Spier is empowering positive change

Business Events Africa recently chatted to Comien Grobler, sales manager of Spier Hotel and Wine Farm.

How long have you been in the conferencing space?

I’ve been working in the events industry since 2009. Conferencing, more specifically, since 2010 when I joined The Lord Charles’s team and very soon realised that my passion in life is conferencing and business events.

Where were you before you started at Spier?

I studied for four years through CPUT and did my hotel internship through the Lord Charles Hotel, where I soon realised that conferencing is my forte in life! From Lord Charles I moved to Radisson Blu, a five-star hotel in Cape Town’s Waterfront, where I furthered my career in conferencing and banqueting as a coordinator, and then got offered the position to work for an owner that owns two boutique hotels and 16 restaurants – all situated in prime areas in Cape Town like Constantia and Camps Bay. I worked for The Kove Collection for almost three years managing the sales for his restaurants and to drive more corporate business, during which I realised that I enjoy selling events more than actually coordinating them. I joined Spier’s corporate sales team in 2018.

Comien Grobler, sales manager of Spier Hotel and Wine Farm.

How does Spier conferences differ from other conference facilities?

I always say that a hotel bedroom is a bedroom, and a conference venue is a conference venue, but at Spier we really offer so much more. We have the recipe to turn any corporate breakaway into a holiday. We have a “Conference Activity List” which is my ultimate passion at Spier. On this list, you will find add-on conference items that can be used to enhance your delegates’ conference experience. From our mosaic artists making your company’s logo in the conference foyer while delegates can see the logo unfolding or even try to paste a tesserae themselves, to outdoor meeting spaces, smoothie bikes, exchanging your DCP lunch for a picnic lunch under our old oak trees, wine tasting during your conference, outdoor yoga classes or a group run on the farm to kickstart your day, as well as a long list of sustainabilityorientated activities from our farm that you can include in your conference, such as our Pack-For-A-Purpose programme where delegates can donate much-needed items to the surrounding community, or purchase trees or succulents from our TreePreneurs who teaches members of impoverished communities how to care for indigenous plants. Once the seedlings they’ve been given to nurture are big enough, these are exchanged for food vouchers, clothing, bicycles, educational support and other essentials.

What is the biggest benefit for a conference organiser to choose Spier?

We have it all. We are conveniently located just 20 minutes from Cape Town’s International Airport, and once delegates arrive onsite, they literally do not have to go anywhere. We have enough conference venues to choose from out of our list of 12 conference venues, we have three restaurants onsite to offer more than enough dining options, and we also have a range of activities to offer onsite to keep delegates entertained, including our Eagle Encounters, Picnics, Segway tours, wine tasting, art tours, walking tours, craft market, and so much more. We can also assist a conference organiser by sourcing room drops from our farm, as well as get our local artists from our craft market to assist with conference stationery such as conference bags being made out of recycled materials, or beaded lanyard strings. Our conference team is dedicated to make any conference organiser’s life as easy as possible while being onsite.

Can you explain more about sustainable conferencing?

Sustainability is woven into every facet of the Spier conferencing experience, from water-saving devices in the bathrooms to rooftop solar panels that provide 40 per cent of the conference centre’s energy needs. 100 per cent of Spier’s waste-water and over 98 per cent of its solid waste is recycled. Spier invests in a wide arrange of learning initiatives that empower staff and communities to create positive social and environmental change. By booking one of Spier’s Conferencing for Good packages, your event is supporting these efforts – all the while treating your delegates to a memorable experience.

What is the biggest challenge with sustainable conferencing?

We are fully dedicated to recycling all our solid waste. We already recycle 100 per cent of our waste-water, but to change supplier habits is an ongoing challenge. We often get exhibition organisers or furniture/decor rental companies arriving with items and furniture wrapped in plastic to protect it during the move, that we cannot necessarily recycle afterwards. We would love to one day get to 100 per cent of our solid waste also being recycled!

What is your best moment/ memory thus far as Spier’s sales manager?

Literally every season change so far was a highlight for me. I joined Spier in the winter season when I was convinced Spier is the most beautiful place in the world during winter, with all the crackling fire places in the hotel lounge and guests strolling the farm with umbrellas. Then came along spring during which I could not stop staring at all the coral trees in full bloom! Summer has a completely different feel to it with all the families, couples and groups onsite spending most of their time outdoors enjoying our beautiful surrounds, sunshine and shade under the trees. Then came along autumn with the multi-coloured trees and all the squirrels running around that just brought a magical touch to the farm.

What advise can you give other conference facilities to become more sustainable?

Recycling your waste is probably the easiest way to start. Then comes all the energy- and water-saving initiatives. If you don’t have much more than that, try getting sustainable initiatives in your area involved and try and include them in your conference-offering to motive delegates or conference organiser to support their initiatives. There are so many companies out there specialising in sustainability advice – I honestly feel no conference facility has an excuse nowadays.

How do you make every moment count?

Live a little. We all work hard, but it is so important to just “be present” and enjoy the moment – wherever you may find yourself. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with your workload and not take in the beauty around you, but remind yourself every now and then to just stop and stare and be thankful. Something that is very easy to do for me at Spier!

What do you love most about your job?

I have always loved working with people. To meet a complete stranger, hosting them for a site inspection and lunch while you tell them more about Spier, as well as getting to know them better and building a relationship, and later seeing that resulting in confirmed business and the opportunity to work together, is the best feeling ever!