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Three Cities Group Welcomes You
Hi, I’m Geraldine the Giraffe, and I’ve been employed by the Three Cities Group to keep you up-to-date with the happenings within their portfolio. So yes – I’m the lucky one that gets to journey through out the wonderful array of the Three Cities portfolio and let you know what is happening where and when.
But never fear – we come to you directly with all the hottest news, happenings and event natter.
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With an impressive portfolio and definitive skill for staff management, Eben Lassen has been appointed GM at the award-winning Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa, one of the properties in Three Cities Hotel Group’s Exceptional Collection brand.
Having established a solid reputation during five successful years at the prestigious Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa, as well as his 2 and a half years at Lagoon Beach Hotel where he worked successfully in the corporate and conferencing market, Eben joins the Three Cities Group with a wealth of experience, enthusiasm and drive.
“I am delighted to be joining the Three Cities team. I have been privileged to enjoy five years of firsth-and experience in a five star environment and look forward to contributing to the already sterling reputation that Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa presents”, says Eben.
Located in the world famous Cape Winelands, Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa has become one of the most exclusive getaways in its class. Capturing the essence of five star luxury, the impeccably appointed Le Franschhoek offers unparalleled views of the Franschhoek Mountains and is the perfect setting for a taste of the legendary Cape Wine Routes.
With 63 stylish rooms – choose from Valley-facing to the River Suites with their luxurious gardens, Vineyard Suites or chic Garden Suites set around a rose garden – Le Franschhoek epitomises the most romantic of Cape Wineland retreat-style resorts, with wellness and the good life at its core.
Its world-class facilities include among others three restaurants, a 24 Hour reception, a professional child minding service, tennis and swimming pool areas, an award-winning Camelot Spa and a signature bar with the finest selection of cigars.
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In an important development in the Southern African Hospitality Industry, the Mantis and Three Cities Groups have announced the formation of a Joint Venture. The two organizations have recognized their individual strengths, that is that Mantis is primarily focused on the 5 Star International market and Three Cities on the 4 Star Southern African market. Both companies in recognizing their strengths in these different markets and by creating a joint hospitality force will be able to leverage each other’s markets by optimizing overhead structures. Like most International organizations of which there are many coupled examples, the Joint Venture will mean that Mantis will be the 5 Star brand together with its partner in Southern Africa Preferred Boutique™ Hotels. Three Cities will concentrate on the 4 Star segment and their city hotels where Mantis do not operate. The new partnership has recognized that there will be instances where joint branding is appropriate especially where the product concerned is dependent on both international and local markets in the 5 Star category.
The powerful new Hospitality focused Group will cross sell each other’s properties whilst leveraging off an existing infrastructure using the combined Mantis and Three Cities Central Reservation services with the most up to date systems and connectivity available.
The alliance will position Three Cities to market Mantis properties regionally while Mantis will in turn to be showcasing Three Cities properties through their international offices in the UK, Europe and United States. The Joint Venture also provides Three Cities with a portal to a massive international market in conjunction with the Mantis Group’s partnership with explora Properties and Preferred Boutique™ Hotel Group. Preferred Boutique™ is a leading global provider of high-performance sales, marketing and technology support to individually owned and operated hotels and resorts, with over 740 members in over 65 countries.
“The agreement will not only leverage off existing infrastructure but also entrench the core values of both companies as hospitality leaders. It’s an exciting development which I believe will have a huge impact on our country and the region’s hospitality industry,” says Mike Lambert CEO of Three Cities.
“We are incredibly excited about the journey that Mantis is to embark on with Three Cities, and thrilled to have the opportunity jointly to represent and market their properties in South Africa and internationally. We believe that this partnership will provide a competitive advantage in the market place and will be enriching and rewarding for both brands locally and worldwide,” adds Adrian Gardiner CEO Mantis.
Mantis consists of World Famous Game Reserves and Boutique Hotels with a presence in South Africa, Africa, England, Scotland, Europe, South America and Antarctica. It is a collection of some of the World’s finest destinations each individually selected, inspired by its own unique location and recognizing the importance of wildlife, culture, beauty and individuality.
Founded in 2000, Mantis has won many accolades and honors including The World Travel Awards for the Leading Conservation Company and Leading Safari and Game Reserve, British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow, The Terra Nova Award, Harpers and Queen 100 Best Places to visit and 25 local and international awards.
At the Africa Awards Ceremony held in Johannesburg last week, Mantis and its properties were recognized in the following categories:
* Mantis - Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel Brand
* Mantis - Africa’s Leading Game Reserve Brand
* Mantis - South Africa’s Leading Game Reserve Brand
* Shamwari Game Reserve - Africa’s Leading Conservation Company
* Shamwari Game Reserve - Africa’s Leading Safari
* Shamwari Townhouse - Africa’s Leading Town House Hotel
* The Last Word Long Beach - South Africa’s Leading Luxury Beach Hotel
Three Cities is a leading hospitality management and marketing company offering an extensive collection of hotels throughout Southern Africa. Divisions within the group incorporate urban environments within “City Hotels” located in the heart of the Southern African business world whilst, magnificent rural scenery are the settings of their activity and family friendly “Resorts”. “Exceptional Safaris” feature unique and private destinations accompanied by the best that African wildlife has to offer. The “Exceptional Collection" boasts a selection of the most outstanding five-star and award winning hotels from the above brands. From Cape Town to Victoria Falls this energetic hospitality company offers a broad dimension to travel.
Russell Stevens founder of the Three Cities Group and a personal friend of Adrian Gardiner’s for over twenty years said “Adrian and I have explored these synergies over the years and we now both believe we have the right dynamic young management to pull it all together”.
The combined group will generate sales in Southern Africa in excess of R 1 billion. |
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Since August 2008, extensive upgrades have been done to The Golden Horse Casino Hotel complex in Pietermaritzburg, situated just off the N3 highway 45min from Durban. The Golden Horse Casino Hotel is the only hotel in Africa linked to both a casino and a turf racecourse, one of only a handful in the world.
With design and décor practices and trends changing almost every day, developers realised a total revamp was essential and wide-spread plans were engineered towards exciting transformation. Once completed, the complex will be an epitome of pulse-racing entertainment and efficient hospitality set within a colourful and fresh ambiance mantled by opulent luxury.
The improvements ensure that the most modern and latest trends are implemented throughout the complex with major changes being done to the main entrance, exterior of the hotel, hotel rooms, hotel reception, conference rooms, fast-food court, main casino floor, restroom areas and radio studio. Interior was redone by Sam Isra who introduced a radical change from dull yellows and blues to trendy purple, yellow, green, blue and pink, giving rooms a hip look with pulsating impressions.
Phase one, costing R20mil, concentrated on the kiddies Funland, John Dory, Milky Lane and general retail outlets. Phase two to six totalled in the region of R100mil, with R35mil of that spent on the hotel specifically. The balance was used to increase parking areas with 256 bays, improving the general casino area, restaurants and interiors of the Diamond Lounge and Roccerfella Club. The entire complex increased with over 25% in size with an added bar and Salon Privé.
Green building practises were enhanced with newly fitted shower-heads, now utilising only 8 litres per hour as apposed to the previous 25 litres per hour. A light card system has been put into place reducing electricity by 40%, and all revamp waste has been recycled into various projects.
Phase seven, promising to ‘wow’ visitors, will include the conversion of Pegasus - the largest horse statue in the world towering at the entrance - transforming it into an elegant bronze statue with tranquil water features.
The newly rated four-star hotel with 97 luxurious en-suite bedrooms is a world-class stay - fit for a king with rates not expected to increase this year, however focus remains to be on offering value for money for both corporate and leisure guests.
Dining and entertainment will take on a whole new dimension with the sensational new Rockafellas with its mixture of 30's and 40's era, presented in a swanky, stylish atmosphere with a comfortable jazzy feel; the upmarket and elite ladies Diamond Lounge, elegantly tasteful with live entertainment, personal attention, sumptuous light meals and wide selection of cocktails; and SA's premier party destination club, Café Vacca Matta, sizzling with martini bar, disk jockeys, Jazz and rock bands.
The Golden Horse complex offers four versatile state-of-the-art conference venues that are sub-dividable into various configurations catering for up to 500 delegates with views over the racecourse or Scottsville. It’s also a perfect setting for an enlivening wedding.
Exhilarating sports entertainment is offered at Richard Tattersall's Bar; Scottsville Racecourse with racing during the week and the highlight every year - Golden Horse Sprints; wide variety of slots and table games in the casino including the Maximillian R1 million slots jackpot; Funland, a kiddies state-of-art games arcade; Educare crèche; BMX track outside; and driving range with golf at the Pietermaritzburg Country Club.
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On Tuesday, 8th June 2010, The Royal Hotel in Durban hosted the official launch of durbanlastminute.co.za – an online tourism portal for domestic and international tourists.
Following a survey conducted by Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, it was discovered that local tourists had not booked their usual winter holidays in Durban this year. Initial predictions were that accommodation in South Africa’s major cities would be fully booked for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, due to the recession, this has not been the case and current accommodation bookings have not met expectations.
In a drive to boost occupancy levels in KwaZulu-Natal, FEDHASA and the Durban Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Committee created an exciting advertising campaign to promote tourism in Durban and market it as “the warmest place to be”. The platform for this campaign is the durbanlastminute.co.za online portal.
Following energetic performances of the Diski dance by The Royal Hotel staff, formal speeches introducing and supporting the initiative were made by Mike Jackson, Chairman of the Durban Chamber of Commerce; Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo; the president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Clive Manci; and the Vice Chairman of the Durban Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Akash Singh.
Mike Jackson began the proceedings by thanking The Royal Hotel and Durban’s other major hospitality players for their valuable contribution in the launch of durbanlastminute.co.za. Following the formalities, members of the press and distinguished guests were treated to a lunch courtesy of The Royal Hotel in The Royal Grill.
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ONE of South Africa’s leading hospitality management companies, Three Cities Hotels has appointed Mike Lambert as CEO and takes over from Russell Stevens who will remain actively involved as Chairman of the Group for the foreseeable future.
Offering an extensive collection of hotels throughout Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, four diverse brands incorporate urban environments within “City Hotels”, magnificent rural scenery are the settings of family friendly “Resorts”, “Exceptional Safaris” feature unique and private havens of luxury accompanied by the best that African wildlife has to offer.
The new “Exceptional Collection" boasts a selection of the most outstanding five-star and award winning hotels from the current Thee Cities brands.
"As the newly appointed CEO of the Three Cities Group, I am honoured to be part of a team that is inspiring, accountable, open, honest and quality-focused – exceptional qualities in my view,” says Mike Lambert. “It is our combined vision to become Africa's leading, exceptional, hospitality brand of choice within the next five years."
Mike Lambert was recruited in 2004 by then-CEO Russell Stevens to take up the position as COO of the huge uShaka Marine Park and Waterworld for City of Durban (for which Three Cities had won the contract to complete the development and then manage).
“We have these last 18 months had to complete a major reshuffle in senior management and continue to navigate a very challenging period in South Africa’s economic history, especially in the Leisure and Tourism sector,” says Russell Stevens.
“Mike takes up the executive leadership of the company at a time when, while the ship has been stabilized and has to gear itself for real and profitable growth. This is a considerable task for a new incumbent, but I believe Mike is well equipped for the challenge and in whom I have the greatest respect and confidence.”
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