THE CHANGING FACE OF HOUSEKEEPING IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

What do you do if you get an urgent call after business hours for US 000 worth of flowers to be delivered to the hotel suite of a movie star at nine o`clock the next morning? If you`re Diana Parry you get the lights switched on in the florist shop and have the flowers delivered on time to the movie star to present to his wife on her birthday.

And, if you are Diana Parry, when another celebrity, already on his way to your hotel, suddenly thinks it would be nice for his wife to have her favourite chocolates on arrival and his son to have a teddy bear, you make sure that the wife will find her chocolates on the lounge table and the child will be greeted by a teddy bear on his bedroom pillows.

Diana Parry is the Executive Housekeeper at the Palazzo Hotel Montecasino which forms part of Southern Sun’s Deluxe group of hotels . Whether a guest wants the bedroom curtains closed or the window open before arrival, Diana will make sure it`s done. “We want to create a relaxed and comfortable ambiance for our guests,” she says. “We want to give them a home from home feeling.”

All this starts at 6.30 when Diana checks the guest list for the day and then briefs the housekeeping staff when they come on duty. “I want my staff to know who the guests are in the rooms they are preparing for their arrival,” she says. “We have Royalty, Heads of State and celebrities at the Palazzo as well as business people and tourists and the staff are always proud to serve all these guests to the best of their ability.”

The Botshabelo Master Plan is nearing its completion and all indications are that the proposed tourism developmetns will have a huge economic and social impact on the Middelburg, Mpumalanga region and benefits to the Botshabelo Community.  The Premier of Mpumalanga recently visited Botshabelo and a follow-up meeting and presentation will be arranged to discuss the proposed developments.

Nonni Mavundla has joined recently the Thokozela marketing team.  At Indaba she ahd impressed the cleints with her knowledge and warm personality.  She is an experienced manager, which will definetely equip her well to deal with the marketing and sales of the various Thokozela brand products - Shangana Cultural Village, Botshabelo Historical Village and Basambilu Lodge and Tours.

She can be contacted on (082) 654-4929

Since the Thokozela Leisure Management had taken over the management of Bothsabelo Historical Village a number of exiting things had happened to position this unique heritage site as a "must see and visit" tourism experience on the Mpumalanga Highveld close to Middelburg.  Tyhe followings things had happened in the meantime:

The Feya Faku Quintet / Jack Van Poll Trio Concert.

In a major boost for Jazz in Cape Town, two internationally acclaimed artists namely, South African trumpeter Feya Faku and Dutch jazz pianist, Jack Van Poll will perform at the Baxter Theatre, Cape Town on Thursday, 22 February & Friday, 23 February 2007.

‘THE VILLA’ OPENS

Designed as an exclusive self-contained private property, ‘The Villa’ in Paarl has opened its doors to provide the ultimate in luxury accommodation with unsurpassed views of the Paarl Valley and the Du Toitskloof mountains. Built approximately 15 years ago and purchased recently by the new owners at a cost of over R14 million, it is considered as one of the wine regions premier modern residences. The refurbishment took 18 months and R1. 5 million to complete and was spearheaded by both the owner and South African interior designer, Christo Barnard, who envisioned The Villa as a 1^st class boutique property.
Submitted by The P.R Team

PRESS RELEASE

‘Triple & Touch’ jet into S.A for Star School Project

The international Swedish group – ‘Triple & Touch’ will arrive in South Africa on 20 October to attend the Swedish Businesses of South Africa function in Johannesburg to raise awareness for the ‘Star School Project’ and then fly to KwaZulu-Natal to visit the Star School learners until the 26 October. Triple & Touch composed the projects hit song “Aids-Free-That’s Me”, along with 39 traditional Zulu dancers and singers, which has so far raised a staggering R24 million.
Submitted by The P.R Team

New Executive Chef for Grande Provence

Peter Tempelhoff, Executive Chef at the award winning ‘Automat’ in London, has joined the Grande Provence team to take over the position as Executive Chef from Vanie Padayachee.
Submitted by The P.R Team

Cape Suites completes first phase of refurbishment

The 4-star, 123 room Best Western Cape Suites Hotel, Cape Town, one of only two properties within the Best Western chain in South Africa, has recently finished its first phase of refurbishment. The suites follow a homely style décor. One of the distinct advantages of the hotel is that it is perfectly equipped for long stay guests, especially those relocating to Cape Town, wishing to utilise the self catering aspect, although there are two restaurants guests can choose from.  Submitted by The P.R Team

Thokozela Leisure Management - management subsidiary of Touraissance Holdings - will take over the management of Botshabelo Historical Village and Game Reserve on the 1st of September 2006.  This exiting tourism product has been transferred to the Botshabelo Community Development Trust as a successful Land Claim, therefore they had appointed a company, such as Thokozela, who has experience in the management, operations and marketing of Community Base Tourism products, such as Shangana Cultural Village and Ebutsini Cultural Village, to assist them with the current business and to develop Botshabelo into a tourism destiantion of high standards and quality.

Botshabelo is located close to Gauteng, 7km's from Middelburg in Mpumalanga, and the product consist of a historical village, dating back to 1860, which can accommodate 150 people, 60 caravan stands on the banks of the Klien Olifants River, day visitors facility, living Ndebele Village and musuem, 300ha reserve (various plain animals), etc.

The plan is to develop Botshabelo into a living historical village (Heritage Site) with a tented camp (in a beautiful corge) and fractional ownership development on the banks of the river, linked to an equastrian lifestyle.  This will be an ideal breakaway destiantion for the city dwellers in a beautiful and relaxing countryside environment en route to the popular Loskop Dam area.

Submitted by Touraissance Holdings