Low & High Expectations | Our National Tourism Authority announced (at the end of Tourism month) that they had launched a new Grading System. With the usual PR mumbo jumbo around the announcement (lots of words – the PR company needs to justify what they do), I simply could not see what they have actually added or removed from the 20-year plus model that they have been operating. Bearing in mind the tourism industry is supposed to have boomed over the past 20 years, the membership of this grading system is steadily plummeting. So I wrote in asking: Please can you outline: - What is different from the old system? Please explain clearly.
- What costs are different from the old system (please use a 10 bedroom ‘4 star’ guest house as an example)
I will keep you informed. My motto to cope with our government is: Keep your expectations low. For GHASA – and our industry of privately run or owned properties – we keep our expectations high. There is an abundance of potential, but like mining for any precious minerals, it takes time, effort, and is not a perfect science. We have set our goals on a distant horizon – we’re on a mission to help you all, and we want to do everything we can to see you succeed. It the start of a summer, and tourists are on their way. Flight numbers are definitely picking up – the most noteworthy being USA allowing SA residents in from November – and so steadily that I am confident we will see things improve. Tourism revenue might never reach pre-Covid numbers, but for those still fighting for their share of bookings, I think you’ll discover there is still a lot of life in this industry. So, if you believe in what we are doing, and what we are offering, and that it is worth the R100 or so a month, as an annual fee, then do consider supporting us.
| | | | Local hoteliers gear-up for tourism take-off | | Indicators are showing positive signs of pick up for the tourism industry, which is set to be fast-tracked following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the country was placed on adjusted level 1 lockdown. Since the country was moved to adjusted level 3, local hotels have recorded a peak of 63% in August compared to 39% in lockdown level 4, which is set to improve as lockdown levels decrease. “Now that the industry is placed in the spotlight and is opening up for business - hoteliers need to make hay (and bookings) while the sun shines,” says Niels Verspui at RoomRaccoon South Africa. According to pre-Covid-19 statistics released by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the tourism industry generated more than US $200 billion in Africa, accounting for 6.9% of Africa’s GDP and supporting +24 million jobs. “This shows the potential that the industry has to offer for local hoteliers, and it is vital that they are supported to operate at full capacity in the near future,” adds Verspui. “This can be made possible as more locals embark on staycations and people both locally and abroad receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, meaning South Africa will become a popular tourist destination once again,” he says. “However, while we are still operating alongside the pandemic, the main aspects that a traveller looks for are value, economic stability, transparency in bookings, and flexibility of hospitality properties.” With this in mind, Verspui provides three tips to assist hoteliers as they gear-up for an increase in business: - Enable flexible rates: Considering the current uncertainty, travellers are now looking for flexibility and are willing to make last-minute bookings as the situation evolves. For example, it was reported that more than 90% of recent trips in China were booked within seven days of the trip itself. To accommodate this, hoteliers should extend their cancellation policies flexibility to one day before arrival or even the day of arrival.
- Offer the non-refundable alternative: Offering a lower non-refundable option with a different rate than the flexible one allows hoteliers to reach more customers. As travelling for business continues during these volatile times, travellers may prefer to have the booking payment handled by their company and a non-refundable rate would be more appealing.
- Update rates and availability for the next 12 months: Even though we are still experiencing a great deal of uncertainty, data by Vacaay has indicated a 520% increase in Europeans adding South Africa to their upcoming travel itineraries. It’s for this reason that hoteliers should update their rates and availability for the next 12 months so that it will be visible on all their potential customers' searches. Additionally, hoteliers can set up an automated system to increase rates when demand increases.
To meet the growing number of travel guests during these uncertain times, Verspui points out that local hoteliers are continuing to search for innovative technology and hotel management software to bolster their bottom line and increase online visibility. “As the world continues to combat COVID-19, it is now more important than ever for local hoteliers to prepare for business to boom. It is also vital to implement ways to streamline operations and boost profit now, and in the future. The adjusted lockdown level 2 during South Africa’s Tourism Month is just the beginning of good things to come,” concludes Verspui. | | PREFERRED SUPPLIER NEWS | | Recharger establishes new relationship to expand its national footprintRecharger, a leading supplier of prepaid electricity sub-meters, tokens and token vending solutions, is expanding its national presence with rollouts in both Build it and Mica stores countrywide. The Build it Group is a full-service builder’s merchant, supplying quality building materials and offering expert advice regarding hardware and building requirements, through over 390 stores across southern Africa. The Group has a presence in South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique, and is a division of the SPAR Group Limited South Africa. With over 160 stores across South Africa, Mica is proud to be one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest hardware franchises and is known for being a home-from-home for DIY experts and enthusiasts. Mica specialises in hardware, power tools, paint, garden, pool care, building supplies, bathroom and outdoors products and solutions. “Being able to offer Recharger products through these two respected South African brands creates additional convenience for our customers,” explains Zachariya Lockhat, Head of Business Development at Recharger. “By installing a prepaid electricity sub-meter, anyone can work smarter in measuring and monitoring their electricity consumption. The expansion of our national footprint through our new relationship with Build it and Mica opens up the convenience to our customers even further. In addition, this expansion follows hot on the heels of a recent arrangement made with Takealot, through which Recharger has become the only prepaid South African electricity sub-meter company with a brand store on the Takealot website.”
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