Reflections on my internship in South Africa

An innovative internship abroad. A life changing experience.

2022, February - December | by Simone Kokou

INTERN & MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Le Grande Art Flowers Le With the

A Reflection on my Hybrid Internship Program abroad. MUAS & HoteliersGuild

2022, February - December | Simone Kokou

The story of an incredible experien4al journey from Cape Town and Stellenbosch to the East Coast of South Africa - Durban. And the reminiscence of the privilege and the challenges of an intensively personal mentorship and working in two of the finest hotels I have ever encountered.

At Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch, and The Oyster Box, Durban 2022

Table of Contents

Preparing for the grand voyage

Getting my feet down Walking the talk

Interacting with the HoteliersGuild …let the journey continue…

My projects

How it all began. First steps.

After I was successfully accepted into the HoteliersGuild Mentorship Program, I had my first meet and greet with Mr. Frank M. Pfaller, Founder President of the HoteliersGuild, at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. Through the cooperation with the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (SCE) and the University of Applied Sciences Munich, I was nominated for this year's AGORA Talent Program.

The prerequisite for this nomination was the completion of a one-month internship sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). In February 2022, I completed the funded internship at HoteliersGuild and continued my mandatory internship in March 2022. The extensive network of HoteliersGiuld as well as my previous work experience as Sales & Marketing Coordinator at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich allowed me to work at the 58th Munich Security Conference.

Part of the Tourism Management bachelor’s degree program at Munich University of Applied Sciences is completing a 20-week internship in the fourth

semester. In the frame of my studies, I was accepted for the hybrid internship at the Delaire Graff Estate under the condition of HoteliersGuild Internship and Mentorship Programme 2022.

Having worked at some of the top hotels in Munich such as the Four Seasons in Starnberg and Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, I was elated to learn about an opportunity to intern for some of the leading hotels in South Africa via the Hoteliersguild internship. In this report, I will be sharing about the lessons I have learned from South Africa that will be essential in transforming and improving the European hospitality industry and lessons South Africa could learn from Europe.

One of the things that struck me when I got to South Africa is their services-oriented approach to hosting guests that’s rooted in their cultural belief of humanity (Ubuntu) – the idea that I am because we are. From the time the guest arrives to the day they leave they are treated with a great sense of belonging.

“This amazingly different internship abroad, curated by MUAS and HoteliersGuild, offered me the freedom and responsibility to learn, make mistakes and develop in a controlled and prestigious environment ... ."

-Simone Kokou

My new home away from home

The Relais & Chateaux Delaire Graff Estate was founded in 2003 by Laurence Graff, Chairman of Graff Diamonds International. Dedicated and determined, he made it South Africa's most sought-after destination for wine, hospitality, and art. With a staff of around 300, the estate offers a wide range of departments, two restaurants, eighteen lodges, a spa, a wine lounge with a selection of Delaire Graff wines, and several contemporary art collections by young South Africans. The winery is run by Morné Very, with whom I was able to spend some time and learn more about the winemaking process. One of the most beautiful features of the winery is the extensive view over the stunning vineyards and mountains towards Stellenbosch and across the peninsula to Table Bay and the famous Table Mountain. The tranquility and sense of privacy can be felt in the ten beautifully appointed lodges, each with its pool and an The ultimate Cape Winelands experience, Delaire Graff is dedicated to beauty in its many forms. Much like polishing a diamond to reveal its brilliance, jeweller Laurence Graff has transformed an extraordinary natural setting into a worldDELAIRE

GRAFF ESTATE

Stakeholders

MUAS MUNICH UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

The bachelor's degree program in Tourism Management at Munich University of Applied Sciences qualifies its students for challenging positions in the tourism and hotel industry. The main objective is to master the daily management tasks in the tourism and hotel industry. Through international academic relationships and cooperative internship opportunities, students have numerous options, such as spending a semester abroad, networking in business, or applying for scholarships such as the Erasmus+ or the Agora scholarship programs.

THE HOTELIERSGUILD

HoteliersGuild is a non-profit, private, and independent society of active luxury hoteliers; it was founded by independent luxury hotelier Frank M.

HoteliersGuild Academy of Hospitality Arts, supported by the LeadingHôteliéres Chapter, and aims to reassure and encourage young female students from our industry to take control of their learning in order to maximise their potential, develop their skills and improve their performance to become future leaders. Senior HoteliersGuild members act as their Mentors. Mentoring is highly associated with career prosperity, job satisfaction and higher levels of career commitment.

DELAIRE GRAFF ESTATE

Moreover, students of the Faculty of Tourism Management at the University of Applied Sciences Munich can apply for middle and senior management positions with the following employers after graduation:

• Tour operators and travel agents

• Organizations, associations, and governmental bodies related to tourism

• Tourism destinations

• Transport and mobility services (bus, rail)

• Air transportation companies (airlines, airports)

• Management of conventions, trade shows, and events

• Hotels and resorts

• Catering services

• Holiday and leisure centres

• Health resorts and spas

• Management consultancies

• Other areas within the service sector

Pfaller, CEO of CoutureHospitalityConcept to bring the best and brightest minds in the hospitality industry to a round table. Its mission is to connect hoteliers and initiate an exchange of ideas to create a forum for discussion, research and studies. Core values include Diversity, Gender Equality, Sustainable Luxury, Responsible Travel. The HoteliersGuild Academy of Hospitality Arts and the LeadingHôtelières Chapter provide access to education for future generations in the hospitality industry via close collaborations with internationally renowned hotel schools, e.g. EHL and Institut Paul Bocuse, MUAS and others.

The HoteliersGuild Intern&Mentorship Program is part of the The HoteliersGuild YoungHôtelières intern and mentorship programme is part of the International

The Delaire Graff Estate, a Relais & Chateaux hotel and HoteliersGuild's partner member for this hybrid internship program, is considered the ultimate Cape Winelands experience and one of South Africa's finest properties. And what makes this hybrid internship so appealing is that the member hotelier on site also assumes mentorship responsibility for the student.

My work & dedicated projects

ARRIVAL & FIRST DAY

My first day at work

After about 12 hours in Cape Town, I set off for my new workplace at 9am the next morning. The luxurious Delaire Graff Wine Resort is located in the east of Cape Town and is surrounded by long vineyards and mountainous nature reserves. It is by far the most beautiful hotel I have ever seen in my life.

At the reception, my supervisor Cindy greeted me warmly and welcomed me. Cindy took me on a tour of the entire property, which took almost 2 hours on its own. Despite the size of the estate, which currently employs about 300 people, there is a very intimate and personal atmosphere.

A time with many challenges

The HR team had prepared a comprehensive programme for me, which involved visiting five different departments over 21 weeks. I spent about 2 to 6 weeks in each department, including marketing, the winery, the reception for lodges and spa, the Asian-African restaurant Indochine and the Delaire Graff restaurant. I worked 37 hours per week onsite at Delaire Graff and 8 hours per week remotely at Hoteliers Guild, for a total of 45 hours per week. One of the biggest challenges I faced every day at the hotel was the language barriers and cultural differences. I often experienced being treated differently because of my identity, background and gender.

The challenges listed are the result of implicit prejudices and cultural imprints that have always fascinated me.

LeadingHôtelières Chapter, an international initiative of established career women from various fields, consisting of both practitioners and academics, which in turn supports other women in making a career in the hospitality industry.

Through its extensive network, Ho- teliersGuild works with internationally renowned private and luxury hotels, brands from around the world and the world's most prestigious colleges and universities. For students of tourism and hotel management, this internship is an ideal career stepping stone.

Swimming with penguins

An ideal career stepping stone

My supervisor and mentor, Frank M. Pfaller, understood my passion for the hotel industry and gave me the freedom to deepen my focus of interest. He involved me in several projects and meetings and made it a point to ensure that his interns learn and take away as much as possible. I got an insight into the meeting of the Hoteliers Guild Academy of Hospitality Arts and the Hoteliers Guild

When time allowed besides the internship, I went to Cape Town. Because there are some great excursions to be made from there, such as sand surfing or wine tasting. At Bolders Beach you can even swim with penguins. A braai with local South Africans was also a great experience! A braai (barbecue) can be held on the beach, in the middle of the bush or in the backyard, for a special occasion or for no reason at all. Whether only three guests or 20, whether festive with fancy sauces and salads or down-to-earth with a simple steak on a street corner. It was simply a great feeling to have been there!

A great enrichment

All in all, an internship abroad is a great enrichment and a valuable experience that allows you to learn new things, rethink your own attitudes and broaden your horizons!

My first meeting with the HoteliersGuild Founder President Mr. Frank M. Pfaller in Munich.

A sneak peek of the HoteliersGuild Academy LeadingHôtelières meeting with HoteliersGuild Founder and President Frank M. Pfaller, Brenda Collin (EVP Europe Preferred Hotels & Resorts), Yasmine Mahmoudieh (CEO of Yasmine Mahmoudieh), Prof. Dr. Sowon Kim (Co-Chair of the HoteliersGuild Academy and Professor at EHL Hospitality Business School) and Xenia zu Hohenlohe (CoFounding Partner at Considerate Group). (Order: from top left to bottom right)

HoteliersGuild Mentorship

Walking the Talk

EXPERENCE

During my internship with HoteliersGuild I had the privilege of sitting in on all the prestigious Forum Of Dialogues with the HoteliersGuild Academy of Hospitality Arts and the HoteliersGuild LeadingHôtelières Chapter, where some of the world’s most established industry leaders share their thoughts and wisdom on how we can better the hospitality industry. The themes of this year's forums were Wellbeing, Diversity, Sustainability, and Gender Equality. As a Black woman of African descent that lives in Europe, I was drawn to the focus group on diversity and gender equality because I understand the importance of representation for young people of color who are looking to be a part of the hospitality industry. Not having a person that looks like you, in a leadership position, limits your ability to see yourself as a leader in that industry hence stunting your potential and devoicing your employer of the best version of your talents. One of the highlights of my experience was when I was given the opportunity to have one on one interview sessions with the general managers from different leading hotels in South Africa such as Ellerman House, The Mount Nelson, The Silo Hotel and select member hotels of the Red Carnation Group in South Africa. The key lesson I learned was that the hoteliers' leaders were rooted in personal stories that informed their decision to be hoteliers. I learned that these deeply touching personal stories are what got

them through the highs and the lows, it was their fuel to keep showing up with a smile and leading with passion.

HoteliersGuild Mentorship program

The HoteliersGuild YoungHôteliéres Intern and Mentor Program is part of the International HoteliersGuild Academy of Hospitality Arts, supported by the LeadingHôteliéres Chapter, and aims to encourage young female students from our industry to take control of their learning to maximise their potential, develop their skills and improve their performance to become future leaders. Senior HoteliersGuild members act as their mentors. Mentoring is strongly linked to career prosperity, job satisfaction, and higher career engagement.

My mentoring program, which included the abovementioned interviews with influential managers, the weekly jour fixe with my mentor Frank M. Pfaller, and the task of conducting a theoretical study together with Prof. Dr. Kirillova (professor at the Paul Bocuse Institute and Chair of the HoteliersGuild Wellbeing Focus Group), was an extraordinary experience that greatly advanced me not only professionally but also academically.

My HoteliersGuild Intern & Mentorship Curriculum

Introduction

Completing this hybrid internship can benefit your career goals by giving you a chance to practice skills you've learned in the classroom with guidance from well established industry leaders, supervised by your professors.

Your internship will entail to fill roles that involve work in multiple areas of our businesses, allowing you to learn more through guided practice in real professional situations.

At HoteliersGuild we strive to provide you opportunities of a close and personal learning and working relationship with one of our member hoteliers in close exchange with executive members of our private society as well as their various initiatives, e.g. The HoteliersGuild LeadingHôtelières and The HoteliersGuild Academy of Hospitality Arts.

Areas of Interaction with HoteliersGuild

As per the planning schedule, starting from February 01, 2022 you will dedicate 8 hours per week to Familiarise yourself with the cause & goals of HoteliersGuild and our initiatives.

• Establish a virtual working relationship with its Secretaries, Chairpersons and Focus Group members

• Attend monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly virtual meetings

I. Setting the right Goals to Success in the Internship

1. Mastering Technical Skills

A good set of goals around technical business & organisational skills would be:

• Applying your working knowledge of spreadsheet-based data manipulation, formulas, and basic modelling techniques to update and organise HoteliersGuild’s members roster, agendas & minutes of meetings, followup. tasks etc.

• Attend virtual feedback meetings with the President and your Professor

• Learning how to build presentations (examples: our ForumOfDialogue, LookBook, Hoteliers4Good) - from storyboarding to design, copywriting, and rehearsing. These are essential communication skills that are not typically taught in school.

• Gaining knowledge how to conduct researches/studies via your participation our initiatives. Access to good data is essential to any research project, and will equip you with valuable skills that can be applied to any high-tech related department - front office/ marketing/general management - etc. in your future managerial occupation.

• Learning how to update and manage our new website and to evaluate web traffic with

Google Analytics or similar web analytics tools, and how to do keyword research for SEO. Marketing is so dominated by data nowadays that learning the basic in and outs of web analytics is an essential step for anyone wanting to understand how some website are so successful and some are not.

2. Perfecting Interpersonal Skills (Soft Skills)

Honing the ability to connect with people and building trust. The hospitality business is ultimately a people’s business. Personal connections, trust, and first impressions are very important drivers of managing, deal making and success in our industry - and sometimes just as relevant as knowledge of technical and innovations skills.

Learning how to communicate with entrepreneurs/practitioners, academics and other HoteliersGuild members. Unlike other corporate internships where interns tend to pick up a big company’s corporate culture, working with our members and interacting on eye-level with executives and academics will be very different. The goal is to be able to connect and communicate very clearly to them without any uniformed corporate jargon, and to be able to quickly grasp topics or ideas that are somewhat more creative, academic or

even abstract, while not losing track of the big picture.

3. Building a Network of Contacts

• Building relationships with people who can serve as advisers or mentors. • Expanding the network to include other like-minded students.

• Building a network of would-be hoteliers and technical specialists in the respective fields of expertise. These are important networks that will be essential for you in our industry world. Your internship with HoteliersGuild will provide you with an excellent starting point to begin building these relationships.

My first project

MY 1ST DIGEST REPORT

Research Summary

This assignment includes a summary of the article "Vacation as a Public Health Resource: Toward a Wellness Centered Tourism Design Approach," by Xinran Y. Lehto and Mark R. Lehto. Following the summary of the article, recommendations are provided for tourism and hospitality leaders based on the arguments presented in the article. For today's consumers, travel is increasingly becoming an integral part of their lives. It is postulated that digitalization and automation in the tourism and hospitality industry neglects an important fundamental approach - "relaxation and recreation." The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of beneficial designs and indicators that tourism and hospitality operators can use to create, communicate, and deliver health and wellness-oriented value to travelers.

Problems

Nevertheless, vacation is a complex process of interaction between people and the environment, which involves an intense engagement with the natural and man-made environment. The main reasons why consumers using travel as recreation are, on the one hand, the digitalization in all areas of modern life and, on the other hand, the excessive use of media platforms, which negatively affects our wellbeing and the productivity of individuals (Montag & Walla, 2016).

Findings

The main finding is based on the theory that tourism is a resource for human well-being. For a person to feel good, he or she must find optimal conditions for body, mind, and spirit.

1. Recreational function of vacation.

The qualities of travel can lead a traveler to interact and engage with positive environmental attributes over an extended time. A traveler's interaction with a natural, social, and cultural environment can also promote the growth of his or her intellectual and creative resources.

2. A general framework for design focused on the well-being of travelers. Designing wellness features, communicating wellness values, communicating wellness benefits, and promoting wellness resources at the destination are important action-oriented functions for such a traveler wellness ecosystem.

3. Supporting decisions focused on traveler wellness. The role of the caregiver is indeed one that tourism and hospitality should be aware of. For example, the quality of information used depends on what is available at the time of selection, as well as its completeness, accuracy, and relevance. These indicators can be used by businesses and destinations as a strategic advantage in marketing their experiences and services. In addition, they can be developed and made available to consumers to assist them in their purchasing decisions.

4. Invest in quality products and develop valuable strategies.

A key strategy for improving traveler wellness is for providers to stop focusing on cost-cutting and efficiency goals and instead offer highquality products that meet traveler's' wellness needs. In the context of creating superior wellness value, the humanity of services and social interactions are key elements in terms of creating a sense of human connection.

Conclusion

Looking at the challenges and developments mentioned in the article which the tourism and hospitality industry is facing in the current situation, it is obvious that an effective, goal-oriented strategy needs to be implemented. I personally believe that flexibility and creativity in the design of these customer-oriented products and services are more than ever the key success factor. Furthermore, in my opinion, the importance of human well-being is not limited to the area of leisure services. Rather, it must be seen as a responsibility of society to provide benefits on a large scale. In this context, our industry can assume a crucial and extremely important leadership position.

Simone Kokou | B.A Tourism Management - intern HG | Simone.kokou@gmx.de

Prof.

"Vacation as a Public Health Resource: Toward a Wellness Centered Tourism Design Approach"

Xinran Y. Lehto is a professor in the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University. She is currently an associate editor of Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, and serves on the editorial board of six other international academic journals. Dr. Lehto is currently the president of International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA). Dr. Lehto was an assistant professor at Colorado State University prior to joining the Purdue HTM faculty. Prior to her academic appointments, Dr. Lehto was a practitioner in the travel and tourism industry. She worked as a marketing executive at China National Tourism Administration and as a marketing executive at Chan Brothers Travel (Singapore) for a number of years.

Dr. Xinran Letho Purdue University,

Delaire Graff Estate

EXPERENCE

Departments and activities during the internship The beginning of my training served to familiarise me with the product and services in the company to give me insights into the normal processes. Next, I spent two to four weeks in each department learning about the implemented standards of each department. The establishment requires a dedicated work ethic from its employees and attaches great importance to quality training.

HOUSEKEEPING

I worked under the direction of Head Housekeeper Curtis Sander and was given a comprehensive insight into his duties and responsibilities. These included staff training, work and holiday planning, budgeting and stock management, quality control, and spa products. During my two weeks in housekeeping, I was challenged to develop new ideas. One of my projects was to create an innovative idea to make housekeeping more environmentally friendly and resource efficient.

INDOCHINE RESTAURANT

At the Lodges & Spa's Asian-inspired restaurant Indochine, I spent four weeks under the leadership of restaurant manager Nicholas Cloete. I shadowed Nick and got an insight into his management duties. These duties included: staff planning, managing, and training staff on new standard operating procedures, guest relations, cashiering and payroll, and creating the monthly Indochine menus in collaboration with Chef Virgil Khan.

WINERY

I spent two weeks with winemakers Morné Very and Riaan Schemper at the winery. The wine team was amid a wild harvest, and I was assisted in sorting and producing the winery's premium Cabernet Sauvignon. I also got an insight into Delaire's international export and logistics management from Louis Helberg, the logistics manager.

opportunity to help train staff on new menus and wines, weekly rostering, creating food and beverage specials in collaboration with the chef, cashiering and payroll, and guest relations.

WINE LOUNGE

Within two weeks, I was allowed to work in the Wine Lounge with the Wine Lounge Supervisor, Shanaed Anderson. My duties included: Wine service, advising guests on wine selection, taking wine orders, and managing stock. My experience in the winery team has helped me integrate into this team easily and reinforces my knowledge of wines and ability to promote sales.

LODGE RESERVATIONS

I became familiar with the Property Management System during my two weeks working in the Lodge reservation department with the reservation manager Mari Duvenhage. My tasks included: creating and sending reservation offers, providing guests with detailed information about the house, and entering reservation information into the RMS (Reservation Management System of Relais & Châteaux, Booking, Expedia, Portal).

MARKETING

DELAIRE GRAFF RESTAURANT

I worked in Delaire Graff's second restaurant for four weeks with restaurant manager Roscoe, assistant restaurant manager Francois de Wet and sommelier Tatenda Luvera. I had the

I spent a week in the marketing department with Marketing Director Damien Joubert Winn and Marketing Assistant Lizelle Lazarus. I worked on various tasks, such as creating a mood board, analysing marketing trends, and developing new marketing strategies that might suit Delaire.

FRONT DESK

I spent the last few weeks working at the front desk with Front Office Manager Cindy-Lee Ducan. My duties included greeting and welcoming guests, managing check-in and check-out, working with the daily sheet, call log, and maintenance sheets, planning guests' activities and itineraries during their stay, and handling calls and inquiries.

The Oyster Box

EXPERENCE

After my mandatory internship at Delaire Graff Estate, I decided to do a voluntary internship at one of the Red Carnation Hotels. Under the conditions of HoteliersGuild, I completed a 10week administrative internship at the Oyster Box Hotel in Durban, South Africa.award-winning 5-star Oyster Box Hotel is located in Umhlanga, a resort town 20 minutes from Durban North and 25 minutes from the Durban University of Technology. It has been a renowned luxury retreat since the 1930s. The Oyster Box Hotel is part of the Red Carnation Hotels, a collection of boutique hotels, owned and operated by the Tollman family. Red Carnation Hotels proudly boasts 20 exceptional

properties around the world, such as in United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States each unique and special. Red Carnation Hotels is proud to offer 20 exceptional hotels around the world, such as in the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Switzerland and the United States, all of which are unique and special.

EXPECTATIONS

One of the key features of the hotel that intrigued me the most during my internship was its goal to focus on sustainability. The Oyster Box Hotel supports green initiatives and local charities such as the Amy Biel Foundation. I loved that it gives guests the opportunity to participate in various sustainability activities to develop a sense of social responsibility.

Based on my interest in hotel management, sustainability, and hospitality entrepreneurship that I developed during my first internship at Delaire Graff, HoteliersGuild offered me the opportunity to complete a volunteer internship at

interest. The duration of my volunteer internship program was 10 weeks and I had the opportunity to gain insight into the following departments.

My Program

• Sales and Marketing with General Sales Manager, Sally Gray

• Social Media and Content Management with Caitlyn Dreyer

• Human Resources with People and Culture Manager, Lorelle Hornsby and Callum Visick

• Finance office with the Financial Controller, Leslie Heave

• Spa Management with Spa Manager, Jackie Armitage

• Banqueting sales with Conference and Events Manager, Jayd Thevenau

My longterm project

during the onboarding period & beyond

The main objective of this initiative is to fund and implement an expanded concept for awarding scholarships to talented but disadvantaged hospitality management students from black and minority ethnic groups, guided by The HoteliersGuild Academy of Hospitality Arts’ principles.

I had been given the chance to work with the auctioneers for the funding campaign, upload promotional posts on Instagram and LinkedIn and collaborate closely with my mentor for all admin and creative requirements.

All details can be viewed on SIRIUS AWARDS

SIRIUS AWARDS

Having been invited to assist with the organisation for the SIRIUS ACADEMY AWARD campaign is a privilege and an honor.

My Take Away

My internship in both organisations provided me with more experiences than I would have ever imagined. As I look back on my time In South Africa I am filled with gratitude and joy for having been a part of this life changing internship experience.

As a German woman of African descent, diversity and equality have always been high on my agenda. One of the reasons I participated in the program is HoteliersGuilds' contribution to gender quality and diversity. HoteliersGuild strongly believes that improved gender equality at the leadership level is key to the future of our industry. As is their commitment to positive change through scientific research, building sponsors and like-minded networks, transforming design and development strategies, and engaging communications.

Adapting to a new country and getting acclimated with different cultures was a challenging and yet incredibly rewarding experience that will help me to become a better leading hotelier but more importantly a better person.

As one of the thought leaders of the HoteliersGuild LeadingHôtelières chapter, Tea Colaianni, Chairlady https://www.wihtl.com/ said, “people with normal backgrounds can have rewarding and fulfilling successful careers.” I believe students from every background can come to HoteliersGuild Internship and thrive.

I would highly recommend this experience to any highly motivated student with a passion for transformation. This has been the best decision of my career and I can only imagine what it will do for others. I will work hard to be leader in the hospitality industry so that other young ladies of color like me, can feel inspired to be the next generation of hoteliers that will change the world!

HoteliersGuild has given me the freedom and responsibility to learn, make mistakes and develop in a controlled and prestigious environment. It has been a long and inspiring educational journey that has changed me professionally and personally.

Making last long friendship is one of the most crucial lessons I learned during my 1-year time in South Africa. I am thankful to have made such incredible friends who have accompanied me on my journey. Stet

Whenever we had off days, my friends and I went on some fantastic road trips. Sandboarding or swimming with the penguins at the beach where one of my highlights.

My daily motivation! Looking at this picture, you can feel the joy, happiness and attachment for my internship at the Delaire Graff Estate!

Great moments with friends A stroll on the beach A moment of reflection

And the journey continues

by Simone Kokou

Returned to Munich, Germany December 31st 2022, to pursue my studies and looking much forward to volunteering further with HoteliersGuild

Acknowledgments My heartfelt thanks to

my mentor President of HoteliersGuild, Mr. Frank M. Pfaller and all the inspiring members of HoteliersGuild h8ps:// www.hoteliersguild.com/

my Professor Dr. Burkhard von Freyberg from the h8ps:// www.hm.edu/

SCE Agora Scholarship Program 2022 h8ps://www.sce.de/ themen/foerderprojekte/agora/agora.html

DAAD Erasmus Scholarship program h8ps://erasmusplus.ec.europa.eu/

Mr Paul Bruce-Brand and the wonderful team from Delaire Graff Estate h8ps://www.delaire.co.za/

Ms Vicky Tollman and the amazing work colleagues of the Oyster Box Hotel h8ps://oysterboxhotel.com/?

utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=hotel the international office of Durban University of Technology https://www.dut.ac.za/ and the international office at the Munich University of Applied Sciences h8ps://www.hm.edu/

And finally to the wonderful Ms. Penny Rey for her warm hospitality!

THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL AND UNFORGETTABLE JOURNEY !