Kate

Without a doubt, 2020 has been an unprecedented year … and it’s not yet over.  While it would be unfair to say that the hospitality and tourism sectors were hardest hit when the struggle has been global, this year has certainly forced us to face up to inevitable questions around our future survival prospects. For us, however, our trust in...

Sun International has announced that Tati Tsunke has been appointed the General Manager of The Boardwalk in Port Elizabeth, effective 1 November 2020. He will report to the Chief Operating Officer: Hospitality and Resorts. Tsunke was the Human Resources Manager at Time Square Casino in Pretoria for the past two years. He joined Sun International in October 2016 as the HR...

A Hyatt Hotels Corporation affiliate has entered into a management agreement with South African real estate company Millat Properties for the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Cape Town. Hyatt Regency Cape Town, a 137-room hotel, is expected to open in December 2020, bringing the total number of Hyatt-branded hotels across Africa to eight, with two in South Africa. The new Hyatt Regency...

Radisson Hotel Group announces the launch of a new brand, Radisson Individuals. Radisson Individuals is a conversion brand that offers independent hotels and local, regional chains the opportunity to be part of the global Radisson Hotel Group platform, benefit from the Group’s international awareness and experience, with the freedom to maintain their own uniqueness and identity. Radisson Individuals hotels are...

City Lodge Hotel Group now offers guests contactless online check-in at its hotels, accessed via its website www.clhg.com and on its mobile app too. In a similar manner to the online check-in for flights, guests can check themselves into their hotel and avoid having to touch too many shared items at the reception desk, keeping both guests and staff...

BACKGROUND: Opened in January 2013 following an extensive refurbishment, the Maslow Sandton is a business traveller-focused hotel with offerings to accommodate their specific needs – from comfortable work desks and chairs in the rooms to fully equipped meeting rooms on the ground floor and free wi-fi for guests and conference delegates. WHERE IS IT? The Maslow is located in Sandton's...

The Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Lagos, V.I. is pleased to announce the promotion of Ahmed Raza to General Manager as of 1 September, 2020. Joining Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Lagos, V.I in 2017 as the Executive Assistant Manager, Ahmed brings over 15 years of widespread hospitality experience to his new role. His new responsibilities include overseeing the complete operations and...

How will travel be different as the world deals with the aftermath of COVID-19? Recovering from the COVID-19 crisis will be complex, and businesses in the tourism sector need to factor in both fact and emotion. This is according to Neil Markovitz, CEO of the Newmark Collection who says that tourists’ behaviours and preferences have changed. “Tourists are weighing new...

Following the airline’s resumption of services from London Heathrow to Hong Kong, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Tel Aviv, India, Lagos and many other destinations, Virgin Atlantic has unveiled its planned passenger flying restart to South Africa. The airline plans to operate four flights a week from Johannesburg to London Heathrow from 19th October and increase to a daily...

The big news of the reopening of South Africa’s international borders from 1 October 2020 means that business travellers to the continent’s most industrialised country are now able to enjoy more freedom than they have in the last six months. Leisure travellers, however, remain significantly restricted due to South Africa’s extensive travel-ban list. Truly sobering for SA’s travel and tourism...

As part of South Africa’s move to lockdown level one on 21 September 2020, air travel restrictions have been eased. International air travel commenced from 1 October 2020, initially restricted to three airports: OR Tambo International Airport, King Shaka International Airport and Cape Town International Airport. South Africa is taking a necessary cautious risk-based approach, with travel permitted to...

South African company UC-Wireless has launched Instant Vitals, the world’s first smart mobile-based app that provides advanced healthcare risk wellness and COVID-19 screening for business staff, clients and personal users. The app screens the main recognised symptoms and measures vital signs, which are key early indicators for health risk especially COVID-19, including oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiratory rate,...