Interview with Peermont Botswana’s new General Manager, Keletso Bogatsu

GAME CHANGER

Peermont Botswana’s new General Manager, Keletso Bogatsu, on shifting the status quo and returning hospitality to the Golden Age.

If there is one thing the recent global pandemic has taught us, it’s how to shift and evolve. The world is embarking on a new phase in history and the recent change in thinking and strategizing has filled some with apprehension, while others have embraced the challenge and pioneered their own path.

Peermont Resorts are renowned for their Casino and Leisure complexes throughout Southern Africa, most notably Emperors Palace. Also within the stable are three properties located in Botswana, one of them being The Grand Palm, which to locals is somewhat of a national institution and home of the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC). A strategic move made by Peermont in 2021 was to consolidate the management of their Botswana properties under a single leadership vision. Enter Keletso Bogatsu.

The Gaborone-born General Manager was promoted to fully-fledged status in November of 2021 and boasts a pedigree of over 25 years in the tourism and gaming industry, having started at Protea Hotels all the way back in 1996.

‘ I was with Protea Hotels for 20 years and was the first Black Female Manager for the group at only 32 years of age. I then worked for a Hotel Group called Mantis that was responsible for developing a 5-Star Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. I worked on the Project as a Development General Manager and managed the hotel for a further 6 months after they opened,’ says the 46-year-old, demonstrating her drive to climb the management ladder, which was noticed by Peermont in 2018.

‘My journey with Peermont started as Operations Manager at the Grand Palm. Then in 2021 I took on the role of acting General Manager in the height of the pandemic which has now been made official. At Peermont Botswana I will oversee all 3 of our properties,’ says Bogatsu casually of the 4 hotels, 7 restaurants and world renowned convention centre located in Gaborone and Francistown that now fall under her guidance.

The unifying of Peermont’s Botswana properties is the new direction to elevate the brand to premier status post-COVID-19 restrictions, which have impacted the hospitality, tourism and gaming industry severely in the last 18 months. ‘Number one on my list is to bring back Peermont Botswana from the hurt that was caused by the pandemic, by using the innovative solutions and technological advancements that have been developed recently. Then to bring the properties in Botswana to operate as one, under the banner of Peermont Botswana. Meaning, all the processes, operating procedures and strategies are aligned,’ says Bogatsu.

And to achieve her objectives, Bogatsu will be looking to the future. ‘My new role is to lead and inspire a very young team of future leaders. It involves making sure that the team is inspired to achieve the goals and make sure that our guests are guaranteed exceptional and exciting stays at our properties.’ Bogatsu’s management style has been motivated by being more inclusive of her team’s opinions and sharing of ideas: ‘It’ll be more democratic in order to bring Peermont back to its former glory days. Thus, I will need the team to be encouraged to work together towards a common goal and make sure that everyone is involved. Seeing other people grow in their careers and achieving more than their expectations - and having had input – that’s what gets me going daily.’

Bogatsu is currently one of only two female General Managers at Peermont and the first Motswana (person from Botswana), which only inspires her further, ‘Going up the ladder will always create opportunities or obstacles. But I don’t focus on the obstacles. More than half the time, I only realize that there was one when I have already gone past it.’ Focus has also played a big role with Bogatsu knowing that success requires not only planning, but hard work.

‘Perseverance and patience, knowing and understanding that you have a vision that you need to achieve, but most importantly focusing on achieving that goal. It will not always be easy, but if focused, will achieve anything.

Focus, focus and focus,’ she laughs. And when not leading from the front Bogatsu, can be found going full throttle in a different way. ‘For the last 8 years I’ve been into motorbikes and I have a M90 Suzuki Boulevard which I ride on weekends,’ she smiles with a twinkle in her eye. Manager. Mentor. Motor-biker. The future of Peermont Botswana is in good hands.