Remain Positive | Happy Woman's Day to all the ladies in the guest house, hotel and safari industry!
I drive past OR Tambo International Airport every day to my guest house in Kempton Park. It is not a pleasant experience by any stretch of the imagination, but it gives me time to make calls and think.
Seeing Virgin, BA, and now Delta flying into Joburg is a positive sign. It means, if NOTHING else, the airlines are showing optimism and that is the starting point of opening up a destination.
So while I am confident life will never be the same, it will be different – and it could be better.
Fewer customers may mean that they are treasured and loved more, and having a greater experience in your property. And this means better online reviews, or word of mouth referrals. And this will ultimately work in your favour.
Sure the numbers may never be the same, but that we know. Thankfully, the shift in our sector can result in a better client experience. I am trying it in my two properties.
Still not making money – but there is a change.
So as we edge out the winter – our coldest EVER (crazy when you think of that) – and head towards, for most, the best month in the year, let’s think of what we need to do better.
If you are not a paid-up member of GHASA – can I ask you to re think it (Apply HERE) because we are simply trying to chivvy this industry along, keep spirits high and really are here for one reason – to help you run a better property. And if any of what we do resonates, then we’d appreciate your membership.
Regards, Richard Lendrum &the GHASA team
| | New Preferred Supplier | | South African Barter NetworkBartering is not a new concept; in fact, this is how trading started and evolved into businesses as we know it today. With the difficult economic times brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions which creates constant pressure on cash-flow for small, micro and medium businesses, we are very excited to return to the roots of trading and re-introduce bartering as a form of trading in South Africa.We own Guest Houses near OR Tambo Airport and as accommodation establishment owners, we fully understand the devastation caused by the pandemic. At this stage we all have empty rooms available, most of the time and obviously, we would like to rent them out. We realised that if we could generate some kind of income from them, even if they could just pay the handy man, the plumber or a haircut, then it could be worth the while. What if we, as business owners, could network and support each other while benefitting from one another’s unused business infrastructure?Out of this desperate situation, we developed and established South African Barter Network (PTY) Ltd, to assist small, micro and medium business owners who experienced the same devastation. South African Barter Network is an online platform where small, micro and medium businesses can exchange (barter or swop) their empty rooms, goods, time or services with other like minded entrepreneurs across South Africa. The platform operates with a credit system which allows members to barter trade (swop) with any other member and not just directly with each other. No money will be exchanged in the process, so members earn credits for “selling” their products and “spend” credits when buying from someone else. It provides businesses with a fair, secure and trustworthy platform to trade any accommodation, products or services amongst credible and vetted trade partners. When you become a partner, you will receive trade credits (trade facility) worth 5,000 credits to start trading with immediately. In order to secure and balance trade, all partners are required to upload their products or services for sale on the platform before they can trade. Trade on the platform is implemented by means of a voucher system. You will upload your services or products in the form of a voucher. The vouchers are fully under your control with regards to the value, the valid dates and the product or service specification. You will also have the option to specify what is included in the voucher and what is excluded. For trading purposes, One Rand = One Credit. The platform caters for all types of business, including: - Service industry: – IT, Website Designers, Tutors, Handy men, Bookkeepers …
- Tourism: Accommodation, Attractions, Adventures …
- Building and Construction: Builders, Painters, Tilers …
- Health: Fitness training, Weight training, Weight Loss…
- Beauty Salons, Therapists, Hair dressers, Nail Technicians …
- Professional: Attorney, Doctors, Physiotherapy, Chiropractors …
- Food and Beverage: Restaurant, Fresh Produce, Take-ways, Coffee Shops…
and so much more. The scope is limitless! Benefits - Increase Sales
- Access new sales markets
- Save money
- Move inventory
- Make use of excess production
- Use current infrastructure optimally
- Meet new Business people
- Spoil yourself
- Travel more
- See new places
- Increase staff productivity
*Once registered, you will receive 1,000 credits for each new referral. If you are interested, please visit our website for more information. www.sabarternetwork.com | | Free tickets to the Hotel & Hospitality Show | | Hear from the experts at the Hotel & Hospitality Show workshops, taking place from 23 to 25 August. Attend online and arm yourself with new skills, expand your knowledge base, keep up with critical trends, stay ahead in the industry. Remember - your free ticket gives you access to all sessions, but you must register in advance to plan your attendance. We look forward to seeing you soon! | | Domestic travel searches surge after Level 3 announcementLaure Bornet, GM KAYAK EMEA, which manages Cheapflights Travel and hospitality in South Africa has faced a very challenging experience due to the impact of lockdowns, but the latest announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa to move down to adjusted Level 3 lockdown has resulted in an increase in flight searches on Cheapflights.co.za. Cheapflights.co.za, a global flight search aggregator, is happy to report that searches for domestic flights surged since the president’s announcement on Sunday, 25 July 2021. The biggest week-on-week jumps were for flights from Cape Town to Johannesburg, Johannesburg to Durban and for Johannesburg to Cape Town , which shows a significant jump of about 76%* in flight searches. Month-on-month results are similar, including a 71% increase in flight searches from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth. While flight searches are still down vs. pre-covid, we're seeing encouraging signs following the recent announcements with data suggesting that locals are very keen to get back to travel and to support domestic tourism. *Based on searches made on cheapflights.co.za between 25 July and 28 July 2021, for travel between 25 July and 31 December 2021 for flights departing from any airport in South Africa. The percentages provided are on average. | | GHASA Preferred suppliers Marketing & Promotion Adclick Africa Tourism Marketing SA Trade Edge Media We Shoot Hotels WhatsoninCapeTown.com www.SA-Venues.com Paul Karnstedt Photography Guest & Reputation Management GuestRevu 1-RES.com Appy Travel Easy Airport Transfers Hospitality Innovations Magic Transfers New Vision Training Consultants Facilities Management, Gardening, Cleaning & Waste AJ Curtain Clean Macy's Cleaning Solutions SNG Commercial Cleaning Stesymo The Specialists Group Tony Westby-Nunn (Locum Manager) Building, Maintenance & Repairs Amandla Plumbing & Maintenance Builders Warehouse, Express, Trade Staff & Labour Relation Matters Barnard Incorporated Norman Brett and Associates Employment Equity Compliance Management Services Nevrod Amenities & Guest Experience Products BnB Direct Diversey South Africa Enviromall Friedman & Cohen Hoteltronix Smoothies Africa Solenco South Africa Spindel Laundry Dryer uCafé COFFEE Co Where It All Began Finance, Insurance & Technology Adclick Africa Anywhere I.T. Bryte Hostpitality DPO PayGate Hejju Incompass Insurance Consultants iTTCONNECT Logical Wireless Mobipaid Nedbank Nightsbridge Realtime Availability Q2B Solutions Swiss Solvesit GmbH Trade Edge Media Linen, Mattress & Soft Furnishings Beds & Pillows Beez Hospitality Solutions Foam Makers (Driftaway) Gaubert Jenev Enterprises Linen Drawer That’s Linen Viking Beds TV & Broadcasting SABC TV Licences Electricity, Eskom & Self-Sufficiency First in Business Recharger Northface Energy Legal, Municipal, & Town Planning Justin Louden Water: Boreholes, Water Treatment & Purification Randburg Water Boring Covid-19 Supplies PMP Germ Guard | |
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