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 @
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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
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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
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4 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 5
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.
8 | SEPTEMBER2017
For more news, visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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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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.
10 | SEPTEMBER2017
For more news, visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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
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Same day return flights between
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Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 11
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.
12 | SEPTEMBER2017
For more news, visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
14 | SEPTEMBER2017
For more news, visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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
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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
16 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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
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Day and overnight special packages are available.
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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.
20 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 21
FEATURE – TMCs
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.”
22 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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FEATURE – TMCs
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. ”
24 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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FEATURE – TMCs
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. ”
26 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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FEATURE – TMCs
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
28 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
FEATURE – TMCs
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.
30 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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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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.
34 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 35
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.
36 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 37
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.
38 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 39
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!
40 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 41
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.
42 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 43
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.
44 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 45
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.
46 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 47
FEATURE – ZIMBABWE
Treading
water
48 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.
FEATURE – ZIMBABWE
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
50 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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
FEATURE – ZIMBABWE
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.
52 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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
FEATURE – ZIMBABWE
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
54 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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.”
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 55
FEATURE – ZIMBABWE
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
56 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 57
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
58 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 59
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
60 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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
Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za SEPTEMBER2017 | 61
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.
62 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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
64 | SEPTEMBER2017 Visit businesstravellerafrica.co.za
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