimately 

strengthens the supplier-customer 

relationship. 

“One of the biggest challenges 

is the accessibility that a traveller 

now has to a range of pricing 

across various consolidator 

websites etc,” says Khan. “In 

order to be ahead of the game, 

Wings Travel Management has 

developed its own proprietary 

technology in order to integrate 

such developments outside of 

our normal reservations system, 

thereby enhancing content and 

ensuring that we offer the best 

price to our customers.” 

The Wings model is slightly 

different from other TMC 

models in that the group favours 

wholly-owned global offices over 

franchise agreements, but the 

benefits of that model extend into 

the tech space. 

“Our Wings ® globallyowned 

offices allow us to truly 

standardise our sales platforms 

across the globe by giving our 

“ Business travellers have 

been trained by their leisure 

travel to expect robust 

booking tools and more 

control over their trips. ” 


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clients consistent and reliable 

data, and offering them access 

to all our proprietary products,” 

says Khan. “Wings ® boasts a 

reporting tool which is accessible 

via URL and includes live data 

with many enhanced features, 

offering clients a snapshot view of 

their travel spend, travel patterns 

and detailed insights into traveller 

behaviour, allowing a proactive 

approach in terms of managing 

their spend.” 

Another area where Wings has 

focused its technological efforts 

is the increasingly important duty 

of care space. It recently launched 

goSecure, a risk management 

solution for their clientele 

that allows them to track and 

communicate directly with their 

travellers via a mobile application, 

coupled with the Wings24 

emergency contact centre, which 

manages risk and traveller safety 

on behalf of Wings’ clients. 

For McNeil, the technology 

has to be complementary, and he 

believes a lot more thought needs 

to be given to this area before 

a TMC rolls out the latest tech. 

Specifically, he believes there 

almost needs to be a ‘division 

of labour’ between what the 

technology can offer and what 

the TMC and its staff are best 

equipped to focus on. 

“To remain relevant and 

viable, it is essential that we use 

technology to drive automation 

and improve service for our 

mutual benefit,” he says. “Noncomplex 

bookings should be 

automated, freeing up skilled 

travel professionals to focus on 

areas in which they can truly add 

value beyond the transaction, 

for example in the areas of data 

analysis, duty of care and supplier 

negotiations.” 

To this end, FCM has developed 

a chatbot (see sidebar) in the 

United States. It’s called ‘Sam’ and 

promises the expertise of a skilled 

FCM consultant available at all 

times: pre, during, and post-trip. 

Sam is a travel-savvy chatbot 

that can assist with all aspects of 

travel – itineraries, gate changes, 

driving directions, weather, 

restaurant recommendations and 

reservations. There’s also ‘call or 

SMS my consultant’ functionality, 

which gives travellers access to a 

live FCM consultant 24 hours a 

day for live assistance on the go. 

“Every travel programme should 

have technology that clearly 

focuses on improving the traveller, 

travel booker and travel manager's 

experience,” says McNeil. “That’s 

whether it be by improving the 

booking experience through 

mobile apps, improving security 

through better duty of care tools, 

or maximising spend visibility 

through enhanced data analytics. 

As we look to the future, the 

discussion around artificial 

intelligence (chat bots, virtual 

assistants, etc.) is beginning 

to become common-place 

internationally – once again to 

fulfil a certain type of transaction 

through technology. This in 

turn helps to improve the level 

of efficiency for our clients, but 

also help to enhance the TMC’s 

ability to leverage their expertise 

and personalise the customer’s 

experience through technology.” 

While it’s interesting that FCM 

has delved into the chatbot space 

with Sam, Humphries of Harvey 

World Travel makes a telling 

observation regarding the uptake 

of technology, as it relates to this 

group’s clients. 

“ Every travel programme 

should have technology 

that clearly focuses on 

improving the traveller, 

travel booker and travel 

manager's experience. ” 


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ABTA SURVEY 

Almost 60% of corporates say TMCs 

are ‘good to great’ at helping them 

manage compliance within their travel 

policy, according to a recent study 

conducted by FCM Travel Solutions 

and the African Business Travel 

Association (ABTA) among travel buyers 

in South Africa. 

Over 80% of South African corporates 

polled in the study indicated that their 

employees rarely or only occasionally 

booked out of policy and that in most 

cases, this non-compliance was from 

senior management. 

Achieving compliance at a time 

when corporate travel is becoming 

increasingly consumerised requires a 

more flexible approach, according to 

ABTA founder Monique Swart. 

“Business travellers are demanding 

personalisation and relying on the same 

tools they use and travel experiences 

they have in their personal lives,” 

she says. “The indication, thus, that 

over 70% of surveyed corporates’ 

policies are strict or rigid should raise 

concerns.” 

“The survey also indicated that only 

30% of corporates actually consider 

and cater to the needs of their 

business travellers regularly and more 

than half were not concerned about 

the negative impacts of business travel 

on their travelling staff and trying to 

mitigate these. Traveller friction has an 

impact not only on the staff member, 

but also their ability to perform to 

achieve company goals.” 

Among those most-cited areas of 

anxiety for South African business 

travellers were flight delays, missed 

flights and perceived poor service from 

airlines and hotels. Corporates that 

are aware of the impact of traveller 

friction say they are looking at ways in 

which to mitigate the effects, including 

limiting travel where possible and 

introducing traveller-centric policies, 

including ‘bleisure’ and wellness 

programmes. 

The study further showed that among 

those most desired ancillaries by 

business travellers in South Africa 

are seat selection, access to airport 

lounges and good service, with onboard 

entertainment and on-board wi-fi 

being the least-demanded ancillaries. 

From a sharing economy perspective, 

almost 90% of business travellers are 

using Uber and Airbnb for business 

travel purposes, according to the study. 

As many as 40% are doing so without 

the permission or endorsement of their 

companies. 

Technology in the corporate travel 

space is clearly important to South 

African companies. 

“The survey found that over 65% 

of corporates like to use all the 

technology that is relevant to them,” 

says Swart. “There is a cost associated 

with this, however, and with cost 

savings being one of the key objectives 

of a company’s travel programme, 

technology should be used to help with 

cost cutting efforts.” 

“We offer our own in-house 

corporate booking tool for clients 

who require this,” she says. 

“However, interestingly, in recent 

months we have seen a shift in 

business from online travel agents 

back to the traditional Harvey 

World Travel Stores.” 

So, whilst technology obviously 

has a huge role to play in travel 

management going forward, there 

are going to be instances where 

travel managers and/or travellers 

will defer to the consultant for 

that human touch. How the two 

elements co-exist is explored 

further in the chatbot sidebar. 

PRESSURE ON FEES 

Of course, the threat of, or greater 

influence of, technology is not 

the only challenge facing travel 

management companies. 

Spend is down in the corporate 

space and TMCs are having 

to fight hard to justify their 

fees. Again, as is the case with 

technology, these TMCs are under 

pressure to ‘show value’ and prove 

their worth. 

“We do find an extraordinary 

amount of focus on a cost that 

equates to less than 8% of the 

overall total costs of a corporate 

travel programme,” says 

Vankeirsbilck. “Our focus as TTS 

is to find value opportunity where 

we actively encourage clients to 

focus their attention on the overall 

cost of their travel programme, 

rather than just the service fees, 

by focusing on travel policy 

adherence, traveller behaviour, 

travel supplier consolidation, and 

technology solutions, which will 

achieve far greater savings on 

their total cost of travel rather 

than saving a relatively small 

amount on service fees. It is 

imperative for a TMC to add value 

to a client’s total cost of travel 

programme, and this is where the 

true value is derived.” 

McNeil agrees that the 

discussion needs to move away 

from the transaction fee. 

“In the current economic 

environment, procurement 

departments are under pressure 

to drive cost savings, and one 

of the easiest targets within the 

travel procurement space is the 


Engage 

travellers 

with options that work 

for them and for your 

company. 

To learn more about how BCD Travel can help you and your organization’s 

travel programme, contact us at sales@bcdtravel.co.za or on +27 11 274-4000 

or visit www.bcdtravel.com 

Copyright © 2017 BCD Travel. Unauthorized reproduction strictly prohibited.


transaction fee,” he says. “While 

TMCs could add great value in 

helping procurement departments 

derive savings within their 

travel programme by proactively 

managing their travel spend, 

the knee-jerk requirement to cut 

costs sees corporates appointing 

TMCs based on the cost of the 

transaction fee and the result then 

is a zero-sum game where TMCs 

are introducing unsustainable 

pricing levels just to stay in the 

game. Standard annual increases 

are becoming harder to pass in 

an environment where customer 

expectations from their TMCs are 

increasing: better service, more 

expertise and technology. We are 

increasingly seeing customers 

wanting commission and override 

payments without any expectation 

that their TMC’s service 

fees would have to increase 

commensurately.” 

Ole Mortensen is a partner in 

AMM Consulting in Denmark, and 

he believes that fee structures need 

to change, if TMCs “want to regain 

some of the power they’ve lost.” 

TRAVEL BOTS 

FCM has its own travel bot called Sam, an “itinerary 

management tool on steroids”, according to Euan McNeil, 

FCM GM for South Africa. Sam has been released in the 

USA and is expected to be launched early in 2018 in South 

Africa. 

McNeil believes Sam will be how most business travellers 

interact with their travel programme in the future and 

explains that corporate travellers can book a car and hotel 

themselves and complete the booking without having to 

work with a consultant. 

Travel policy will also not be a problem for Sam. 

“We will have a generic policy based on best practice in 

the market,” says McNeil. “Then, if customers want to take 

their full travel policy and load that into Sam, there will be 

a level of commercial uplift.” 

Ben Lamm, CEO of Conversable, agrees that if successfully 

integrated with a company’s travel policy, bots will be able 

to match the user’s preferences and information with the 

businesses’ requirements around travel. 

“To keep track of all travel, most policies require that 

travel is booked through a specific company or channel,” 

he says. “Because bots serve as a single access point for 

multiple sources of information, travellers will be able to 

access more options from more places, giving them more 

flexibility within the framework of the travel policy.” 

So, is there a ‘shared’ future for TMCs and travel bots? 

“Travel bots, such as Sam, have been developed to provide 

an additional interface for travellers, which will complement 

but never replace the skills and insights of the TMC,” says 

McNeil. “The travel expert will always have a key role to 

play when it comes to managing business travel for large 

corporations as well as SMEs.” 

According to Norm Rose, President of Travel Tech 

Consulting, travel chatbots could also be deployed to 

handle redundant questions such as policy questions, 

baggage fees, customer support, and limited booking 

capabilities. 

“Progressive TMCs could use chatbots to reduce call 

volumes by answering simple questions about policy or 

travel options,” he says. 

With smartphone adoption nearing 100% and considering 

that an average business traveller checks their smartphone 

34 times a day, it’s not difficult to understand the 

popularity and attraction a mobile or virtual assistant holds. 

The nearly ubiquitous adoption of smartphones by the 

modern business traveller, says Lamm, means that a digital 

solution to travel needs is now a business imperative for 

the corporate travel industry. 

The travel bot is the perfect technological answer to 

address the business traveller’s need and desire to manage 

their trip on their own, and give them much-needed 

freedom within framework. TMCs can make use of bots to 

improve their service to travellers in a format the travellers 

desire in a cost-effective way. 

“If corporations are going to succeed in winning over the 

largest generation in the world today and improve retention 

rates within a group that is notorious for changing paths 

quickly, building in freedom within framework will certainly 

be a company imperative,” says Lamm. 


According to Mortensen, 

that ‘power’ has decreased 

substantially because: 

- The internet suddenly made 

the opaque airfare structure 

transparent 

- Customers insisted on working 

with transparency, showing 

and selling net fares 

- Online booking engines 

enabled the traveller control 

over their booking 

- Metasearch engines increased 

transparency 

- Low-cost carriers launched 

new business models 

“It has become clear that the 

business model needs to change 

to benefit not only the TMC but 

also the airlines, other vendors 

and the travel managers,” says 

Mortensen. 

“I still strongly believe in 

making a retail multi-source 

structure where customers are 

forced to compare total price, as 

it will benefit the travel managers 

and suppliers in the long run. 

Travel managers will have a 

harder time considering and 

identifying the right supplier and 

evaluating their offerings and 

differential advantages. However, 

competition will force TMCs 

to develop more products and 

services.” 

In closing, what Mortensen 

suggests is the following, in terms 

of “future pricing models”: 

- Subscriptions based on the 

hours a travel manager/ 

company may need for a TMC 

- Consulting, including 

management information and 

other soft services, at hourly 

pricing 

- If the TMC offers duty of 

care, a subscription based on 

number of travellers 

- Vendor negotiation per hour 

- Concierge arranging VIP 

and group travel charges 

reasonable fee structure 

ensuring profit for the vendor 

“Many other services have a 

similar structure and while it will 

move focus away from bookings, it 

will start a much-needed change 

for the industry,” he says. 

Food for thought. 

CONCLUSION 

All of this adds up to a 

challenging environment for TMCs 

and a difficult one in which to 

prosper. 

As always, those that survive 

and indeed are successful, are 

going to be those that embrace the 

change that technology offers, use 

it to their advantage, and integrate 

it in such a way as to remain 

relevant and of value to their 

customers. 

That will be key to the TMC 

success of the future. C 

MEASURING 

PROGRESS, 

EXPANDING 

OPPORTUNITIES. 

Copyright © 2015 CWT 

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LEVEL 1 B-BBEE CERTIFICATION

‘Local Leisure at its Best’ 

campaign shows business 

travellers the benefits of 

taking a relaxing sho’t left 

southafrica.net 

asata.co.za 


SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM PROMOTION 

South Africa is a beautiful and multi-faceted country. The sun shines almost all year 

round. The beaches, mountains, bushveld, large cities and small towns across all nine 

provinces offer unforgettable experiences, and of course, South Africans are friendly and 

warm people. Travelling around and exploring our country is the perfect antidote to our 

everyday workplace and personal stresses, yet nowhere near enough South Africans take 

the time to enjoy a sho’t left (a short leisure trip or getaway). 

This is exactly what the 

‘Local Leisure at its 

Best’ project is all about: 

helping to entrench a 

culture of holiday travel by adding 

a rejuvenating leisure component 

to business trips. 

Spearheaded by South African 

Tourism and the Association of 

Southern African Travel Agents 

(ASATA), the campaign aims 

to show corporates the benefits 

of extending their employees’ 

business trips to include a few 

days of leisure experiences by 

putting the rejuvenation back 

into business travel through a 

selection of affordable tailored 

travel deals. 

“The health and wellness 

benefits of leisure travel are well 

documented,” says Sthembiso 

Dlamini, Chief Operating Officer 

at South African Tourism. 

“People who are encouraged 

to take time out to enrich 

themselves with holidays – even 

short weekend trips – tend to 

be more relaxed, motivated and 

productive employees. They are 

less likely to be stressed and more 

likely to stay in the company’s 

employ, as they feel valued and 

incentivised.” 

She says that business travel 

offers the ideal opportunity for 

corporates to reward employees 

in a cost-effective manner, by 

combining business travel with 

holiday add-ons. 

The campaign started with a 

process to upskill more than 50 

travel consultants to sell domestic 

business-to-leisure travel. 

“Equipping these agents, who 

traditionally deal with business 

travel, with the skills to sell leisure 

travel add-ons is immensely 

beneficial to their business as 

well as enhancing their business 

offering,” says Dlamini. 

The pilot phase of the ‘Local 

Leisure at its Best’ project was 

rolled out in Gauteng in the 

second half of 2016, and was 

so successful that it has now 

been extended to the rest of 

the country, with dozens of 

activations taking place at various 

companies between February and 

December this year. 

“We are very pleased with 

the success of this campaign 

so far,” says Dlamini. “It has 

already surpassed its target 

of reaching 10,000 potential 

business-to-leisure travellers. By 

the end of July, we had already 

completed 16 on-site activations 

at corporates, reaching more than 

13,000 prospective travellers and 

generating close to 100 enquiries. 

Another 16 activations have been 

secured for the remaining five 

months of the campaign, and 

there are over 40 customers in the 

pipeline.” 

The campaign ties in with 

South African Tourism’s new ‘5 in 

5’ strategy to attract five million 

tourists (four million additional 

international and one million 

more domestic) in the next five 

years. 

Dlamini expressed confidence 

that through this partnership and 

working with top corporates in 

various industries, including the 

banking, telecommunications and 

government sectors, more South 

Africans will get the opportunity 

to take a sho’t left and enjoy 

the country’s abundance of 

attractions. 

“ We are very pleased with 

the success of this campaign so 

far. It has already surpassed 

its target of reaching 10,000 

potential business-to-leisure 

travellers. By the end of July, 

we had already completed 

16 on-site activations at 

corporates, reaching more 

than 13,000 prospective 

travellers and generating close 

to 100 enquiries. Another 

16 activations have been 

secured for the remaining 

five months of the campaign, 

and there are over 40 

customers in the pipeline. ” 

September is Tourism Month in South Africa, 

making it the perfect time to get out and explore the 

country. It overlaps with International Tourism Day 

on 27 September, when the whole world highlights 

the value of social, cultural, political and economic 

tourism. 

The timing of World Tourism Day comes at the end 

of the northern hemisphere’s high season and the 

beginning of the season in the southern hemisphere, 

when tourism is on the minds of millions of people 

worldwide. 


Eastern Cape 

South Africa’s ‘wild’ province, the Eastern Cape features expanses of untouched beach, bush and forest. This was Nelson 

Mandela’s home province, and is an area with some enticing attractions – among them the Addo Elephant National Park, 

with the densest elephant population in the world; the dramatic Wild Coast; and, of course, Mandela’s home at Qunu. 

WILD COAST 

Tap your inner explorer and head to the Wild Coast, 

so named for its rugged natural beauty and myriad of 

adrenaline-filled adventures. From fishing expeditions and 

horseback rides, to hiking and 4x4 trails, the Wild Coast is 

an unspoiled natural treasure. The Wild Coast is also known 

for its shipwrecks, a legacy of its wild and tempestuous 

nature. Water activities like snorkelling and diving provide 

a spectacular view of the world beneath the waves while 

spotting lost treasure and other relics from shipwrecks. 

HOGSBACK 

Named after three distant ridges of the Amathole range 

of mountains that resemble the back outlines of running 

wild pigs, the little town of Hogsback has become an 

arts and crafts colony, a photographer’s picture perfect 

setting, a nature lover’s haunt and romance personified for 

honeymooners. 

PORT ELIZABETH 

With stunning beaches, interesting museums and memorials, 

award-winning wildlife destinations, it’s easy to see why 

Port Elizabeth is home to South Africa’s friendliest folk! 

This coastal hub has a range of mesmerising cultural and 

historical experiences that are worth exploring, including the 

Red Location Museum, the Donkin Reserve and the Nelson 

Mandela Metropolitan Museum. 

ADDO ELEPHANT PARK 

The 2,500 hectare Addo Elephant Park near Port Elizabeth 

is rated as one of the best places in Africa to see elephants 

up close. It is also South Africa’s third-largest reserve, 

encompassing five of South Africa’s nine biomes, with an 

enormous diversity of species and vegetation. The park is 

also home to buffalo, lion, leopard and rhino, and in the 

marine section you will find great white sharks and southern 

white whales, which means that South Africa’s Addo is one 

of the few reserves in the world that can boast having the 

Big Seven! 

NELSON MANDELA 

To give a true overview of Nelson Mandela in all phases of 

his life, from his youth in Qunu to his role as statesman, 

the Nelson Mandela Museum built in his honour comprises 

three separate structures: the Bhunga Building in Mthatha, 

accommodates an exhibition tracing Nelson Mandela’s 

journey, as told in his own words, and narrated in part from 

his acclaimed biography A Long Walk to Freedom; the Qunu 

component and an open-air museum at Mvezo where Madiba 

was born. 


Gauteng 

Be a GeePee and enjoy South Africa’s smallest province, an urban playground with large shopping malls, bars, hotels, 

casinos, and a vibrant cultural and entertainment scene. For heritage buffs, there are a myriad of attractions of historical 

interest that tell the story of the country’s emerging democracy. 

THE CRADLE OF HUMANKIND 

The Cradle of Humankind, one of eight World Heritage sites 

in South Africa, and the only one in Gauteng, is touted as 

the place where humankind originated. The area boasts 13 

excavation sites that are recognised as national heritage 

sites. For those wanting to experience the birthplace of 

humankind first-hand, the official visitor centres for the 

Cradle of Humankind, Maropeng and the Sterkfontein 

Caves, are within an easy hour’s drive from Johannesburg. 

Maropeng is a world-class exhibition centre that focuses on 

the development of humans and our ancestors over the past 

few million years. 

CULLINAN 

The attractive little village of Cullinan, about a 30-minute 

drive east of Pretoria, was a pioneering mining settlement 

that made its name with the discovery in 1905 of the 

world’s biggest diamond, the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond. 

Highlights in Cullinan include rides on the vintage steam 

train, Dinokeng’s Big Five reserve, adrenalin-filled activities 

at the adventure zone and the opportunity to learn about the 

area’s mining heritage. 

SHOPPING 

Gauteng is a shopping mecca. From Sandton City to the Mall 

of Africa, Menlyn in Pretoria and Maponya in Soweto, there’s 

a bustling shopping centre to tame your credit card around 

every corner. Gauteng hosts an annual shopping festival 

every year in September or October, with mall promos held 

throughout the year. There are also a range of flea markets 

that are definitely worth a visit, the most popular being the 

Rosebank Sunday Market, the Neighbourgoods Market in 

Braamfontein and the Bryanston Organic Market. 

SOWETO 

Soweto is a must for people from all over the world, and 

all South Africans should visit this iconic township. The 

Hector Pieterson Museum recounts the 1976 Soweto Student 

uprisings and some of the heroes of the protest and victims 

of the aftermath. Nearby is the Mandela House in Vilakazi 

Street, the only street in the world that contains the houses 

of two Nobel Prize Laureates, the other one being Desmond 

Tutu. There is also a string of vibrant restaurants including 

Sakhumzi’s Restaurant, Nexdor, Thrive Café and the Corner 

House which usually have a fascinating variety of regular 

patrons plus a vibrant selection of street musicians and 

performers who are usually brilliantly entertaining. 

APARTHEID MUSEUM & GOLD REEF CITY 

Located alongside each other, Gold Reef City and the 

Apartheid Museum are both must-visits on any trip to 

Gauteng. Modelled to resemble a gold rush town and 

showcase the gold-rich history of Johannesburg, Gold Reef 

city comprises a theme park, casino, restaurants, movie 

theatre and the Lyric Theatre that is well-known for its 

live performances. The theme park has some of the most 

modern and scariest rides in Africa – such as the Tower of 

Terror which has a 50m drop at a speed of 100 kilometres 

per hour and a fear factor of 10/10. To remember our past 

while moving forward into a more stable political future, 

Gauteng’s Apartheid Museum serves to document the racial 

and economic divide that once plagued our nation. One 

cannot visit Gauteng without spending an afternoon at this 

incredible place. 


Free State 

The Free State’s appeal lies in its scenic beauty, rural tranquillity and natural attractions. The eastern part of the 

province is the most beautiful, with its sandstone rock formations and rolling grassland. It also lies in the heart of South 

Africa and it borders six of the country’s nine provinces, as well as the kingdom of Lesotho. 

CLARENS 

The town of Clarens is known as ‘The Jewel of the Free 

State’ and is a must-see on any Free State trip. Take a walk 

down the main street and sample eateries, art galleries 

and arts and crafts shops galore. If you enjoy the outdoors, 

you’re in for a treat – experience white water rafting, 

4x4 safaris, horse trails and hikes in a truly spectacular 

landscape. 

BASOTHO CULTURAL VILLAGE 

On your way through the Golden Gate Highlands 

National Park, pop in at the Basotho Cultural Village for 

an interactive tour of traditional Sotho life from the 16th 

century to present day. You can also take a two-hour guided 

hiking trail to explore a nearby rock-art site and learn about 

the area’s medicinal plant growth. 

VREDEFORT DOME 

The oldest and largest crater on earth, the Vredefort Dome 

was caused when a massive meteorite struck the earth 

2,000 million years ago. The force of the impact caused 

the rock layers to bend, resulting in a semi-circular ring of 

mountains that are home to abundant bird and plant life – 

and the world’s only pink granite. Both Parys and Vredefort 

are located within the Vredefort Dome’s original impact 

area. 

CHERRY FESTIVAL 

Ficksburg presents the spectacular Cherry Festival each 

November. With live entertainment provided by well-known 

South African artists, festival activities include cherry tours, 

a golf classic, a half-marathon, cherry product competitions, 

veteran vehicle displays, equestrian events, beerfests and 

a food and wine fiesta. Watch the popular ‘Ready, Steady, 

Bake’ competition and see how cherry mampoer is made. 

GARIEP DAM 

The Gariep Dam is a staggering 100 kilometres long and 24 

kilometres wide. Take a guided tour through the passages 

inside the wall of South Africa’s largest dam, or sample the 

many water sport activities on offer: fishing, windsurfing, 

sailing, jet skiing, canoeing, rowing… and even gameviewing 

by boat! That’s right – there’s a well-stocked 

11,237-hectare game sanctuary on the dam’s northern shore. 

If you’re visiting in February, don’t miss the annual Gariep 

500 Rubber Duck Race and Watersport Festival. 


KwaZulu-Natal 

Welcome to the Zulu Kingdom: an enticing, spectacular and fascinating multi-cultural showpiece destination flanked by 

the warm Indian Ocean on the east and soaring peaks to the west. KwaZulu-Natal has a wealth of scenic and cultural 

attractions that include the country’s most popular beaches lying to the south and north of Durban. Add to that its 

bushveld reserves to the north, historic battlefields and the dramatic Drakensberg mountains, and you can see why it’s 

popular with travellers. 

BATTLEFIELDS 

The battles fought in the rolling hills and valleys of northern 

KwaZulu-Natal some 120 years ago changed the course of SA 

history and still today, the area now known as the Battlefields 

seems to echo with heroic and tragic deeds of the past. The 

sites of famous skirmishes that rocked the British, weakened 

the Boers and broke the mighty Zulu nation continue to draw 

visitors. Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are two of the most 

famous battlefields. 

UKHAHLAMBA-DRAKENSBERG 

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is one of the province’s 

two World Heritage sites. This one is part of a much longer 

mountain range that stretches some 1,600 kilometres from 

South Africa’s northernmost provinces to the Eastern Cape. 

Not only does the site protect a stunning natural mountain 

wilderness area, it also protects an amazing cultural legacy of 

ancient rock art in Africa pained by the San. 

ELEPHANT COAST 

The Elephant Coast borders Mozambique, Swaziland and the 

Indian Ocean. The region comprises 21 different ecosystems 

and is a veritable paradise of natural wonders. There are few 

places in Africa that can claim to have such an incredible 

diversity of fresh water ecosystems, which is why a large 

portion of the Elephant Coast, the iSimangaliso Wetland 

Park, has been designated a World Heritage site. The coastal 

dune system that runs along the 220km stretch of protected 

coastline comprises dunes that are among the highest 

forested dunes in the world, up to 180 metres high. 

DURBAN 

There is no city in SA quite like Durban. Due to its 

subtropical coastal climate, warm seas, beautiful swimming 

beaches and the variety of restaurants and nightlife, Durban 

has always been regarded as a holiday city. Durban’s rich 

cultural diversity is what gives it a vibrancy enjoyed by few 

other South African cities. The wonderful food, ceremonies 

and festivals have greatly enriched the city’s cultural 

landscapes. 

SOUTH COAST 

KZN’s south coast, with its string of small villages stretching 

from Port Edward in the south to Amanzimtoti in the north, 

and its pretty beaches and warm sea, has long been one of 

South Africa’s favourite year-round holiday destinations. 

Many of the south coast’s activities revolve around the ocean. 

For example, you can go snorkelling or scuba diving, surfing 

or whale watching. The Aliwal Shoal off Umkomaas and 

Scottburgh, and the Protea Banks off Shelley Beach are rated 

as some of the top shark diving sites in the world. 


Limpopo 

Limpopo has become a sought-after tourist destination for its big game, exceptional birding, untamed bush landscapes 

and an ancient African kingdom, the centre of which was located at Mapungubwe National Park. It is also the northern 

gateway to the Kruger National Park. 

THE WATERBERG 

The Waterberg is a true natural wonder, featuring ancient 

mountains, a rich tapestry of biodiversity, thousandsyear-old 

rock art and a site of critical archaeological and 

palaeontological importance. Its rolling savannahs also make 

it a popular safari destination where large herds of buck and 

the Big Five can be seen. 

MAPUNGUBWE 

About the time of the Dark Ages of Europe, the royal court 

at Mapungubwe in Limpopo welcomed traders and men 

of influence from Arabia and the Far East. Only in recent 

decades have the fascinating details of this ancient city been 

uncovered. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Mapungubwe 

was once the capital of a country as large as Swaziland, 

surrounded by more than 200 satellite towns. The most 

intact artefact found at Mapungubwe is that of a gold rhino 

figurine which today is under safekeeping at the University of 

Pretoria. 

MODJADJI CYCAD RESERVE 

The Modjadji Cycad Reserve holds the largest concentration 

of a single cycad species in the world. These majestic plants 

are some of the oldest and largest of their kind on the planet 

and are found in the realm of the legendary Rain Queen. The 

Modjadji Cycad Reserve is set in the foothills of blue-green 

mountains above the village of Modjadji near Tzaneen. Some 

of the cycads here reach heights of 13m and bear cones that 

weigh in at a hefty 34 kilograms. 

PAFURI 

The Kruger National Park is not just about big game. In the 

north is the Pafuri region, a wilderness area of great natural 

beauty where you can discover ancient forests, brilliant 

birding and traces of early humankind. The northern section 

of the Kruger National Park is an area of unique biodiversity. 

It’s one of the few places where fever tree forests grow side by 

side with forests of giant baobabs. The trees line the banks of 

the Limpopo and Luvuvhu rivers. 

PRIVATE GAME RESERVES 

Limpopo offers dozens of superlative private game lodges 

situated in prime wildlife areas, including the Waterberg, 

Welgevonden, Klaserie and Timbavati reserves. Sometimes 

more affordable than some of the other lodges in northern 

South Africa, these reserves boast game galore, including the 

Big Five, scenic beauty and often fewer visitors. 


Mpumalanga 

Mpumalanga means ‘the land of the rising sun’ in the local siSwati and Zulu languages, a name it derives from lying 

on the eastern border of the country. It is most famous for being the southern gateway to the country’s premier wildlife 

reserve, the Kruger National Park. It is a place of game, adventure and rich history. 

PANORAMA ROUTE 

On the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, with its breathtaking 

vistas around every mountain corner, waterfalls 

plunging down faces of sheer rock, memories of the gold rush 

following you as you meander down an endless river canyon, 

and eagles hovering above your head – you can’t help walking 

with your head in the clouds. Attractions include the Blyde 

River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window. 

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK 

The Kruger National Park is renowned not only for its 

diversity of wildlife, but also for its conservation record. You 

can see the famed Big Five, but you’ll also be dazzled by 

hundreds of birds, ancient trees, mighty rivers and much, 

much more. The Kruger National Park gets over 1.4 million 

visitors a year, but because it’s so big – 352 kilometres from 

north to south, and covering over 1.9 million hectares – you 

will be amazed at how often you are alone watching game on 

a 2,500-kilometre network of tar and dirt roads. 

PILGRIM’S REST 

The village of Pilgrim’s Rest is a settlement lost in time. Here 

you can walk in the footsteps of early gold prospectors and 

relive the heady days of pioneers, garter-snapping barmaids 

and highway robbers. You can also stay over in an historic 

hotel and drink in a legendary bar. Pilgrim’s Rest is situated 

on the magnificent Panorama Route of the Mpumalanga 

province. The entire village is a tourist attraction and was 

declared a National Monument in 1986. Today, Pilgrim’s Rest 

is a living monument to the feverish gold rush days of the late 

1800s. 

WATERFALL ROUTE 

Mpumalanga is one of South Africa’s most scenic provinces 

and when you drive through the Panorama region or visit 

the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, you’ll see why. But 

it’s not only canyons, mountains and seemingly limitless 

horizons that are waiting for you, there’s also the Sabie 

Waterfalls Route. There are more waterfalls here than 

anywhere else in southern Africa, and you’ll be astonished 

by their beauty and diversity. Forget the Big Five and that 

magnificent canyon for a while, set aside a day or two, and 

take yourself on a waterfalls tour. 

BARBERTON 

The ‘Gold Rush’ town of Barberton is situated in the heart of 

Mpumalanga’s Makhonjwa Mountains. With its mild Lowveld 

winters, rich history and wide array of things to see and 

do, Barberton is the perfect year-round holiday destination. 

Monuments to Barberton’s golden past can still be seen along 

the Heritage Walk, while mining tours and gold panning 

experiences give a taste of what life would be like. Yet there 

is more to Barberton than gold. The mountains that surround 

Barberton contain some of the rarest rocks on the planet and 

the Geotrail transports visitors 3.5 billion years back in time 

to witness some of the earliest life on Earth! 


North West 

The North West province features premier wildlife destinations, among them the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and the 

Madikwe Game Reserve; parts of two UNESCO World Heritage sites (the Vredefort Dome and the Taung Fossil Site, part 

of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site); and the world-famous Sun City gaming and entertainment resort. 

MADIKWE GAME RESERVE 

Located near the border of Botswana, Madikwe Game 

Reserve, one of South Africa’s foremost Big Five malariafree 

reserves, was envisaged not by conservationists, but 

by economists. They found conservation would create more 

income and jobs than the existing land-use, which was cattlefarming. 

This successful reserve is now a model that has 

inspired South African conservation. The reserve has a host 

of private game lodges providing luxurious bush experiences. 

PILANESBERG GAME RESERVE 

See the Big Five just two hours from Johannesburg and 

Pretoria in one of the country’s most popular wildlife areas – 

Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Set in an ancient volcanic crater, 

this well-stocked reserve has a dramatic landscape that 

supports a wide variety of plants, animals and birds. As a 

true Big Five area it features elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard 

and rhino. But there’s a lot more wildlife to discover. Some 

of the other animals that roam the park include African wild 

dogs, brown hyenas and sable antelope. 

MAGALIES MEANDER 

The Magaliesberg Mountains is home to the inviting Magalies 

Meander arts and craft route. You’ll also encounter warm 

country hospitality when you visit the art galleries, arts and 

craft centres and interesting boutiques the area is famed for, 

before coming to roost at any one of many attractive lodges 

and restaurants along the Magalies Meander. The mountains 

are also home to an amazing variety of indigenous woodland, 

plants, birds and wildlife – a nature lover’s paradise. 

SUN CITY 

The Sun City theme park in the North West province is part 

of the Sun City resort and entertainment complex, offering a 

myriad of leisure and recreation options for the entire family. 

Known worldwide for its exotic entertainment options, the 

Sun City theme park is more a mini-city than a park, with so 

many attractions and entertainment options that first-time 

visitors may find it pleasantly bewildering. Activities run the 

gamut from adventure sports and safari options to a worldfamous 

golf course and a wide variety of rides and games to 

keep the children happily busy. 

HARTBEESPOORT DAM 

Hartbeespoort Dam is a popular weekend and day trip. The 

dam and surrounding areas offer a host of outdoor activities, 

from a variety of water sports to flights of every description. 

Hikes, walks and trails complete the region’s compelling 

outdoor adventure activities. Hartbeespoort Dam is the area’s 

major attraction and the heart of this tourism region. A 

mecca for adventure pursuits, the majority of Hartbeespoort 

adventure activities are centred on the dam and its 

magnificent mountain and bushveld surrounds. 


Northern Cape 

The Northern Cape is the largest of South Africa’s provinces but has the smallest population, making it one of the more 

remote areas of the country. Among its key selling points are its vast, open spaces, unique vegetation – including the 

beautiful spring flower spectacle that transforms a semi-desert landscape – and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which is 

famous for its lions. 

AUGRABIES FALLS 

At the Augrabies Falls you will be awed by the water 

thundering down the gorge. Particularly when there has been 

plenty of rain and the Orange River is overflowing, you will 

experience the full might of the water as it thunders down the 

56-metre-high falls. There are also plenty of other attractions 

to explore nearby, including a wide variety of flowers and 

animals, and the inimitable views from the Moon Rock. 

KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK 

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was declared in 2000, 

formalising an ecological entity that was already there. 

Tourists love it, but this inspiring wilderness has given rise 

to something more. Now there are ideas of linking this 

gigantic conservation area to others nearby. The Kgalagadi 

Transfrontier Park straddles the border between South Africa 

and Botswana, a semi-desert of red dunes and starry skies. 

KIMBERLEY 

Kimberley, thanks to the fevered diamond rush of the 1870s, 

has a glittering past. Take a guided tour of a once-operational 

diamond mine, which descends a staggering 840 metres 

below the earth. Start your exploration of the city at its main 

attraction: the Big Hole. Imagine a hand-dug hole the size of 

eight football fields and you have some idea of the labour that 

went into creating the Big Hole. Adjacent to the Big Hole is 

the Kimberley Mine Museum, which brings to life the way of 

the city during the frenetic days of the diamond rush. 

NAMAQUALAND 

In spring the Namaqua National Park is painted orange by 

exuberant daisies. The distant mountains, the roads, the 

rocks, the trees and straggly shrubs of the succulent Karoo 

are completely transformed by a lively array of spring flowers. 

Every year the timing of the flowers and their quantities 

vary somewhat. But somewhere between August and the 

beginning of October, this dusty stretch of land springs to 

flowering life for a few intense weeks. 

SUTHERLAND 

Sutherland is a world-renowned astronomical centre in South 

Africa. The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is 

situated on a mountain top 14 kilometres out of town and is 

known to be one of the best star-viewing destinations in the 

southern hemisphere. Sutherland is also a great place from 

which to explore the Upper Karoo. 


Western Cape 

The scenic splendour of the Western Cape has long been a drawcard in South Africa. This is where you’ll find the Cape 

Winelands and a beautiful stretch of coastline. Most visitors list Table Mountain, Robben Island (where the late Nelson 

Mandela was incarcerated) and a visit to the Cape of Good Hope, at the tip of the Cape Peninsula, as priorities. 

TABLE MOUNTAIN 

Table Mountain is South Africa’s best-known landmark, but 

what many don’t know is that it is also a hiker’s paradise 

with numerous trails, amazing views and plenty of interesting 

facts to learn. Table Mountain has some remarkable features 

that make it a great destination for nature-lovers, deserving 

of more than just a quick cable car ride to see the view from 

the top. The mountain forms part of Table Mountain National 

Park, which is globally recognised for its biodiversity, and 

contains truly unique fauna and flora. 

ROBBEN ISLAND 

At times a leper colony, mental hospital and defence training 

base, the Robben Island World Heritage site is more famed 

as the prison to which anti-apartheid activists, among them 

former president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, were banished. 

Visitors to the island are able to see the cell in which 

Mandela, the world’s most famous prisoner, as he was known 

for many years, spent 18 years of his 27-year incarceration. 

GARDEN ROUTE 

The Garden Route is a mix of modern golf courses, ancient 

forests, secluded artists’ communities, retirement estates, 

modern malls, craft centres, mountain hideaways and beach 

holidays. A large number of interesting and creative people 

drawn to this magnificent stretch of coastline have made it 

home. The main arterial highway through The Garden Route, 

a highlight on most visitors’ itineraries, is the N2 stretch 

running from Heidelberg in the Southern Cape to Storms 

River Village on the Eastern Cape border. 

CAPE WINELANDS 

The Cape’s 18 official wine routes and two brandy routes 

are among the most scenic in the world, featuring many 

historic wine estates that date back centuries. Take your time 

exploring this magnificent part of South Africa’s Western 

Cape province and enjoy sampling its magnificent wines 

and brandies. Most Cape wine estates are characterised by 

classic Cape Dutch-style buildings and massive vineyards 

with picturesque mountains as a backdrop. Wine tasting, 

winemaking tours, excellent cuisine and magnificent scenery 

collectively create an irresistible attraction for international 

and local travellers alike. 

CAPE WHALE ROUTE 

The Cape Whale Route is a superb outdoor adventure family 

holiday destination. Incorporating towns such as Betty’s Bay, 

Kleinmond, Hermanus, Pringle Bay, Stanford and Gansbaai, 

the route offers some of the best land-based whale-watching 

spots on the planet, as well as many activities for the whole 

family. The road trip from Betty’s Bay along the coast toward 

the other towns on the Cape Whale Route is a peaceful 

experience, with the Atlantic Ocean on the one side and 

mountainous, fynbos terrain on the other. 


PACKAGES 

EASTERN CAPE 

STORMS RIVER ADVENTURE 

Spend a day kayaking up the Storms River mouth, under the 

suspension bridge and up through the gorge with its ancient 

forests and deep caves. Swap from kayaks onto relaxing 

inflatable lilos and float deeper into the gorge. For the 

adventurer, there is an opportunity to dive off an overhanging 

cliff into the cool waters of the river below. Your base for the 

weekend is a private log cabin deep in the Tsitsikamma Forest 

and we also include a canopy tour through the forest to enjoy 

during your stay. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation at the Tsitsikamma Lodge with 

breakfast and dinner daily. 2h30 kayak and lilo trip up the Storms 

River. 2h30 Tsitsikamma Canopy tour. 

TSITSIKAMMA SCUBA 

Learn the basics of scuba diving on a visit to the Tsitsikamma 

Marine Park situated on the beautiful Garden Route. Spend 

two nights staying at the Tsitsikamma Lodge within close 

proximity to the many attractions in the area. Take part in a 

four-hour beginners scuba course (or book a dive if you are 

more experienced) setting off from Storms River mouth, which 

will give you a taste for open water diving. It is a real privilege 

to dive in the protected marine park and the Tsitsikamma reefs 

are abundant with soft corals and fish life. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation at Tsitsikamma Lodge 

with breakfast and dinner daily. Half-day introduction to scuba 

diving course. 

GAUTENG 

SANDTON, SUSHI AND SHOPPING 

Enjoy a luxurious weekend at the five-star Hilton Hotel in 

Sandton, within close proximity to the newly revamped 

Sandton City Shopping Complex, one of the most upmarket 

malls in Johannesburg. Learn from the head chef at the 

hotel’s well-known sushi bar how to make beautiful and tasty 

creations from basic maki to the more complicated Californian 

roll. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation at the five-star Hilton Hotel in 

Sandton. R500 per person shopping voucher at Sandton City. Evening 

at Lotus Restaurant, including a sushi course, dessert buffet and 

certificate. 

PRETORIA GASTRO EXPERIENCE 

The luxurious Orient Hotel located in the Frankolin 

Conservancy in the Crocodile River Valley in Pretoria is a 

wonderful spot for a breakaway within easy driving distance of 

both Johannesburg and Pretoria. The boutique hotel is furnished 

in a Moorish style featuring intricate wooden carvings, temple 

pillars, smoky fireplaces and wooden balconies overlooking the 

valley. Enjoy nature walks in the conservancy, explore the inhouse 

Tienie Pritchard Sculpture Museum and enjoy a meal at 

the renowned Mosaic restaurant known for providing ethically 

sourced farm to table gastronomic experiences. 

Includes: Two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at The Orient 

Hotel. R500 per person voucher towards dinner at Mosaic. 

FREE STATE 

FICKSBURG STEAM TRAINS 

Bright pink cherry blossoms and historic steam trains make 

the quaint Eastern Free State town of Ficksburg a popular 

weekend holiday hotspot and base from which to explore the 

magnificent Maluti mountains. A visit in April or May will 

see you exploring all things ‘choochoo’ at the Steam Heritage 

Festival, where you’ll have an opportunity to travel aboard the 

restored locomotives as the collection sets out on its annual 

journey chugging out of Ficksburg and along the tracks that 

meander through the mountains. Alternatively, a visit during 

November will coincide with the renowned Cherry Festival. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation in a three-star guest house in 

Ficksburg with breakfast and dinner daily. 

PARYS ART AND ADVENTURE 

The home of artists and adventurers – Parys is just a short 

hop from Johannesburg and a great spot for a weekend escape. 

Visit the many art galleries, antique and craft shops located 

in town, enjoy a craft beer at one of the three breweries or try 

out the 52 flavours of mampoer available at the local distillery. 

The Vaal River and nearby Vredefort Dome offer a plethora 

of outdoor and adventure sport opportunities. From golf to 

hiking, cycling, rafting, horse riding, fishing, kayaking and 

sky diving, there is more than enough to keep one entertained. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation bed and breakfast at a three-star 

guest house in Parys. Sunday lunch ferry cruise down the Vaal River. 


KWAZULU-NATAL 

MIDLANDS BREAK AND BEER TASTING 

The rolling green hills of the Natal Midlands offer a meander 

with a difference - arts, crafts, leisure and cuisine experiences 

for every age and taste abound. Spend the weekend at 

Rawdons, a charming country hotel located on the edge of a 

lake. Notting Hill Brewery is located in the grounds and offers 

brewery tours and tastings of its cheekily named range of 

beers including the Pickled Pig Porter, Wobbling Wombat Ale, 

Tiddly Toad Lager, Tipsy Tiger IPA and the Pye-Eyed Possum 

Pilsner. 

Includes: Two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at Rawdons 

Hotel and Estate. Nottingham Road Brewery tour. 

SODWANA SCUBA 

Sodwana Bay, located on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, 

is South Africa’s prime diving spot. The warm tropical waters 

of the Indian Ocean are home to miles of coral reefs and are 

a diver’s underwater paradise. Spend five days at this coastal 

resort exploring the different reefs underwater. Diving courses 

are also available on request. 

Includes: Three nights’ accommodation in Sodwana in an en suite 

cabin. Dinner and breakfast daily, and five dives. 

LIMPOPO 

GOLF AND GAME 

Tee off in paradise, but don’t lose your wits or your ball on 

the spectacular Extreme 19th Hole, the world’s longest and 

highest par-3, a 351-metre shot to the green 400 metres below. 

Legend Golf and Safari Resort is located within the 22,000 

hectare Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the Waterberg Region 

of Limpopo Province and offers great golf, as well as luxury 

accommodation with sliding glass windows and private patios 

offering panoramic views of the African wilderness. Wake up 

early for a morning game drive in the Big Five game reserve. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation bed and breakfast at the Legend 

Golf and Safari Resort. R1000 per person voucher for golf or game 

viewing. 

LUXURY TIMBAVATI SAFARI 

Situated in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, part of the 

2.2 million hectare Greater Kruger Park, lies Kings Camp, 

an exclusive safari camp facing an open savanna plain and 

waterhole. The camp comprises eight suites, featuring Victorian 

ball-and-claw bathtubs, indoor and outdoor showers as well as 

private verandas with hammocks overlooking the bush. Enjoy 

two game drives a day, watching the sun rise and sun set over 

the beautiful bushveld. No dining experience is ever the same 

at the camp, from fine-service meals to boma braais and bush 

breakfasts, every meal is a memorable one. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation at Kings Camp Private Game 

Reserve. Three meals and two game activities daily. 

MPUMALANGA 

DULLSTROOM FISHING 

Renowned for its trout fishing and delicious pancakes, the 

charming town of Dullstroom is two and a half hours’ drive 

from Johannesburg. Spend the weekend at Critchley Hackle 

Lodge located around a picturesque dam and within easy 

walking distance of the quaint town’s pubs, craft shops and 

restaurants. Enjoy fine dining in the hotel restaurant and 

spend your time relaxing or fly fishing at the lake. Each suite 

features its own terrace and fireplace to warm the air on chilly 

evenings. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation at Savanna Private Game 

Reserve. Three meals and two game activities daily. 

LUKIMBI LUXURY AT THE KRUGER 

Set on a private concession within the Kruger Park, Lukimbi 

Safari Lodge offers guests a luxury game safari experience. 

The lodge boasts magnificent views over the Lwakahle River, 

an award-winning wine list and cellar. The spacious suites 

feature romantic mosquito-netted beds, private decks, indoor 

and outdoor showers and enormous bathtubs overlooking 

the bushveld. Head out on a game drive on one of the open 

vehicles or trail through the bush on a guided game walk 

through the park. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation at Lukimbi Safari Lodge. Three 

meals and two game drives daily. 


PACKAGES 

NORTH WEST 

A PICNIC IN THE MAGALIESBURG 

Spend the weekend in peaceful contemplation picnicking on 

the banks of a quiet river in the heart of the Magaliesburg 

Mountains, an hour’s drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria. 

Budmarsh Country Lodge, your base from which to explore 

the rolling countryside, offers six-course, French-inspired 

dinners and a well-stocked cellar, in addition to preparing 

lavish champagne picnics for their in-house guests. Enjoy 

hikes in the mountains, fishing or explore the craft route of the 

Magalies Meander from this quiet country retreat. 

Includes: Two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the fivestar 

Budmarsh Country Lodge. R250 picnic voucher per person. 

A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OVER HARTIES 

Wake up early and head off to the balloon launch site where 

you watch as the immense, billowy hot air balloons are 

inflated in the dark before dawn lights up the sky. Set off on 

your balloon safari, sipping champagne and drifting slowly 

over the Magaliesburg as the sun rises over the mountain 

range. You may catch a glimpse of Hartbeespoort Dam in 

the morning light. Return back to base for a hearty cooked 

breakfast to finish off the experience. 

Includes: Balloon safari for two and breakfast. 

NORTHERN CAPE 

AUGRABIES FALLS 

Hear the thundering waters of the Augrabies Falls which 

bring life-giving sustenance to an arid 800km national park 

characterised by granite rock and giant aloes. The falls drop an 

impressive 60 metres into the gorge below and record a flow 

rate more than three times faster than at Niagara Falls. Stay in 

a nearby lodge as a base to explore the National Park and take 

part in a number of activities such as fishing, nature paddling, 

game drives and hot air ballooning. 

Includes: Two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at Dundi 

Lodge Augrabies Falls. Hot air balloon trip. 

KIMBERLEY BIG HOLE 

Gold rush fever may have left the Northern Cape town of 

Kimberley, but the icons of its hey-dey have not, most notably 

the famous Big Hole, which is an enormous open-pit mine, 

reputedly the largest hole ever excavated by hand. Tour the 

mine and the old town, perhaps enjoy a meal at the stately 

Kimberley Club and photograph the flocks of pink flamingos 

that live in the flat pans outside of town. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation at the Protea Hotel Kimberley. 

Kimberley Big Hole Tour. 

WESTERN CAPE 

SEAFOOD AND SURF IN PATERNOSTER 

The picturesque seaside town of Paternoster, situated on the 

West Coast, is one of the oldest fishing villages in the country. 

Characterised by quaint whitewashed cottages, azure sea views 

and blindingly white beaches strewn with wooden fishing 

boats, Paternoster is one of the prettiest coastal towns in 

the country. The town has become increasingly popular as a 

seaside getaway and has also become known for the quality of 

its seafood restaurants serving freshly caught fish, flavoursome 

West Coast oysters and other shellfish. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation in a traditional Paternoster 

fishing cottage. Two days Group A car hire including super cover and 

200km free per day. 

CHEESE, WINE AND CHOCOLATE TOURING 

Enjoy some R&R in a quaint country cottage located on the 

50-hectare idyllic Chamonix Wine and Game Estate in the 

Franschhoek valley. The luxury cottages are set in secluded spots 

on the edge of the estate’s forest offering breath-taking views of 

the mountains for you to enjoy with your complimentary bottle of 

fine Chamonix wine. We also include a full-day cheese, wine and 

chocolate tour of the winelands including tastings at Fairview 

Cheesery, Tokara Wine Farm and the Bilton estate, whose dark 

Belgian chocolate tasting is paired with fine wines. 

Includes: Two nights’ accommodation at Chamonix Estate in 

Franschhoek. Two days Group A car hire including super cover and 200km 

free per day. Full-day Cheese, Wine and Chocolate tour of the Winelands. 


EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS 

AND EXPLORE THIS 

BEAUTIFUL LAND 

From the rolling hills of the Eastern Cape to the 

roaming wildlife of the Kruger National Park, 

South Africa is an untapped wonderland of 

unforgettable experiences. It’s all just a Sho’t Left away. 


FEATURE – ZIMBABWE 

Treading 

water 


Zimbabwe has endured sanctions, an unstable currency, and 

continued speculation about its future. However, this land-locked 

Southern African country has much untapped potential that 

many believe could be harnessed, should Zimbabwe see a political 

regime change in the near future.


Robert Mugabe has been 

Zimbabwe's only ruler 

since 1987 and has 

dominated the country's political 

landscape since independence. 

Under his rule, the country has 

battled to survive a struggling 

economy, widespread shortages 

of basic commodities, sporadic 

violence and hyperinflation. 

The economy of Zimbabwe is 

mostly dependent on agriculture 

and mineral resources, with 

the mining industry the largest 

driver, accounting for almost half 

of the country’s exports. Mass 

unemployment, though, is still 

rife, and policy inconsistency, 

as well as a lack of investment 

security, remain huge obstacles 

to promoting investment in 

Zimbabwe. 

Saying this, tourism, led by the 

stunning Victoria Falls area, is 

seeing a revival. 

The big question is, who will 

succeed Mugabe, who is already 

in his 90s? The veteran leader has 

struggled to set the economy right 

since his re-election in 2013 and 

now faces increasing pressure as 

sections of his own Zanu-PF party 

appear to be pressing for a change. 

FACT FILE 

Time zone: GMT+2 

Plugs: Three-prong square 

Dialling code: +263 

Currency: US dollar 

Language: English, Shona, 

Sindebele 

The 2018 general election will 

be the second under the new 

constitution, which allows a 

president to serve for a maximum 

of two five-year terms. Mugabe 

has, under this new rule, only 

served one term, so is eligible 

to run, although it’s unclear 

whether he will pass the baton 

of leadership to a party member 

or stand himself. Opposition 

parties are looking to form a 

coalition government to challenge 

the reigning leadership, a move 

which is gaining support from 

Zimbabweans. 

All of which makes for a fairly 

unstable environment, although 

not everyone sees this as a bad 

thing. 

“Politics play a role in business 

travel everywhere, and what 

we find is that when a country 

is facing challenges politically, 

business travel can actually 

increase, with NGO, media, and 

entrepreneurial opportunists 

growing,” says Glenn Stutchbury, 

CEO of Cresta Hotels. 

CITIES 

The capital city Harare is the most 

populated city in Zimbabwe and 

the country’s primary business 

travel destination. Set in the 

natural garden of the Zimbabwe 

Highveld, 1,500 metres above sea 

level, Harare is a friendly city of 

flowering trees and gardens and 

a temperate climate. Don't miss 

the Harare gardens, Mbare market 

and museum on your visit. 

Bulawayo is the second largest 

city located south-west of Harare. 

The Zimbabwe International Trade 

Fair is located here and is the 

largest intra-regional trade fair 

south of the Sahara, providing the 

largest, most convenient trade hub 

in the region. 

Zimbabwe's most popular tourist 

and MICE destination is Victoria 

Falls, home to the greatest curtain 

of falling water in the world. (See 

sidebar) 

The Great Zimbabwe Ruins in 

Masvingo and the Khami Ruins in 

Bulawayo are among the world’s 

most well-preserved ancient cities. 

In addition, the Hwange Game 

Reserve is the country’s largest 

wildlife sanctuary and home 

to one of the largest elephant 

populations in Africa. Lake Kariba 

is also a popular destination for 

game viewing and fishing. 

AIRPORTS 

Harare’s airport is the largest in 

the country, situated 10 kilometres 

from the centre of town. There 

are shops and small restaurants in 

the airport. Most of the airlines, 

including Emirates, SAA, BA 

(operated by Comair), Kenya 

Airways, Air Zimbabwe and 

Ethiopian Airlines do offer airside 

lounge facilities to their first and 

business class passengers. The 

airport security and customs x-ray 

systems are extremely thorough, 

though. Taxis, airport shuttles 

and transfers by car are the most 

popular forms of transport to and 

from the city. 

“Harare International is clean 

and functional,” says Mark 


Your AfricA, 

our LegAcY... 

Business or leisure, our hotels 

offer the discerning traveller a 

variety of options to suit every 

need. Beautiful accommodation, 

sumptuous dining and 

complimentary Wi-Fi are just a 

few ways we’d like to make your 

stay a memorable one! 

Bookings and Enquiries 

Contact Central Reservations 

Tel: +27 11 8066888 

hotels@legacyhotels.com 

www.LegacyHotels.com


COMMENT 

Mark Havercroft: Business Development & Hospitality 

Operations Director: Legacy Hotels & Resorts 

The dollarization of the country definitely improved things. However, earning a 

stable currency made life really expensive, and a long history of hyperinflation 

and daily fluctuation in prices have blinded sellers to the true value of the US 

dollar. So they’ll casually say there’s a 20% increase. That’s massive. You need 

to understand this to do business in Zimbabwe. Often you can reduce the price 

of items by half. The IT industry in Zimbabwe is also on the rise. Three million 

people possess smartphones and they’ve become very tech savvy. The latest 

development is a company called Get Cash, which is basically a virtual wallet. 

You can pay for goods from your smartphone without the need of physical cash. 

Social media is also widely used. It’s giving more and more people a voice to 

communicate with the rest of the world. It’s definitely a growing industry in 

Zimbabwe. 

Elephant Hills 

Monomotapa Hotel 

Monomotapa Hotel 

Havercroft, Business Development 

& Hospitality Operations Director 

for Legacy Hotels & Resorts. “The 

relevant authorities are efficient 

and the services on offer are more 

than adequate for all but the most 

discerning traveller. There are at 

least three business lounges and 

countless coffee shops and bars 

available in departures.” 

“The check-in experience can be 

long, especially in economy, but 

immigration tends to be fast,” says 

Stutchbury. “The x-ray machines 

are set very sensitive at Harare 

International, so remove your belt, 

shoes, watch and everything from 

your pockets and you won’t then 

be sent back. On your way in, 

don’t stress that all luggage gets 

scanned as you go to the Green 

Route, as this is normal for Harare 

and moves quickly. The arrivals 

hall appears disorganised, but it 

flows – just make sure you have 

your forms filled out before, know 

your visa requirements, and have 

exact change for your visa.” 

Fastjet began operations into 

Zimbabwe in 2014 from Dar 

es Salaam. The airline set up a 

Zimbabwean arm in 2015 and 

currently flies internally between 

Harare and Vic Falls, as well as 

regionally to South Africa and 

Tanzania. 

Other airlines that land in 

Harare include Air Botswana 

from Gaborone, Air Namibia 

(which also flies to Vic Falls), 

from Windhoek, Airlink from 

Johannesburg, and LAM from 

Mozambique. 

As the country’s national carrier, 

Air Zimbabwe connects Harare, 

Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. BA 

(operated by Comair) offers flights 

to Vic Falls from South Africa, 

while SAA reaches Bulawayo and 

Vic Falls in addition to Harare. 

July saw Airlink add six weekly 

flights between Cape Town and 

Vic Falls, and the response has 

been good. 

“The route is proving extremely 

popular and we are already 

looking at increasing capacity,” 

says Rodger Foster, CEO of 

Airlink. 

The new Victoria Falls 

International Airport (see sidebar) 

opened last year, and has been 

well received. 


Welcome to Zimbabwe for 

the warmest hospitality 

Lodge - Harare 

DDH&M/CRE14329 

Oasis - Harare 

Jameson - Harare 

For Reservations contact 

Tel: +263 4 788 161/2 or +263 4 487 006/8 

Email: reservations@cresta.co.zw 

www.crestahotels.com 

Lodge - Harare 

Sango Conference Centre 

Jameson 

Oasis 

Churchill 

Sprayview 

Victoria Falls


VICTORIA FALLS 

Victoria Falls is Zimbabwe’s shining light, thanks to its stunning natural beauty 

and obvious appeal as a leisure travel and MICE destination. 

It already has a number of big events – including this year’s EAI International 

Conference for Research, Innovation and Development for Africa and the 

African Finance Association Conference – on its CV, but the region’s new airport 

has just added another dimension to the offering, which also has a number of 

quality hotel brands represented, in the form of the likes of Legacy Hotels & 

Resorts, Cresta Hotels, African Sun and Africa Albida Tourism. 

Cresta Hotels CEO Glenn Stutchbury provides an interesting snapshot into just 

how Vic Falls’ growth compares with that of elsewhere in Zimbabwe. 

“The first half of 2017 has been a mixed bag with Harare showing an industry 

decline of 2%, Bulawayo an increase of 5% and Victoria Falls a massive growth 

of 17%,” he says. “The impact of the new airport, additional flights and larger 

aircraft has resulted in fantastic growth and the remainder of the year is looking 

very strong.” 

In March, SAA became the first airline to land a wide-bodied aircraft in Victoria 

Falls when its Airbus A330-200 touched down from Johannesburg. Also in 

March, Ethiopian Airlines launched four weekly flights from Addis Ababa utilising 

a Boeing 737, whilst in May, Kenya Airways launched three direct weekly flights 

from Nairobi. 

“These three airlines alone add 80,000 new seats per annum into Victoria Falls 

International Airport and the region, offering a huge opportunity for growth, as 

well as connecting new destinations with the incredible Victoria Falls hub and 

KAZA tourism region,” says Ross Kennedy, Chief Executive at Africa Albida 

Tourism. 

“The Victoria Falls airport is world class and, outside of South Africa, as good 

as any on the continent,” says Mark Havercroft, Business Development & 

Hospitality Operations Director for Legacy Hotels & Resorts, “although it cannot 

be denied that immigration procedures are time consuming for those visitors 

requiring visa entry.” 

HARARE HOTELS 

Cresta Hotels has the most 

comprehensive Harare offering of 

all the hotel groups, with three 

establishments in the city. The 

centrally-located Cresta Jameson 

has a 24-hour front desk, business 

centre, conference facilities, 

wi-fi connectivity, and a health 

and beauty spa, whilst Cresta 

Lodge Harare, on the outskirts 

of the city centre, has a similar 

mid-market, yet solid offering, 

in a different setting. The group 

also operates the Cresta Oasis, 

which is a hotel that also offers 

serviced apartments for long-term 

stays. Cresta also has the Cresta 

Churchill (see sidebar) in Bulawayo 

– a 50-room property that 

apparently “oozes Tudor charm” – 

and Cresta Sprayview in Vic Falls. 

The four-star Monomotapa 

Hotel, now under the management 

of Legacy Hotels & Resorts, 

overlooks Harare. It offers a mix 

of twin rooms, king leisure rooms 

and suites, and enjoys panoramic 

views of Harare, right on the 

doorstep of the city’s Central 

Park and Gardens. Zimbabwe’s 

National Gallery is a five-minute 

walk away and the renowned 

Botanical Gardens a short 

10-minute drive. There is also a 

variety of restaurants to choose 

from. 

Legacy has earmarked funds for 

the upgrading of the ground floor 

and public areas to the estimated 

tune of $22 million. 

There are also big plans for the 

area surrounding this hotel, with 

a vision to turn it into something 

akin to Johannesburg’s Sandton 

City, with offices, hotels, shops 

and recreation facilities. The 

Harare Gardens are in front of 

the hotel, and around the corner 

sits the National Art Gallery. The 

new owners have done a deal with 

the Harare City Council and will 

purchase 5.4 hectares of the park 

land, which will become part of 

the hotel. 

“We’re going to create a massive 

open-air restaurant in one corner, 

and then we’re going to build an 

800-seater convention centre that 

links the art gallery to the hotel,” 

says Havercroft. 

Following a deal concluded with 

African Sun in 2015, Legacy now 


CRESTA CHURCHILL 

REFURBISHMENT 

In May, Cresta Churchill in Bulawayo 

completed the first phase of renovations 

which began earlier this year. This and 

further phases aim to modernise the 

accommodation offering. 

Both standard rooms and suites now 

have completely refitted bathrooms, 

electronic keys have been introduced, 

flat-screen TVs and international plug 

points and USB chargers installed, 

and there has been the placement of 

new bedroom floors and a touch of 

repainting. 

“Cresta Churchill is the flagship 

hotel for Zimbabwe’s second city 

and this refurbishment will create an 

accommodation offering second to 

none, suitable for business and leisure 

travellers who make this their hotel of 

choice,” says Glenn Stutchbury, CEO of 

Cresta Hotels. “What we have sought 

is ease and convenience, as well as a 

classy, clean look that suits all travelling 

types, both local and international.” 



manages four other Zimbabwe 

hotels – Elephant Hills and The 

Kingdom at Victoria Falls, Hwange 

Safari Lodge and the Troutbeck 

Resort. There are plans to 

eventually upgrade and refurbish 

all of these properties. 

Elephant Hills, with its 276 

rooms and conference facilities 

for 1,200, will undergo a soft 

refurb, with the bathrooms, airconditioning 

units and golf course 

receiving attention. The nowempty 

casino at The Kingdom will 

be converted into an 800-seater 

auditorium with breakaway 

rooms in the next nine months. 

In Hwange, a new executive chef 

has overhauled the menus and 

upgraded the kitchen facilities. 

There are also plans to build 

conference facilities for 100 people. 

Although no management 

agreements have been signed 

yet, Legacy is set to take over the 

management of two more hotels 

in the near future – Caribbea Bay 

in Kariba and the Great Zimbabwe 

Hotel in Masvingo – which will 

increase its Zimbabwe portfolio to 

seven. 

Looking at the other main 

hotels in Harare, the Meikles 

Hotel is a five-star property set in 

a prime location in the centre of 

the city. Local tourist attractions 

such as Eastgate Centre, African 

Unity Square and the National 

Art Gallery are not far from the 

hotel. Also nearby are the Harare 

Gardens, Queen Victoria Museum 

and National Museum. Dining 

facilities at Meikles include La 

Fontaine, a good restaurant worth 

trying. The hotel also offers 

transportation to/from the airport 

for an additional fee. 

The Bronte Hotel is renowned for 

its beautiful gardens and collection 

of Shona sculptures. Centrally 

located in the Avenues, within 

walking distance of downtown 

COMMENT 

GLENN STUTCHBURY - CEO: CRESTA HOTELS 

Cresta Sprayview 

There is no Uber in Zimbabwe and the prices of taxis can be cheeky. There 

are taxi ranks at most hotels and it’s best to get the rate before you drive. 

For businessmen doing many different appointments, sign up a taxi driver, 

negotiate a flat day rate and have him as your chauffeur for the day. There is 

also a service called G-Taxi which is Zimbabwe’s Uber - download the app, 

but remember to request a car way in advance and set a time, as cars are not 

as frequent as in Johannesburg, for example. Wi-fi hotspots are in shopping 

centres and airports, but it isn’t fast. Be careful not to incur large roaming 

costs. Restaurants vary according to the experience you are looking for and 

local knowledge is key, so ask your host and people you meet, as they will 

all have their favourites. Things to check before you travel to Zimbabwe: 

transfer to and from hotel; wi-fi and charges at hotel; back-up generator at 

hotel – there are serious power cuts and we all know what that can do to your 

productivity and personality! 

Harare, the Bronte offers wellappointed 

rooms and executive 

suites in a garden setting. 

Suited to both the business and 

leisure traveller, the amenities 

include complimentary wi-fi, two 

swimming pools, a fitness centre, 

complimentary breakfast buffet, 

secure on-site parking and fine 

dining at Emmanuel’s Restaurant. 

On Samora Machel Avenue, 

the Holiday Inn Harare is just 

200 metres from the CBD and 

12 kilometres from Harare 

International Airport. Mezzaninefloor 

meeting rooms can 

accommodate up to 250 guests. 

Dining is provided by the Silver 

Spur Steak Ranch restaurant, 24- 

hour room service, and the hotel 

restaurant. 

IHG also has the new Holiday 

Inn in Mutare, which the group 

opened in July. The franchised 

property is owned by African Sun 

and offers 96 rooms, an outdoor 

pool, and a meeting room for up to 

250 people. 

Rainbow Tourism Group is 

represented in Harare by two 

hotels. The Rainbow Towers 

Hotel and Conference Centre was 

refurbished in 2013 and has 304 

rooms, wi-fi and 24-hour room 

service. Dining is provided by four 

eateries – the Harvest Garden 

(buffet restaurant); the Kombahari 

Restaurant (Afro-Asian fusion); 

Teppan Yaki (Far East cuisine); 

and La Patiserrie, the hotel’s lobby 

coffee shop. 

Rainbow’s second Harare 

property, the New Ambassador 

Hotel, is located in the CBD, 

and is walking distance from 

the main financial, commercial 

and government institutions, as 

well as a host of shops, cinemas, 

restaurants, the National Museum 

and Art Gallery. It offers 72 

rooms, a business centre, wi-fi 

connectivity and three dining 

options. RTG also has the 

Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel – its only 

property in that city – and two 

hotels in Vic Falls, in the form of 

the A’Zambezi River Lodge and the 

Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel. 

CARD ACCEPTANCE 

The de facto official currency is 

the US dollar and it is very much 

a cash economy. The South African 


and and British pound are also 

accepted, but you do not get a 

favourable exchange rate. Major 

international credit cards (Visa 

and MasterCard) are now accepted 

in most of the larger hotels, 

restaurants and shops, but many 

smaller establishments still do not 

have credit card facilities. Diners 

Club and American Express are 

often not accepted. 

There is currently a cash flow 

problem in the country and ATMs 

often restrict withdrawal amounts. 

“Currently, the impact of 

the cash crisis far outweighs 

the political situation,” says 

Stutchbury. “The key shortage is 

cash, and access to cash through 

ATMs is non-existent. This 

has an impact on the traveller, 

as their usual source of local 

currency is unavailable. Business 

travellers are advised to bring 

US dollars with them in smaller 

denominations for certain basic 

transactions, although swipe 

machines are available almost 

everywhere and payment by 

Visa and Mastercard is easy. 

American Express and Diners 

should be avoided. Mobile money 

transactions are very common.” 

VISAS 

Travellers from the following 

African countries do not require 

visas to enter Zimbabwe: 

Botswana, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, 

Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, 

Mozambique, Namibia, South 

Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, 

Uganda, and Zambia. 

African countries whose 

nationals are granted visas at the 

port of entry on payment of the 

requisite visa fees ($30 – single 

entry): Egypt and Seychelles. 

All other African passport 

holders need to apply in advance. 

HEALTH 

Malaria is prevalent in large parts 

of the country, so do take the 

necessary precautions. 

Private medical centres offer 

excellent healthcare, especially in 

Harare, where quality treatment 

is available 24/7. There are also 

several ambulance companies who 

can undertake medical evacuation 

where necessary. 

There are also a number of 

emergency clinics offering good 

healthcare after hours, if you 

prefer avoiding a hospital. 

Drinking tap water is not 

advisable, although Victoria 

Falls does have its own water 

purification plant. 

CONTACTS 

zimbabwetourism.net 

gotovictoriafalls.co.za C 


TRIED & TESTED/Hotel 

POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA 

Sun Meropa Hotel 

BACKGROUND: The Meropa 

Casino and Entertainment World has 

been in operation for 15 years with 

accommodation supplied by a City 

Lodge hotel. In September 2016, Sun 

International broke ground on Sun 

Meropa and officially opened the hotel 

on 29 July with a grand celebration for 

its first hotel in the province. 

WHERE IS IT? In the Meropa Casino 

and Entertainment complex, about 

five kilometres from the N1 highway 

in Polokwane. It’s about a three-hour 

drive from Johannesburg. 

ROOM FACILITIES: The hotel offers 

60 three-star rooms, including six 

suites. The decorators went with a 

Moroccan theme – dark wood furniture, 

blue-and-white patterned tiles, accents 

of red splashed through the rooms 

– to complement the Moroccan-style 

architecture, with the two-storey 

hotel built around a central outdoor 

pool area. My room was compact and 

the space was used well. The work 

desk, with multiple easy-to-reach plug 

points, and tea-and-coffee station were 

separated from the sleeping area in 

an alcove by the window. It’s a small 

detail, but it really made a difference 

to the space. The bathroom was snug, 

with the shower door very cleverly 

doubling as the bathroom door, but it 

never felt tight. In the bedroom was a 

massive Samsung Smart TV with DStv 

which faced a king-sized bed. 

RESTAURANTS & BARS: The 

Kasbah Restaurant is situated next 

to the hotel’s reception. Dinner on 

this special occasion was a Moroccaninspired 

buffet. Appetisers included 

a prawn and avo salad, lentil and 

blueberry salad and hummus with a 

selection of breads served by passing 

wait staff. The main course consisted 

of dukkha-spiced peri-peri prawns, 

corn cakes, spicy pumpkin soup with 

croutons and beef and prawn skewers. 

The meal was rounded off with towers 

of colourful macarons, trifle cups, 

profiteroles in chocolate cages and 

chocolate mousse with caramel in pastry 

casings. The breakfast buffet offered the 

usual selection of fruit, cereal, pastries, 

cold meats, cheeses, scrambled eggs, 

bacon – both shoulder and streaky – 

mushrooms, tomatoes, hash browns 

and sausages. There was also a flap jack 

and waffle station, complete with an 

assortment of toppings. While the wait 

staff were happy to bring coffee to my 

table, I had fun making espressos at the 

DIY coffee-pod machine. The Harvest 

Wine & Grill, next to the casino floor, 

serves a variety of dishes, from aged 

steaks and burgers to ribs, wings and 

chargrilled chicken. Jembe Tavern serves 

authentic African cuisine and offers live 

entertainment. The Ngoma Bar is located 

on the main casino floor, making it 

easy for players to grab a drink without 

stepping away from the action. 

BUSINESS & MEETING 

FACILITIES: There is a conference 

centre on site with capacity in the main 

hall to accommodate 600 delegates. 

The three smaller meeting rooms are 

perfect for intimate meetings of up to 

20 people. There is a single computer 

station next to the conference centre 

reception. There is wi-fi throughout 

the hotel. Both my Apple and Android 

devices picked up the connection 

automatically; I didn’t need to search or 

sign in once to use the service – a real 

plus. 

LEISURE FACILITIES: The Meropa 

entertainment complex offers a number 

of ways to unwind. There’s the go 

kart track for a bit of motorised fun; 

a Mangwanani day spa for a bit of 

pampering; a mini-golf course; a 

cultural village; the Magic Company 

with games for the kids; and the 

WildThingz bird and snake garden for 

a walk through nature. The casino, 

operational 24 hours a day, is a big 

draw card. It offers 417 slot machines 

and 17 gaming tables. 

VERDICT: A really great option for 

your next trip to Polokwane. Clean, 

comfortable accommodation, tasty food 

and friendly, helpful staff all make for 

an enjoyable stay. C 

Kate Kennedy 

CONTACT 

A: Plot 59, Sterkloop, Roodepoort Rd 

T: +27 15 290 5400 

E: hellomeropa@suninternational.com 

W: suninternational.com/meropa 


TRIED & TESTED/Flight 

SEATTLE-LONDON HEATHROW 

Virgin Atlantic B787 Upper Class 

BACKGROUND: Virgin Atlantic flies 

to nine destinations in the USA and it 

added a tenth, Seattle (Washington), 

this year. 

CHECK-IN: Check-in desks at Tacoma 

International Airport are placed right 

at the building entrance, with clear 

signage indicating which airlines are 

where. The driver dropped us off right 

outside the Virgin check-in desk, 

which meant that even with two bags, 

a backpack and a handbag, I didn’t 

require a trolley for my luggage. I 

wanted to check my bags all the way 

through to Johannesburg, and getting 

this sorted took a bit of time. I headed 

to security with my hand luggage 

and was treated to the full US airport 

experience. The full-body scan threw 

out a warning and I was thoroughly 

searched by a security guard before 

being allowed to gather my belongings 

and head for the boarding gate at 

the South Satellite terminal, which is 

accessed by means of a short train ride. 

LOUNGE & BOARDING: Virgin 

makes use of Delta Airlines' lounges 

at the Tacoma airport – one in the 

main terminal and one at the South 

Satellite terminal. Unfortunately, after 

my delay at security, I didn’t really 

have time to enjoy the Delta SkyClub 

lounge, but here’s what’s on offer: 

plenty of seating on two levels; airside 

views thanks to a two-storey high 

window wall; desks and plug points 

for laptop users; shower rooms; a spa; 

a buffet; and a bar. Boarding was an 

orderly affair with passengers called 

in sectors – passengers requiring 

assistance, families with small 

children, Upper Class and premium 

economy passengers, and then economy 

passengers. 

THE SEAT: Upper Class seats 

are angled diagonally and give all 

passengers aisle access. Seats convert 

to fully flat beds and with a mattress 

pad, duvet and pillow, make for a great 

bed in the sky. Once flat, the pods, 

which allow for a lot of privacy, offer 

a generous amount of sleeping space. 

Unlike other airline beds, you don’t 

have to cram your feet into a covered 

foot well and the arm rests don’t cut 

into your space. The TV screen is 

installed in the front and pops out on a 

moveable arm to allow for straight-on 

viewing. The in-flight entertainment 

system – a touch-screen TV monitor 

and handheld console – is easy to use 

and the selection of movies, TV shows, 

music and games is extensive. The foot 

rest, that becomes part of the lie-flat 

bed, allows you to put your feet up even 

during take-off and landing, a feature I 

enjoyed. There are a number of storage 

spaces for things like your shoes and 

cell phone. 

THE FLIGHT: Once I was seated, I 

was offered a sleep suit and lavender 

pillow spray for the overnight flight, 

then champagne and a newspaper. 

We pushed back on time and drinks 

and snacks were served shortly after 

take-off. The dinner service began with 

bread rolls after which came the most 

delicious beef fillet I can ever recall 

tasting, and not just on an aircraft; it 

was tender, moist and full of flavour 

and served with risotto, asparagus and 

a carrot puree. As the flight was full, 

the bathrooms were busy and I had to 

queue for my evening ablutions. The bar 

was also popular and I had to fight my 

way through a small crowd to reach the 

bathroom. My seat transformed into a 

bed with the push of a button and I was 

soon fast asleep, despite the revelry at 

the bar. I woke in time for a breakfast 

of oats, coffee and a croissant. 

ARRIVAL: The plane touched down 

at Heathrow on time and Upper Class 

passengers were the first to disembark. 

I was held up at the very strict transit 

security (thanks to a pot of jam I 

purchased at Tacoma International 

without forethought), but was soon on 

my way to the Virgin Clubhouse to wait 

out the nine-hour layover. 

VERDICT: A solid trans-Atlantic 

service with a great onboard product, 

especially in Upper Class. The Rituals 

products in the amenity kits were a real 

winner. C 

Kate Kennedy 

CONTACT 

W: virginatlantic.com 


Q & A 

Milestone achievement 

Sally George 

Market 

Development 

Manager: 

Singapore Airlines 

Singapore Airlines has been flying to South Africa for 25 years, with its first flight landing in Johannesburg on 

29 March 1992. It began with a twice-weekly service using a Boeing 747-300 with one stop in Mauritius. Today, the 

airline offers a daily direct service between Singapore and Johannesburg; four of these flights extend to Cape Town. 

Sally George, Singapore Airlines’ Market Development Manager, took some time to answer a few questions about 

the airline and its history with Africa. 

Q: As it’s now 25 years since SIA 

first flew to South Africa, what 

was the background to the first 

flight and viability of the route? 

A: Flights were introduced at the 

time when South Africa was at 

the dawn of a new era and with 

the opening up on trade and 

travel restrictions. 

Q: What ‘type’ of business travel 

do you see on this route? 

A: A mixture of corporate and 

leisure as well as groups and 

incentives. 

Q: What was the business case 

for SIA bringing the A350 into the 

fleet? 

A: There was a strong demand 

for a bigger business class cabin 

as well as a premium economy 

product. We’ve increased our 

business class cabin with the 

A350 from 25 to 41 seats and 

upgraded the product offering. 

Q: SIA is expected to re-start its 

non-stop Singapore-US Flights? 

What has made this possible? 

A: Singapore Airlines has 

launched its new, daily, nonstop 

Singapore-San Francisco 

service using an A350-900ULR 

aircraft – the longest flight in 

our network. Flying time ranges 

between 14:35hrs and 17:45hrs 

depending on direction and time 

of year. Singapore Airlines is the 

launch customer for the A350- 

900ULR, for which deliveries will 

begin in 2018. The aircraft will be 

used to re-launch non-stop flights 

between Singapore and both New 

York and Los Angeles. SIA serves 

San Francisco twice-daily, with 

the other flights operating via 

Hong Kong. Singapore Airlines 

also serves Los Angeles via both 

Seoul and Tokyo, Houston via 

Moscow, and New York JFK via 

Frankfurt. 

Q: What can passengers expect 

in the SIA premium economy 

cabin? 

A: The cabin is laid out in a 2-4-2 

configuration. The seats are 19.5 

inches wide with eight inches of 

recline and 38 inches of pitch and 

offer one power outlet and two 

USB ports. The entertainment 

system is delivered on a 13.3- 

inch touchscreen HD monitor. 

Customers receive a 35-kilogram 

excess baggage allowance and 

priority baggage handling as 

well as 110% KrisFlyer miles of 

distance travelled. On board, 

passengers are offered a choice 

of three main meals, champagne 

and curated red and white wines. 

Q: How popular has premium 

economy been since SIA 

introduced the product on its 

South African route? 

A: Extremely. We have strong 

load factors with a mixture of 

leisure and corporate travel, 

especially during the traditional 

school holiday periods. 

Q: What are you doing to 

meet passenger demand for 

technological advancement and 

digitisation? 

A: The free SingaporeAir mobile 

app brings you a whole new way 

to enjoy KrisWorld. Discover 

what is playing on KrisWorld 

even before you step on board, 

shortlist your favourite movies, 

TV or music and control the 

media playback right from your 

personal electronic device. You 

just need to link your device to 

your seat, which will also allow 

you to view the current flight 

path and location and check 

updated flight information. This 

feature is currently only available 

on our A350s and selected B777- 

300ER aircraft. 

Q: Have you made any changes 

to your loyalty programme? 

A: There are no recent changes 

to the KrisFlyer programme, 

however on the PPS Club – for 

passengers travelling business 

or first class – there are a few 

updates. From 1 June, the PPS 

value accumulated on your 

travels may also earn you PPS 

Rewards. Once you’ve earned a 

PPS Reward, it will automatically 

appear in your KrisFlyer Account 

Summary, ready to be used for 

your next flight. Rewards include 

Double KrisFlyer Miles vouchers, 

which allows you to earn twice the 

miles for a single flight segment; 

a 50,000-mile discount on your 

next award flight or one-cabin 

class redemption upgrade; standby 

upgrade vouchers; and advanceupgrade 

vouchers, which allow 

you to apply for a one-cabin class 

upgrade at the point of booking. 

Q: Are there any plans to expand 

your African footprint beyond 

South Africa? 

A: We will consider venturing into 

new territories if it is commercially 

viable to operate. Currently we 

have a sales executive dedicated to 

many off-line territories in Africa 

to create more brand and product 

awareness in the region.C 


Q & A 

Tech savvy 

Andy Hedley 

General Manager: 

Amadeus Southern 

Africa 

Technology is advancing so rapidly that it’s hard to stay up-to-date with the ever-evolving nature of it. The technological 

applications in the travel sector are no different and we have companies like Amadeus to thank for providing industry 

players with ever-improving solutions. Andy Hedley, General Manager: Amadeus Southern Africa, offers some insight 

into the world of travel technology. 

Q: If Amadeus is no longer a 

GDS company, what is it? 

A: Amadeus provides the 

technology which keeps the travel 

sector moving – from an initial 

search to making a booking, 

from pricing to ticketing, from 

managing reservations to 

managing check-in and departure 

processes. Our ambition is 

to facilitate the entire travel 

journey from door-to-door, 

and in the process improve the 

travel experience for hundreds 

of millions of people every year. 

We do this by connecting key 

players in the travel industry; we 

give companies the tools to serve 

travellers better and to manage 

their own businesses more 

effectively. 

Q: What role does Amadeus 

currently play and want to play in 

the business travel space? 

A: Technology is rapidly 

expanding possibilities in global 

travel. Tech-savvy business 

travellers are demanding a more 

connected travel experience. 

Amadeus, as the travel IT 

partner, delivers a complete travel 

management solution; an endto-end 

way to control costs and 

empower business travellers. We 

aim to provide automation tools 

that free TMCs up from repetitive 

tasks and costly human error 

so they can focus on customer 

service and business growth, 

and communication tools that 

allow TMCs to journey with the 

customer and personalise their 

service. These tools offer TMCs 

the opportunity to cross-sell and 

up-sell, providing an enhanced 

travel experience and thereby 

increasing the seat value. 

Q: What’s your view on the 

African market, in terms of the 

space that Amadeus plays in? 

A: Africa should not be perceived 

or related to as if it were one 

country. Every country is different 

and has its own challenges. 

Challenges are sometimes similar, 

but never the same. Technology 

providers need to ensure good 

knowledge of the market 

requirements and challenges to 

go-to market. Amadeus is careful 

to take note of these nuances and 

to have customer input on market 

requirements to ensure the best 

fit for each market and customer. 

Q: What do you think business 

travellers and bookers are 

looking for, nowadays, from an 

online travel solution? 

A: As travellers, we enjoy the 

choice, freedom and personalised 

experience of leisure travel. And 

today’s business traveller expects 

something similar from their 

business travel programmes… 

choice, flexibility and a higher 

quality total-trip experience; be 

that from searching and booking 

to real-time information and 

experience ‘on the road’, right 

through to post-trip reporting. 

Q: What’s the Amadeus view 

on ‘Big Data’ and the role it 

is playing and can play in the 

business travel space? 

A: ‘Big Data’ in travel comes from 

every moment in the traveller’s 

journey, from airline bookings 

to hotel check-in. Their actions 

create data which presents an 

opportunity for travel companies 

to provide better-individualised 

services to the traveller and to 

improve his or her experience. 

Amadeus is well positioned to 

make this work. 

Q: From where do you think the 

next technological breakthrough 

for the travel industry will come? 

A: Simplifying the options for the 

traveller is a good place to start. 

Today, travellers need several 

different smart apps for different 

things. Any breakthrough will 

be in the space of enhancing the 

experience for the traveller and 

enabling the TMC to keep up with 

these evolving needs. Specialised 

or niche services will secure the 

business offering for many travel 

agents. 

Q: How far do you believe the 

personalisation of travel will 

evolve? 

A: For many clients, their mobile 

phone has become who they 

are. Therefore, personalisation 

equals mobile, with every single 

mobile user having a unique 

identity. Evolution in travel will 

undoubtedly include intuitive 

offerings to customers through 

their mobile phone. For travellers, 

mobile offerings will not only 

be something they want, it will 

become an expectation. 

Q: What are the biggest 

challenges faced by those 

wanting to push the development 

of travel technology? 

A: Today, technology is largely 

reactive and customer-driven. 

Providers must produce quick, 

agile technology to respond 

to growing needs. TMC and 

technology providers must work 

together for solutions that will 

make the process seamless both 

for the TMC and the customer, 

and at the same time focus 

on building customer loyalty 

through better experiences, from 

aspiration to book and journey to 

on-trip and post-trip sharing. C 


PEOPLE ON THE MOVE 

Senior Director 

InterContinental 

Hotels Group has 

appointed David 

Todd as its new 

Senior Director, 

New Hotels-IMEA. 

Todd previously 

worked for IHG 

both at the corporate office and at 

the company’s hotels in the Middle 

East. Prior to rejoining IHG, he served 

as Vice-President, Operations-MEA 

at Millennium Hotels & Resorts. 

Todd will streamline and accelerate 

IHG’s new hotel opening process and 

collaborate with various functions 

across the corporate offices in Dubai 

and Delhi, as well as build on existing 

and new relationships with owners and 

business partners. He will also serve as 

a senior member of IHG’s New Hotels 

leadership team. 

Regional Director 

The Carlson Rezidor 

Hotel Group has 

appointed William 

McIntyre as 

Regional Director 

of Southern Africa. 

In his new role, 

McIntyre assumes 

responsibilities for the following 

countries: South Africa, Angola, 

Mauritius, Mozambique, Zambia, 

Gabon and Rwanda. McIntyre has over 

20 years’ experience in the hospitality 

industry, with his most recent role as 

COO for the Hospitality Property Fund. 

Director of Sales 

The Carlson Rezidor 

Hotel Group has 

appointed Patrick 

Lan as the Regional 

Director of Sales, 

North Africa & Indian 

Ocean. In his new 

role, Lan assumes 

responsibilities for Morocco, Algeria, 

Tunisia, Chad and Cape Verde, while 

retaining responsibilities for the Indian 

Oceans including Mauritius. Lan 

has over 12 years’ experience in the 

hospitality industry, with a core focus 

on sales and marketing. His most recent 

roles include Deputy General Manager 

at Maritim Hotels and Group Director 

of Sales & Marketing at Sun Resorts. 

He joined Carlson Rezidor in 2016. 

Director, Global Sales 

Marriott International has appointed 

Brendon Hart as its new Director, 

Global Sales – South Africa, Sub- 

Saharan Africa & 

West Africa. His main 

responsibility is to 

maintain effective 

financial performance 

by ensuring that 

profitable sales 

are generated and 

operational controls 

are in place within a sales engine of 

the global sales organisation. Hart 

joined Radisson Blu in 2010 as Sales 

Executive before taking the position 

Sales and Marketing Director at 

Carlson Rezidor in 2011. He moved to 

Marriott in 2016 as Director, Global 

Sales – Middle East and Africa. 

Board Member 

WingsNaledi has 

appointed Gugu 

Sepamla to its board. 

Sepamla is co-founder 

and principal partner 

of Moshe Capital, 

and brings 18 years’ 

senior executive 

experience to WingsNaledi, including 

12 years in company director roles 

on several public and listed boards. 

Sepamla served as the Managing 

Director and Head of Public Policy and 

Government Relations of Barclays Bank 

(Africa). She has also been involved 

in the successful transformation and 

restructuring of various state-owned 

entities over a 10-year period. 

Board Member 

WingsNaledi has 

appointed Nicholas 

Maweni to its board. 

Maweni brings 

extensive marketing, 

communication and 

legal expertise to 

the WingsNaledi 

board through his experience in 

both the private and public sector. 

He worked as Chief of Staff for the 

Ministry of Arts and Culture and also 

for the Ministry of Justice. He was 

the Managing Director of the Black 

Management Forum and was previously 

the Chief Marketing Executive at IBM 

Africa. 

Marketing Manager 

Newly appointed 

Group Marketing 

Manager of Protea 

Hotels by Marriot 

and African Pride 

Hotels Avukile 

Mabombo joins the 

group with a wealth 

of experience in brand management. 

His academic background – in media 

studies and brand leadership – 

underpin his many roles as a brand 

and marketing manager. He worked on 

a number of alcohol brands for RGBC 

and Brandhouse Beverages before 

joining Monster Energy as its Regional 

Marketing Manager. 

Account Director 

Marriott International 

has appointed 

Jeanette Moloto as 

Account Director: 

Sub-Saharan Africa. 

She is responsible 

for managing 

and developing 

relationships and business within sub- 

Saharan Africa across all the Marriott 

lodging brands. Moloto has worked in 

the travel industry for 13 years, serving 

in a range of positions mostly within 

the Protea Hotels by Marriott group. 

Previously she served as the Regional 

Manager, Africa, for the African 

Business Travel Association. 

General Manager 

Protea Hotel Fire 

& Ice by Marriott 

Cape Town has 

appointed Anso 

Venter as its new 

General Manager. 

Venter started out 

as a trainee in the 

hospitality industry, studying while 

working. Following international 

experience in England, Scotland and 

Dubai, Venter returned to South 

Africa in 2005, joining Protea Hotels 

by Marriott in 2007. Her first General 

Manager role was at the Protea Hotel 

by Marriott Cape Town Tyger Valley, 

and the three years of experience there 

have made her well placed to lead the 

popular Cape Town Fire & Ice! Hotel. 


BITE WITH THE EDITOR 

Strong Growth 

Neil Bald 

CEO - AHA HOTELS 

& LODGES 

Aha Hotels & Lodges is Tourvest’s accommodation division and is wholly-owned by the South African TMC. 

In the past five years it has grown into a significant player in the Southern African hotel industry. CEO 

Neil Bald has been at the forefront of that growth, and was happy to unpack some of those details over a coffee 

with editor Dylan Rogers in Johannesburg. 

Alot has happened since Neil 

Bald joined aha five years 

ago. 

The group has grown its portfolio 

from 12 hotels and lodges to over 

40, acquired a major competitor 

in the form of Three Cities 

Hotels, launched a new brand to 

the market, and grown its staff 

complement to over 60. 

All of this adds up to the second 

biggest hotel management company 

in Southern Africa and the fourth 

biggest hotel group in South Africa. 

“The plan when I joined was to 

grow it considerably and it still is,” 

says Bald. 

So, it sounds like he is on track. 

The aha brand now consists of 

a diverse selection of hotels and 

lodges spread across South Africa, 

Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and 

Botswana, with the plan to extend 

that footprint into other African 

countries. 

“Outside of South Africa, our 

plan, from a hotel point of view, is 

to be represented in capital cities,” 

says Bald, whilst acknowledging 

that aha Hotels & Lodges still has 

some way to go before becoming 

a recognisable brand, particularly 

to international travellers. As a 

result, aha are open to operating 

properties under franchise 

agreement, if all the right boxes are 

ticked. 

“We are seeing demand for 

regional operators who know the 

lay of the land, possibly already 

have representation in the area, 

and understand how to work with 

the local labour force,” says Bald 

of the international brands who 

favour this approach over trying to 

make it work on their own. 

Besides the countries already 

mentioned, aha has fairly recently 

gone into Ethiopia with a deal for 

a group of properties over a few 

years. The first hotel is expected to 

be complete in the next year, with 

the second one due to start soon 

and two more on the cards in the 

future. 

“It’s going to be a very 

interesting couple of years,” says 

Bald, whilst conceding that the 

Ethiopian expansion goes a little 

against the grain of aha’s growth 

strategy, which focuses largely on 

South Africa and its neighbouring 

countries. 

“The plan is to grow more than 

one property in a destination and 

to ‘grow countries’,” he says. “If 

we do that we can start putting in 

country management etc.” 

East Africa, though, also 

remains of interest to Bald and 

aha, and whilst the group has had 

a look at and considered one or 

two opportunities in the likes of 

Nigeria, Ghana and Angola, one 

gets the sense that West Africa is 

currently just not as appealing. 

“We haven’t focused on growth 

too far from home, but rather on 

neighbouring countries and East 

Africa, where there just seems to 

be more opportunity than West 

Africa,” says Bald. 

Back home, aha are still 

optimistic about their South 

African growth in the hotel space, 

with Bald citing Johannesburg and 

Cape Town as the key locations 

from a business travel point of 

view, whilst also conceding that 

there is currently a hole in their 

portfolio. 

“To be recognised as a serious 

player, you need to have key 

locations, and in corporate travel 

you have to be in Sandton, 

where we currently don’t have 

representation,” he says. “We’ve 

recognised that, although it’s not 

that simple to get in there, but 

we are working on a couple of 

options.” 

From a lodge point of view, the 

focus is slightly different. 

“Growth outside of South Africa 

will more likely come from the 

lodge space, and we want to be in 

key/iconic locations,” says Bald. 

“So, it’s Etosha, the Serengeti, 

Maasai Mara and Kruger National 

Park. There is demand for operators 

in these locations.” 

Five years is a nice round number 

and, arguably, an opportunity to 

reflect for Bald. 

Aha Hotels & Lodges have come 

a long way since he joined in 2012, 

with the Three Cities acquisition in 

2014 giving the group the kick-start 

it was looking for, catapaulting it 

from 20 to 40 properties, giving it 

the critical mass Bald wanted, and 

establishing aha as a South African 

hotel group to be taken seriously. 

Now for the next five years… C

Business Traveler

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