Thebe Tourism Group Bulletin

Club Travel extends distribution agreement with Travelport

Travelport, a broad-based business services company, has recently announced a five-year extension to their global distribution systems (GDS) agreement with the Club Travel Group. A GDS is a worldwide computerised reservation system giving users one point of access for reserving airline seats, hotel rooms, car rental, and other travel related items. Travelport is the supplier of two of the world’s leading global distribution systems (GDS), Galileo and Worldspan, two of the three GDS’s used by Club Travel Group...full story

Feathers for First Car branches

The 2010 annual Airports Company SA (ACSA) rewards programme, the Feather Awards, acknowledges service excellence by service providers at its airports. First Car Rental scooped two Feather Awards in December 2010 for their Kimberley Airport branch and for the Upington Airport branch, both for the Car Hire Service Operator, Small Category section. It’s the second Feather Award for the Kimberley Airport branch, having won the Car Hire Operator of the Year award in 2007...full story

Cape Point shows love to HOKISA children's home

The Two Oceans Restaurant, located at Cape Point, made the children at HOKISA, a small children’s home located in the Cape Town township of Masiphumelele, extremely happy with the complete renovation of their rooms. A fresh coat of paint, new lightshades, curtains, rugs, bedding, bunk beds and mattresses were planned for HOKISA, who cares for children infected with or affected by HIV and AIDS...full story

See some of Club Travels current deals below. To find more of these, go to:

www.clubtravel.co.za

Zambezi Sun, Zambia

Departs Johannesburg: R6430
Departs Cape Town: R8270
Departs Durban: R7770

Includes:
* Return flights to Livingstone
* Pre-payable airport/security taxes
* Return airport/hotel transfers
* 4 nights accommodation at the Zambezi Sun Hotel
* Breakfast & dinner daily
* Nature walk through the Falls Resort
* 5 days travel insurance
* Unlimited access to the falls
* Travel bag

Validity:
NOW - 30 JUN 2011. Valid for SA residents only.

Shop up a storm in Bangkok, Thailand

Departs Johannesburg: R7850
Departs Cape Town: R10130
Departs Durban: R9680

Includes:
* Return flights to Bangkok
* Pre-payable airport/security taxes
* Return airport/hotel transfers
* 4 nights accommodation at the 4* Eastin Hotel & Spa
* Breakfast daily
* Travel bag

Validity:
NOW - 30 SEP 2011.

F1 Grand Prix - Spain, Barcelona

Departs Johannesburg: R12840
Departs Cape Town: R14560
Departs Durban: R14240

Includes:
* Return flights to Barcelona
* Pre-payable airport/security taxes
* Return airport/hotel transfers
* 4 nights accommodation at the 3* Aquamarine Hotel
* Breakfast & dinner daily
* Return circuit transfers
* Race tickets for 2 days on the Grandstand M (Saturday & Sunday)
* Ticket lanyard, protective earplugs, wallet & backpack

Validity:
Departs: 19 MAY 2011.

Contents

Main
CEO's message
Editor's note

ESS in groundbreaking deal with KZN communities

No more guilt trips for visitors to Cape Point

Exciting new conference for the Hospitality design industry

First Car Rental goes global

Group Highlights

Club Travel extends distribution agreement with Travelport

Feathers for First Car branches

Cape Point shows love to HOKISA children’s home

CEO's Message

With the strengthening of the Rand and South Africa increasingly becoming a more expensive destination for foreign visitors, the focus of tour operators and other industry stakeholders should be on developing unique experiences in order for South Africa to remain a first-class, value-for-money destination. Regional Tourism bodies will do well to follow the lead of South African Tourism and focus on marketing diverse experiences through innovative and engaging campaigns. One campaign that is picking up momentum is the campaign run by Table Mountain Cableway, for Table Mountain to become one of the New 7 Wonders (N7W) of Nature. If Table Mountain is successful, it is believed that the impact on tourism to South Africa will be drastic as is evident by the visitor numbers to Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue. Since it was voted a New 7 Wonder of the World it experienced a 30% increase in visitor numbers and Peru’s Machu Picchu saw a 70% increase since its election as a New 7 Wonder of the World. See details in the bulletin on voting for Table Mountain.

Although we eagerly measure the economic impact of tourism, there is less focus on the resultant ecological impact on our environment. Fortunately a new breed of traveller is emerging, with a consciousness about their environmental footprint, creating a demand for eco-friendly products, services and experiences. There are a few organisations in the industry that not only champion sustainable tourism development but also incorporate the ethos on an operational level. One such company, The Green Cab Team, has developed an ecologically sustainable transport solution for the Southern Peninsula in Cape Town. Read more about this venture in this month’s bulletin.

With Earth Hour on the 26th of March and National Water Week from 21 to 27 March, I wish everybody a ‘green’ month of March.

Monwabisi Fandeso
CEO, Thebe Tourism Group

Editor's Note

It makes me proud to be part of Thebe when I read the heartwarming story of Compass SA’s involvement in community upliftment. The Cape Point Partnership has also been active in their community and you can read more about it in ‘Cape Point shows love to HOKISA children’s home’.

Since the involvement of the Thebe Tourism Group with Cape Point, we identified the need for a more affordable and accessible means of transport to the beautiful ‘end of Africa’. Finally some forward thinking, ‘green’ entrepreneurs have come up with a solution (see ‘no more guilt trips for visitors to Cape Point’), and I look forward to seeing our visitor numbers increase.

‘First Car Rental goes global’ expands on their move to global distribution through the GDS, Amadeus and Club Travel continues to innovate with their integration of technology in their operations. Speaking of Club Travel, look out for the great deals that they’re offering to Vic Falls, the East and the Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain.

Until next month!

Hapiloe Sello
Group GM: Marketing, Thebe Tourism Group

ESS in groundbreaking deal with KZN communities

Two rural Kwa-Zulu Natal communities are set to benefit from a groundbreaking agreement signed recently with ESS, the support services and facilities management subsidiary of South Africa's leading outsourced contract caterer Compass Group Southern Africa (Compass Group SA). The agreement revolves around the operation of a kitchen serving 2,000 hot meals to forestry workers employed by Mondi Forests South Africa in the New Hanover area in the KZN Midlands.

Not only will the Eyethu Community Trust, which represents the communities of Kranzkop and Mabomvini in the KZN Midlands, and the Siyathokoza Community Trust, which represents neighbouring Kwahlonga, receive a 25% share of quarterly profits generated through the kitchen, but they will also benefit from job creation, training and development and skills transfer opportunities in partnership with ESS. The two community trusts own a portion of the surrounding land leased by Mondi Forests for its forestry operations. They have registered a catering business called Iphini Catering Company (PTY) Ltd, with which Compass will partner.

Compass Group SA Director: Marketing & Corporate Affairs, Zuzi Buthelezi said, “There is nothing worse than generating revenue and profits yet not leaving behind a legacy for the communities in which you operate. We always encourage our catering and hospitality clients to get involved with us in driving these initiatives within our surrounding communities.”

“Compass Group SA believes in this model and we offer our immense gratitude to Mondi SA for the forward thinking manner in which it has facilitated this project. I also want to thank the communities of Mabomvini and Kwahlonga for partnering with us and I can assure them of Compass Group SA’s commitment to this great initiative”...full story

No more guilt trips for visitors to Cape Point

The biggest hurdle for tourism in the Southern Peninsula has always been the lack of regular transport from Cape Town to areas like Cape Point. Tourists who wish to visit this picturesque corner of Cape Town have to book a pricey tour; rent a car or hire a taxi. Access to the Southern Peninsula is therefore severely limited and expensive for tourists travelling to South Africa on a budget.

The Green Cab team, an eco-innovation company, has finally come up with an environmentally sustainable and cost effective answer – a shuttle service to Cape Point.

The Green Bus, as it’s known, runs on a B50 blend of Biodiesel (used cooking oil) and is the first green transport solution in South Africa.

The shuttle service will not only address the issue of access to the area but also alleviate traffic congestion in the park and the resultant pollution. Amiene van der Merwe, one of the ‘Green Ladies’ behind the initiative says, “We have identified that there is a lack of mobility in the “south” if one does not self-drive...and, in particular to get to Cape Point..not only do we facilitate mobility, but is does not have to “cost the earth” in that it is green and affordable…we are confident that this Green Pass will be hugely successful going forward.” Although the drivers, or Green Ambassadors as they like to refer to them, are trained guides, the shuttle doesn’t include a guided tour of Cape Point which has allowed them to keep the cost down...full story

More information and pre-booking is available on-line at www.webtickets.co.za/thegreenbus

Exciting new conference for Hospitality design industry

Thebe Exhibitions & Projects Group (TEPG) recently announced the launch of Design in Hospitality (DiH), the first confex (conference incorporating an exhibition), of its kind to be held in South Africa. The inaugural two-day event will take place on 15 and 16 September at The Forum, Turbine Hall, Newtown, Johannesburg.

Design in Hospitality, incorporating a high-level conference and exhibition, will focus on the hospitality industry and will provide an opportunity for decision makers to discover more about current and predicted trends in the industry.

Ethonomics, currently one of the most impactful emerging trends, together with sustainability has been incorporated throughout the event. Technology and connectivity will also feature strongly during the conference.

The two day DiH conference, which forms the core of the event, is themed ‘Designing the ultimate away experience’ and includes a line-up of both international and local design industry heavy weights. Day One of the DiH conference will focus on hotel development and interior design; while Day Two will concentrate on designing facilities and services, as well as food design.

“From check-in to sleeping to bathing to eating - modern hospitality concepts need to excite, seduce and sell, and do so by balancing aesthetics with the financial,” says Cairey Slater, general manager for the project. “It is challenging, yet exciting times for the hospitality design industry as hotels are undergoing a transformation which will see their range of offerings go far beyond the basic services of accommodation and food.” Design has become a pivotal element to creating authentic, individual guest experiences...full story

First Car Rental goes Global

In line with First Car Rentals’ desire to be the ‘leading car rental company in South Africa and beyond’ the company has partnered with Amadeus, a Global Distribution System (GDS), to bring its products right to the fingertips of travel agents worldwide. A GDS is a worldwide computerised reservation system used by the travel industry as a portal for reserving airline seats, hotel rooms, car rental, and other travel related items.

Weblink, First Car Rental’s online booking tool, will still be available to travel agents thereby providing them with a choice of booking channels.

Melissa Storey, Executive Head: Strategy, Development & Marketing First Car Rental says, “We have signed a one year exclusivity deal with Amadeus. We are very excited at the prospect of dealing with some travel agents that we haven’t been able to reach with our “commissionable direct online” approach, as well as the airline and hotel cross-selling opportunities that this partnership will present in future.”

The Amadeus car booking tool uses cutting-edge technology to power its various multi-channel B2B and B2C booking interfaces used by traditional travel agents, online travel agents and airlines. Destinations of the World, an online reservation system, with 21 offices in 16 countries and working with over 150,000 Travel Agents, recently reached an agreement with Amadeus to access Amadeus Cars content for its Travel Agent booking system, further extending the reach of First Car Rental’s products. Apart from First Car Rental, Amadeus has recently added a further 5 car rental providers to its available content, bringing this to a total of 30 car rental suppliers with over 36,000 locations worldwide.

“We are very pleased to be the first travel distribution system to bring on board a key car rental provider such as First Car Rental because it expands the range of products that are available to both our corporate and leisure travel agents,” commented Peter Long, General Manager, Amadeus Southern Africa...full story