Dear Property Owner
Having stayed three nights at a B&B booked under Airbnb in Plett recently - purely based on needing the cheapest place possible - it is evident that the market is extremely varied when it comes to selling accommodation for our sector.
And the trick going forward is to work out what products we offer, who our customers are, and if/how we can make a profit servicing that customer base.
This month is tourism promotion month in South Africa, with the big tourism shows happening around the country, but as the industry continues to fragment and, dare I say, grow (in different sectors), our sector of the accommodation market has to work continually harder to find its niche and promote that as well.
Guests have the option to stay in a guesthouse, a room in someone's house (not at all ideal despite being the cheapest), a corporate roadside hotel or a lodge, so guesthouses need to continually work at educating the market about what we offer, what differentiates us, and demonstrating why we really are the best choice.
I'm proud to say that we are a distinct segment, and it makes for an incredibly wonderful experience staying in the well-run guesthouse versus a room in a home.
Have a great autumn month of May.
Yours in hospitality.
Richard Lendrum & the GHASA team
