Bite | Business Traveller Africa | Page 7

Clearer Focus

Sun International has always been a gaming group with hotels, but that focus began to blur with the emergence of some of the group’s more iconic properties. As a result, the last three years of introspection have brought the South African gaming giant back in line with a more clearly-defined strategy, as explained by CEO Graeme Stephens to Dylan Rogers in Johannesburg.

Ahead of the pack

Carlson Rezidor’s new Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Friedrich Schaefer, sits down with BTAfrica Editor Dylan Rogers over a couple of cappuccinos at one of the two Radisson Blu properties in Sandton to share his vision of what he would like to achieve.

Buying Power

The second half of 2014 will see the XL Travel Group celebrate 10 years as a consortium, which started with 15 shareholders and is now made up of 150 members. Rod Rutter is the group’s chief operating officer, and he sat down with editor Dylan Rogers over a coffee in Johannesburg, to chart the group’s history, expand on what it has to offer, and touch on some of the travel industry’s most pressing issues.

Staying relevant

It’s all about relevance. Travelport may call itself a ‘travel commerce platform’, but in the eyes of many in the travel industry, it’s still a...

Back to Basics

Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre is currently not where it should be, performance-wise, according to director and original owner Kevin Clarence. But Clarence is also confident that he can turn one of South Africa’s largest conference facilities around, as explained over coffee to editor Dylan Rogers in Johannesburg.

Something for everyone

The British pound may not be in the healthiest state it’s ever been, but South Africa’s rand has bounced back, meaning that whilst Virgin...

Taking on Africa

Kempinski Hotels is Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group, with properties in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The group currently has seven African hotels in its portfolio, but that number appears likely to grow quickly in the coming years, as Kempinski has embarked on an aggressive African strategy. Editor Dylan Rogers caught up with Avsar Koc, the Regional Sales & Marketing Director for the IMEA region.

More Value

Hilton Worldwide is one of the big players in global hospitality with over 4,500 hotels in nearly a hundred countries. That portfolio is growing, with Africa very much part of that development strategy, including the roll-out of a host of mid-market Hilton Garden Inn properties, as explained by Africa & Indian Ocean Vice-President Jan van der Putten to editor Dylan Rogers over coffee in Johannesburg.

Joining forces

It had to happen, didn’t it? Earlier this year, Rennies Travel joined BCD’s Global Network after parting ways with HRG. That followed the 2018 news...

Still driving

An audience with Lance Smith, Avis Budget’s Executive: Sales is always an hour or two well-spent, as one of the South African car rental...