TINTSWALO LODGES
TINTSWALO LODGES
Tintswalo Lodges:
South Africa’s Hidden Gems PRODUCTION: David Napier
Established around 15 years ago, the Tintswalo Lodges business has grown to become a leading light in the country’s luxury travel and tourism industry. Born from the idea of African open-air camping, this is a business that creates a true spiritual experience with soul rather than just creature comforts. CEO Lisa Goosen tells Enterprise Africa more… 2 / www.enterprise-africa.net
INDUSTRY FOCUS: TRAVEL & TOURISM
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The start of June saw a new board of South African tourism appointed, and Tourism Minster Derek Hanekom said this new board would help drive the industry to new heights. “Tourism is increasingly being recognised as an important driver of economic growth because it has such a positive impact on so many other sectors,” Hanekom said. In 2016, the tourism industry was responsible for around 3% of South Africa’s GDP. The five years from 2012 to 2016 saw tourism create 40,000 sustainable jobs in the country and the industry is now home to more employees than other important sectors such as
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mining or utilities. Clearly, travel and tourism have been, and are set to be, of upmost importance in the development and maintenance of the South African economy. The country has so much to offer guests and the income gained from international visitors is a widespread benefit to local communities and wider SA economy. This is why the government is pushing for investment into the sector. According to Hanekom, 62 million people visited Africa in 2017, a steep rise on the previous year. He urged the private and public sectors to come together to “create the right climate and opportunities for investment which
will lead to greater growth.” Without doubt, opportunities exist for those in the tourism sector that are willing to invest and those that are experienced in growing business in this exciting industry. “In Africa, we know how to welcome visitors with warmth and with our own unique flair, and we know how to host them professionally in our own way. We can guarantee a life-changing experience,” said Minister Hanekom. This is also the mantra of the Tintswalo Lodges hospitality business. The company is a sister to the Tintswalo Property Group, a property management business, but the luxury lodge accommodation
TINTSWALO LODGES
portfolio stands alone as an industry leader in South Africa’s international and domestic tourism industry. Recent successes across its range has buoyed Tintswalo to invest further in this side of the organisation, riding the wave of tourism that is not set to break anytime soon. Already recognised for superb offerings at Tintswalo Atlantic (Cape Town, HQ), Tintswalo Safari Lodge and Tintswalo Manor House (Kruger National Park), the company is looking to invest into new projects in Waterberg, Limpopo and Boulders Beach, WC. Lisa Goosen is the CEO of the Tintswalo Lodges business and
leads the company’s 250 people, all the time reinforcing the importance of delivering world-class standards. She tells Enterprise Africa more about the upcoming project. “After operating Tintswalo successfully for the past 15 years, preparation meets opportunity and we are thrilled to announce the expansion of the Tintswalo brand. We are excited to enter a new era where we will be redefining our product in terms of the grandeur of the offering to bring to market a second tier of an upmarket, yet more cost-conscious offering, whilst maintaining the ethos, quality and service each of our perfectly located boutique
destinations have become known for.” The expansion will include the opening of Tintswalo at Lapalala Wilderness, a family-friendly camp of six luxury tents with en-suite bathrooms, will be opening on 1 October 2018. It is one of only two commercial lodges within 44,500 hectares of untouched wilderness. Sleeping up to 12 adults and four children, the Tintswalo at Lapalala Wilderness camp is environmentally conscious and will be operated ‘off the grid’ after refurbishment which will include the addition of private plunge pools. On 1 September 2018 Tintswalo at Boulders Manor will be opening in Cape Town, surrounded by
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INDUSTRY FOCUS: HOSPITALITY
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TINTSWALO LODGES
// THE REBUILD OF TINTSWALO ATLANTIC BECAME A TRUE FLAGSHIP. IT IS A MAGNIFICENT SITE AND THE RE-CREATION AND REBUILD PUT US INTO A NEW CATEGORY OF LUXURY WITH SERVICE LEVELS // fynbos and with unobstructed views across Boulders Beach and its internationally famous colony of endangered African penguins. Sleeping up to 14 guests in seven rooms, Boulders Manor will operate on a bed and breakfast basis, or as an exclusive-use private villa, with options of either four or all seven rooms for groups of friends or families travelling together for extended stays of four nights or more. At the company’s other Cape Town property, the boutique Atlantic lodge, it seems like every happening is a positive right now after what was a very difficult 2015 where a fire ravaged the site, all but burning it to the ground. A wild veld fire quickly spread across the region, engulfing homes and businesses through Hout Bay and across the Cape Peninsula. March 2nd 2015 was a day remembered for all the wrong reasons, causing devastation for thousands of local people. Goosen describes the site immediately after the fire as a disaster zone. Lodgings, support structures, plants and trees were levelled. Local firefighters were seriously injured tackling the blaze, and even the ground was blackened. But this is a strong community, and a rebuild programme was quickly established, involving local contractors who knew about the passion of the site. In what seems like no time at all the lodge was back, better than ever before, being rebuilt from scratch in only eight months. “The rebuild of Tintswalo Atlantic became a true flagship. It is a magnificent site and the re-creation and rebuild put us
into a new category of luxury with service levels,” says Goosen. Strong performance at the popular Safari Lodge at Kruger National Park aided the company while it struggled in Cape Town. Tintswalo translates from the African Shangaan language to mean: ‘ The intangible feeling of love, gratitude and peace bestowed upon someone offering you a meaningful and worthy gift’. This is the embodiment of the business and Goosen says that the feeling of love is shared throughout the company.
“All our staff are family and we have many long-standing employees and love taking care of others. We always say this industry can never be mechanised and South Africans truly have the gift of care, so we will always be able to have tourism as a contributing factor to our ever-growing economy.” Looking to the future, Goosen is impressed with what has been done so far by Hanekom’s boss, President Ramaphosa. Since taking office in January, business confidence has been greatly improved, and the President has, on several occasions,
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INDUSTRY FOCUS: TRAVEL & TOURISM
singled out tourism as a sector of vital importance for South Africa. Commenting on the change in sentiment since January, Goosen says she is positive. “It takes a long time to turn a ship around in choppy waters. This is the task that lies ahead for our current leadership. I think what has been achieved in the last few months has not been any small feat and I do feel positive that there will be some changes that will benefit those who have pushed through the economic struggles and been true ‘die hards’ in SA business.”
At Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban in May, Derek Hanekom spoke as part of a Tourism Investment Seminar and said that as the South African investment climate develops, the speed of growth in tourism improves. He was clear that an improved economic outlook will result in further investment into tourism projects. Goosen is waiting in anticipation. “While we are excited at the prospect of more governmental support in this sector we have not seen this take a huge effect as yet,” she says. “But we
remain positive that it will. If you look around the globe, countries that focus on tourism create jobs and financial stability through tourism so I believe strongly that South Africa can and will do this. It is not a highly specialised field and our work force is easily trained. A good heart and a caring state of mind makes for a wonderful host. As South Africans, at any level of employment, this is our strong point - hospitality and care.” And it is this enduring quality that Goosen attributes to all South Africans that provides the CEO with
// ANYONE WHO HAS STAYED WITH US WILL UNDERSTAND THE FEELING OF SOUL AND FULFILMENT YOU EXPERIENCE AT ONE OF OUR DESTINATIONS //
Guy Clarke - Executive Chef at Tintswalo Atlantic
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TINTSWALO LODGES
most optimism for the future. “Anyone who has stayed with us will understand the feeling of soul and fulfilment you experience at one of our destinations. You will know you are taken care of and your life force is fed with an incredible experience and of course your belly with good food.” For the rest of 2018, the focus of the company will be on growing business at the new properties. “We have some plans for further expansions but right now we are concentrated on the two new properties. We will keep evolving as opportunities present themselves. We are not scared of expansion but also cognitive of orderly progress towards known achievable goals. We are very passionate about what we do and so always look for new things and enhancements.” Current strong growth has forced Tintswalo into a recruitment drive and the company will be welcoming new staff imminently. Expansion outside of South Africa is not yet on the cards, but Goosen says the company would “never say never.” Asked about what will keep the company at the forefront of a highly competitive and saturated
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industry, Goosen highlights the outstanding locations that simply cannot be replicated.
“Our locations are special and breath-taking and this speaks for itself as being timeless and so we will maintain our edge.” She concludes by stating that positive guest feedback is the catalyst which keeps the circle of success turning for Tintswalo. This further motivates staff to deliver quality service which, in turn, results in repeat business and recommendations. Tintswalo is perfectly positioned to thrive in this booming industry. A truly South African success story, all built from passion and innovation.
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June 2018
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SATIB / Tintswalo / Table Charm / Chemprotech
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J UNE 2018