A local perpective

Hotel management companies serve Hotel management companies serve as an invaluable tool for new and existing properties

In the hospitality industry, service is everything, and providing guests with the best possible service is paramount.

But like we have seen in recent times, unpredictable situations can strike at any moment, and being armoured with reliable, credible management is invaluable to help navigate difficult times, drawing on their shared expertise. With over 600 000 jobs at risk at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the tourism industry at an all time low, there is no better time to see the value in a trusted partner in hotel management.

While not everything can be prepared for fully - for example the current pandemic and the devastating drought the Western Cape experienced during 2017 - having a management company on board with tried-and-tested crisis plans takes the guesswork out of working through a difficult situation. It is not to say that any hardship will have a cut-andpaste solution, so choosing the correct management company for your hotel’s needs will make all the difference.

Guy Stehlik, chief executive officer of BON Hotels, said: “While owners may have a vision for their property, a good management company will have the foresight and efficient systems in place to best execute the vision, while managing expectations for the owner in terms of budgets, marketing and other planning that goes into the running of a hotel.

“As we lurch from crisis to crisis throughout many parts of Africa, the resilience we continue to demonstrate as hotel operators and hotel owners never ceases to amaze me. As do the opportunities for growth that stem from these crises, for those within the hospitality industry. We see many hotel owners not being able to ride out the crisis from a cash flow perspective and thus placing their hotels on the market. This is unbelievably sad, but certainly, in most cases, wholly avoidable.”

It is indeed avoidable, should property owners take the leap to join management companies. Even when taking out the crisis management as a critical point to having one onboard, many owners are not fully aware of the actual amount of work and ongoing maintenance it takes to successfully run a property. From sales, branding and marketing, to reservations, training, recruiting, building an effective operational team, invoicing and continuous upgrades to systems, it takes years of experience to seamlessly execute, and consistently maintain. Thus working with a company you can trust is the best decision to make. General Managers from different BON Hotels properties share the same sentiments on the value of the relationships they have built.

“As in any other relationship it is important to have someone hold your hand, through the good times and the bad times, but most importantly it is having a shoulder to lean on when the going gets tough”, said Pieter van Rooyen, general manager of BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central.

This business-focused hotel was hard hit during the pandemic, but having a reputable management company available at all times to provide insight, guidance and a concrete recovery plan made all the difference to its survival. With the borders open, and lockdown regulations lifting, BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central now looks forward to an upswing in bookings, having been adequately prepared in terms of safety and hygiene, for the return of guests.

The same can be said for the company’s KwaZulu-Natal properties, which too are experiencing an upswing in bookings, after a difficult period of not being operational.

“A reputable hotel management company is like a marriage, it has its ups and downs, but that’s part of the journey. It makes the relationship stronger, and soon you find yourselves in perfect sync. Enduring the bad times and celebrating the good times together is what makes the journey worthwhile, as we are stronger together,” added Andre de Klerk, general manager of BON Hotel Empangeni and BON Hotel Waterfront Richards Bay.