Hoteliers are putting their hotels where their hearts are

As the domain of the wild and free, the notion of travel in Africa has always been romanticised by international travellers. But now’s the time for domestic and regional travellers to enjoy an idyllic escape much closer to home, and without the usual hefty price tag of travelling abroad.

Although travel was grounded during the global pandemic and remains so in many parts of the world, the status quo has opened the doors to so-called “revenge travel” trips. “Revenge travel”, which was first popularised in China as that country’s lockdown restrictions eased, is the term that refers to compulsive travel to beat lockdown-associated boredom - and it’s usually close to home.

In South Africa, travel restrictions were eased with the introduction of lockdown Level 1 and many inter-regional borders across the African continent have also been reopened to South African travelers keen to do a bit of “revenge travel” of their own. That’s very good news for the global hospitality sector, which has been extremely hard hit by Covid-19 and the associated lockdowns.

What Covid-19 has failed to do, however, is to dampen the industry’s quest to provide guest experiences that are as comfortable, exciting and safe as possible for those who are beginning to travel again – mostly much closer to home. To attract these local African travellers who would generally opt for a long-haul flight to an exotic destination, hoteliers have begun ramping up their efforts to highlight the best their establishments have to offer. That goes to the real heart of their business generally, and their hotels more specifically.

In Africa, especially, this is no hard sell. With its myriad exotic locales, unique wildlife and plethora of activities to suit any taste, visiting an African country is on the bucket lists of many international travellers. So why shouldn’t it be the same for domestic and regional travellers, too?

Not only are these destinations just across the border, but they offer a much safer travel option considering the upsurge in Covid-19 cases being experienced in Europe and the United States, for example. But more than that, African destinations go to the heart and soul of what every traveller yearns for: a place of escape where anything is possible. That’s especially attractive as we head for the end of 2020.

Hotels across the continent offer travelers a window on a distinctive world that is impossible to replicate elsewhere, with many of the experiences on offer a reflection of an hotelier’s passion for their city, town or country. Take Nairobi, Kenya, for example, where Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence, Nairobi Arboretum, is situated next to the city’s Arboretum, home to more than 300 exotic trees and over 100 bird species. It’s been specially designed to provide a peaceful atmosphere reminiscent of spending time in nature. Or contrast that with Cape Town’s Radisson RED, the energy around which is driven by the urban buzz of the Mother City – and perfectly located close to all the best tourist attractions, including the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain and pristine beaches.

Additionally, the hospitality industry has also stepped up its cleaning protocols to assuage travellers’ concerned about health and safety. At Radisson Hotel Group hotels, for example, we’ve introduced a 20-step safety protocol in partnership with SGS, a global leader in inspection, verification, testing and certification. Once guests realise that we have their health and safety top-of-mind, it’s easier for them to truly relax and immerse themselves in their holiday.

As the southern hemisphere enters the summer season, I predict that we’ll see our fellow countrymen choose destinations that feed their souls, whether that’s an urban jungle getaway in Nairobi, a relaxing retreat just outside of Lagos or the best of both worlds in Cape Town. As always, while the region reveals its beauty for travellers to enjoy, remember to always sanitise, don that mask and to enjoy every minute of what will surely be a well-deserved break.

Who is William McIntyre?

William McIntyre, regional director for Africa, is based in the Radisson Hotel Group regional support office in South Africa. In this role, Mr McIntyre assumes responsibilities for all the Englishspeaking countries in Africa.

He has over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, with his most recent role as chief operating officer for the largest hospitality real estate fund in southern Africa, Hospitality Property Fund.

Mr McIntyre also held the position of asset management and development director at Kharafi Hospitality, one of the largest private Middle Eastern investors in the hospitality sector in Southern Africa.

Starting his career in 1993 he delved in various roles within the hospitality industry which included special projects manager for Sun City Resort and HR manager for several divisions of Sun City; corporate HR manager at Festival Cruises; director of support services for Grand Hotels in Nairobi, Kenya; operations Director for The Don Group in South Africa and Resort general manager at Oubaai Golf Resort in the Western Cape.