How restaurants are turning their wine lists into a powerful storytelling tool for regenerative farming and sustainable viticulture.
In this second half of the interview with Dalené Claassens, Hotel General Manager at Babylonstoren, a rural resort located near Paarl, South Africa within the Cape Winelands vinicultural region, we take a closer look at some of the key onsite features that make this property both a one-of-a-kind destination for any traveler and a world leader in regenerative tourism. Indeed, delivering a truly unforgettable guest experience at this caliber is wholly dependent on all the various agricultural, immersive culinary and wellness programs that are on offer for visitors.
True hospitality is a story of people, the lands they live on, the foods they eat, the activities they do day in, day out, and all the cultural nuances that make life so joyous. Hospitality is also about giving back and stewarding the larger community, leaving the land better off for all stakeholders rather than a merely extractive enterprise catering to only travelers.
In the heart of Zululand, South Africa, lies Babanango Game Reserve, a once cattle-farmed landscape that now stands as a true testament to the power of environmental renewal. This reserve recently underwent one of South Africa’s most ambitious rewilding projects, reintroducing the Big 5 after nearly 150 years. The land, which is rich with history, culture, and natural beauty, has undergone an extraordinary transformation, and Luxury Frontiers had the honor of playing a key role in its incredible rebirth. Our design work at Madwaleni River Lodge, located within the reserve, embodies the essence of sustainability, cultural heritage, and community upliftment.
This article underscores Namibia's potential as a premier tourism destination, driven by its natural beauty, strategic initiatives, and increasing tourism contributions to the economy.
Tunisia had more than 9 million international tourists prior to the pandemic and saw a sharp increase in tourists since 2016. Kevin Dyck is the owner of Mosaic North Africa and North Africa Tours Director and according to his interview regarding the impact of Covid-19 on South Africa/ Other African nations he mentioned that "We work in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and recently we have private tours to Egypt. The tourism industry has come to a stop for international travelers visiting Algeria."
Morocco is located in North Africa, a lot of its country depends on tourism, and it is the second or third largest industry in Morocco. There are 585 hotel properties in Morocco participating in the Smith Travel Research (STR) data. Oriental Bay Beach Golf & Spa Resort Saidia is the largest hotel in Morocco with 614 rooms followed by Mogador Palace Agdal Marrakech with 610 rooms. Majority of the Moroccan hotels are upscale class, at 34.36%, followed by 17.09% economy class as shown in the pie chart below.
The fastest growing economy in French speaking Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, has been an ongoing key market for all hotel investors, developers and operators with an interest in Africa. Despite the fact that the country’s ambitious strategy with the aim to position it as a top-5 African travel destination, “Sublime Côte d'Ivoire”, has been delayed by the pandemic, the tourism industry remains the country’s priority.
HTI Consulting recently launched a new report on hotel operator selection and management contract negotiation in Africa, providing various invaluable insights into the selection process as well as important analysis on contract contents, trends, benchmarks and negotiation techniques for owners in Africa."
"…Frankie liked to say that boxing is an unnatural act, that everything in boxing is backwards. Sometimes the best way to deliver a punch is to step back . . . but step back too far, you ain't fighting at all…" Million Dollar Baby
Cape Town is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflecting its role as a major destination for immigrants and expatriates to South Africa. As of 2018, the city had an estimated population of 4.5 million. The CTICC CEO Julie-May Ellingson has announced a R900m CTICC 2 development, this planned all glass sky bridge between the two parts of Cape Town International Convention Centre could become the mother city’s latest tourist attraction.
Johannesburg has become a destination of choice for business due to an outstanding reputation for quality and affordability. As of 2018 the city had an estimated population of 8.3 million. The city generates 16% of South African GDP and employs 12% of the national workforce. Johannesburg is the home to the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) that is rated as one of the top 20 exchanges in the world in terms of market capitalization.
If you are the kind of person who likes nothing more than to cuddle up on the couch with the latest edition of your favourite tabloid to find out what the schlebz are getting up to, you'll know the answer to the question, 'What do Miley and Idris have in common?' The answer, of course, is Cape Town.Both have been spotted, along with another A-lister, Vin Diesel, exploring the city. Milla Jovovich, Meagan Good and T.I. are also in Cape Town shooting the movie Monster Hunter. Meagan and T.I. were seen partying at local club Coco a few weeks ago. Many A-listers come to Cape Town as a result of the city's renown as a shoot location, but they frequently return to enjoy more leisure activities. After all, it's a city where you can play all day and never tire of discovering new spots to uncover or fresh activities to enjoy.Spot the celebrity - our version of Where's WallyMiley is reportedly here as part of the filming of Black Mirror, currently one of the world's most popular series; she's been spotted at the V&A Waterfront - Africa's most-visited attraction - but it's certain that fans will be trying to figure out where she's most likely to turn up next. Will it be at Shimmy Beach Club? Perhaps in an express queue at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway. Your guess is as good as mine.Michael Jackson is a global icon who adored Cape Town, so much so that he wanted to have a statue of himself put up here, but he didn't need to: his footprint here alone is indelible. But th e reverse is true, too: it doesn't matter how well-known you are, this city leaves a bigger imprint on you than you do on it.The film industry is central to our ongoing economic growth. From TV ads to feature-length movies or music videos, the many quirky locations and remarkable natural surroundings make an ideal backdrop to any production. Locals here have grown used to seeing crews rigging up streets to capture scenes, and, despite the film industry being somewhat seasonal, many Capetonians enjoy being sustained in jobs by the opportunities it offers. Wesgro stated early in 2018 that they'd generated close to R2 billion for the 2017/2018 financial year by wooing film industry productions, and that 2,449 full-time equivalent jobs have been created in the Cape. Couple those figures with the income generated by those industry visitors in hotels, restaurants and retail and the cash injection is even greater.Hotels here are used to the discretion required to host A-listers; it takes a special venue to host a wealthy, well-known person and their entourage. The days of rock stars trashing rooms are something of legend - we don't see that at all here - what we do see are universal travellers in awe of the city. They want to explore as any of us do, travelling like locals into the immersive experiences on offer. For the most part, they're happy to take a few selfies with fans when spotted out and about, and locals are quite charming when it comes to being around celebrities: we know them from our screens, so we're almost like old friends, and that's a heartwarming exchange to watch.Mention that Idris Elba is in town and you'll hear your friends sigh, longingly. It seems remarkable that these global superstars choose our city to visit, almost as if they're… normal.I believe that these kinds of visits are a fantastic means of marketing Cape Town to a wider audience, as are the productions that take place here. They form part of the mystical narrative that Cape Town is a special place, which, of course, it is. Why not head here this summer? You never know who you could bump into.
Travel's latest trends have been announced at World Travel Market London, with South African businesses being mentioned at the trade show for their role in innovation within the sector.According to the Euromonitor Megatrends Report 2019, global inbound international arrivals are expected to grow by 5% to 1.4 billion trips in 2018. This amounts to total travel sales that are expected to reach almost US$2.5 trillion for the year - a figure that both inspires and tantalizes and speaks to the importance of attracting visitors according to those trends.Seamless experiencesThe report details travel trends ahead of 2019, pinpointing these regionally across the globe. One trend of relevance for the South African market is that of travellers seeking seamless experiences from start to finish. Innovators in this space include proximity payment specialists Snapchat, whose product has provided access to the market for SMEs locally since they can now provide a payment option that suits the digital-first market that speaks to the needs of their customers. It's ideal for a developing marketplace like South Africa's; it enables visitors to avoid having to carry cash and helps them to transact in a card-free environment.Apart from product innovations such as these, when it comes to seamless experiences, there's more to focus on: first of all, the visa and unabridged birth certificate situation needs to be resolved to remove barriers to access. This is an impediment that shouldn't exist in a market that's seeking to capitalise on growth opportunities - after all, the opportunities to encourage the global tourist to visit Cape town are clear - the city is a breathtaking environment that's perfectly suited to be one of the world's leading destinations. It's already gained a powerful reputation as such, for good reason, but we refuse to be satisfied with modest tourism figures; we want what is rightfully ours, teeming visitors enjoying a world-class visitor experience.There have been hitches in providing this, but the city has proven itself capable of overcoming challenges. Specifically, the drought that troubled locals and the tourism industry has been managed to the point that our dams are twice as full as they were last year, and that's just one indication that visitors needn't stay away - tourism businesses and locals have rolled out initiatives that are water-friendly, reducing their impact on water usage.Investor confidenceAnother trend that's relevant to South Africa is that of a middle class emerging within a developing nation that has a hunger for leisure and business travel. This market is on the rise. Rather than local travel companies only catering for wealthy, international visitors seeking high-end lodging, we're seeing the demand for low-cost carrier flights and more segmented accommodation growing to cater for this market. Fortunately, we're well-placed to offer both luxury, bespoke travel experiences as well as cost-friendly trips for the middle-class traveller. It helps that global reward programmes such as Marriott Rewards benefit both of these travel segments, enabling them to travel internationally and enjoy value-adds.This trend has led to the building of more hotel properties across the continent, a further indication that investors remain confident that tourism will continue to form a central part of our economy and that of other nations across Africa.The jewel of Africa - an immersive tourism experienceAs the Gateway to Africa (and to South Africa), Cape Town is a microcosm of the magic that exists on the continent, a place where cultures meet, and experiences enchant. It taps into another international trend - that of visitors seeking immersive experiences as they travel like locals. In other parts of the world, it's harder to track down those off-the-beaten-track adventures; here, you don't have to look hard to find them at all. You can taste cuisine you'll find nowhere else, hear music that's unique, see natural spaces that are unparalleled and enjoy a rich cultural and traditional heritage in a cosmopolitan, urbane environment.Cape Town has become a model city in terms of developing and maintaining a sustainable tourism strategy that's designed to last. It's no small thing that the city's representatives from the tourism industry and other private and public entities can attend a global trade event like WTM London and enjoy rubbing shoulders with other global travel icon representatives: we're as relevant and coveted on the global travel scene as cities such as New York, Berlin, Tokyo and Dubai. In terms of existing trends, we're not just meeting them, we are setting them.
Telescopic vision in the tourism sector means that you can miss the bigger picture entirely. For example, while we fret about the challenges faced in the tourism industry in South Africa, we can overlook the growth opportunities that exist. One such opportunity is for South Africa to capitalise on Muslim tourism, especially since we have the capacity to grow our local appeal to this global audience.
A grim picture has recently been presented in a survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS); that of a whooping seven million Kenyans currently unemployed with only 1.4 million desperately looking for work. The dire times have resulted in the other 5.6 million giving up on job hunting altogether.
The election on 30 July 2018 is one of the most important elections in the country's democratic history, with 23 candidates and 55 parties contesting the presidential election. This is the first time since 1980 that Robert Mugabe's name didn't feature on the ballot paper after he was forced from power during a bloodless military coup in November 2017. The importance of the election is not lost on the electorate, with voters queuing to cast their vote.
The Kenyan domestic travel market is incessantly making a visible mark, contributing 59% of domestic spending according to Jumia Travel Kenya Hospitality Report 2017. A big percentage constituting the domestic travelers are the millennials. In its report "How Kenyan Millennials Travel", Saffir - a travel destination marketing company - refers to this group as netizens who are less conservative, well educated, tech savvy and highly reliant on the mobile phone.
News of the revocation of economic sanctions against Sudan by the United States government, is music to the ears of businesses and investors interested in Africa's third largest country after two decades of severe restrictions.
There's an element of tunnel vision that can come with maintaining a fairly ordinary existence, it's difficult to place yourself in someone else's position, especially when that someone is, by all accounts, incredibly wealthy. While many of us scrimp and save to enjoy a well-earned vacation, for others, luxury travel is part of their lifestyle. The benefit of this is to us as locals in South Africa is that this form of niche tourism contributes to sustainability in the tourism and hospitality sector.Cape Town, for example, is a second home to the wealthy, with over 1.500 multi-millionaires (classified as those with personal wealth in exce ss of $US10 million / about R130 million) living in the city during peak holiday months. While the city faces the ongoing internal challenge of development, there's no doubt that this influx of the super-wealthy is adding to the region's economy.A city of contrastsReal estate, financial services, retail and tourism all contribute to the city's coffers, providing extensive employment opportunities and room for growth. When analysing the contribution made by the cash injection administered by luxury travel, one insight gained is that tourism is not a single-faceted gem, but rather a series of diamond-encrusted dominoes toppling throughout entire communities. The revenue generated allows for construction and development projects and for infrastructural improvements.What most of us would consider luxury is comparatively simple – an exclusive suite in a five-star property and a bottle of French bubbly, but luxury tourism encompasses much more than that. It can mean everything from international retail adventures to private jets ferrying couples to discreet hideaways for some romance. Helicopters, polo ponies, fine dining and sports cars; all of these translate to luxurious experiences in terms of leisure.Luxury tourism, considered a niche market, is thriving, with the city offering the kinds of upmarket experiences the luxury traveller seeks, besides the world-renowned landmarks of Table Mountain, Robben Island, the V&A Waterfront and Cape Point, upmarket restaurants and luxury excursions.The AfrAsia and New World Wealth Review figures quoted above don't differentiate between business and leisure travel, so luxury travel isn't always about enjoying down time, it may include some large business deals that will also contribute to the economy, providing more jobs for locals. Ease of travel is what enables these deals to take place, so the facilities must exist to accommodate the lifestyles t o which high-flying executives are accustomed.Behind the scenes in hospitality you'll find an astonishing number of CSI projects taking place, with hotels, tour companies and other tourism operations ensuring that the benefits are paid forward throughout communities. The income enjoyed by luxury tourism operators is being poured back into skills development, community upliftment and other projects. Organisations such as Wesgro are tapping into the possibilities that exist, developing air access and facilitating trade deals, all with a view to increasing the potential that comes from investment. International investors won't just sign away a fortune without visiting the destination where projects will take place, large delegations are travelling to ensure that everything is in place before deals get signed. The bread and butter of tourism remains in encouraging domestic and international business and leisure travel, both for fun and commercia l reasons; it's imperative that tourism operators work towards ensuring that this takes place. For every penthouse suite there are a hundred rooms that exist to ensure that all tastes and budgets are accommodated, and no hotel worth its salt would ignore the ongoing fruits of providing every guest with a personalised visitor experience. The point is, you can explore a destination and get as much out of it as your budget allows, whether your budget is limitless or carefully tailored. The fabulously wealthy also enjoy experiences and exploring; they can be adventurers as much as the student with his backpack.Tourism remains an aspirational activity, to see the world and all that's in it is a privilege to all, and there's no price tag on the value of discovering the world that's around us.With any niche market, there are opportunities for enterprising individuals to tap into gaps, so perhaps you, too, could provide an experience that provid es a luxurious take on travel within South Africa. The market is there, but is it being accommodated to the fullest?With the exchange rate bobbing and weaving, we're also reaching a market that seeks what's known as affordable luxury - the middle-class international traveller can enjoy a travel experience that's way beyond what they'd be able to afford in their own country, and that appeal is contributing to growth in tourism.Your holiday may not involve shopping for diamonds or hanging out on a super yacht, but it should always leave you feeling special.