Kate

The car rental industry remains fiercely competitive and with the introduction of a number of technological advancements and modern commercial propositions, the industry is taking steps to future-proof itself. Although these challenges have made trading conditions rather tumultuous, the industry has performed relatively well. That's the view of Martin Lydall, Europcar’s Chief Commercial Officer in South Africa. Q: What are...

BACKGROUND: Long a feeder airline for its franchise partner South African Airways, privately-owned Airlink is growing into a formidable regional carrier in its own right, launching routes to key business and leisure destinations across southern Africa. Its strength has been identifying under-serviced city-pairs and niche routes, such as Cape Town-Upington and Johannesburg- Beira. But the airline also has larger...

BACKGROUND: The Zanzibar Serena Hotel is housed within two opulently restored historic buildings on the seafront. It is part of Zanzibar’s history and offers guests an unbeatable location, delectable cuisine and the Karibu Sana hospitality for which Tanzania is famed. WHERE IS IT? The hotel is in the epicentre of Stonetown on Unguja Island in the Zanzibar archipelago. Airport transfers...

It’s been a challenging few years for Nigeria, but there are positive signs that this African superpower is bouncing back. Nigeria has been referred to as the ‘Giant of Africa’, but the continent’s colossus has taken some body blows over the past few years. The export of crude oil accounts for almost all of Nigeria’s foreign exchange revenues, placing it among...

‘Day Zero’ may have been pushed back, but the water crisis in South Africa’s Western Cape has had a significant impact on travel to Cape Town, as Dylan Rogers discovered. Hope you can see the irony – as I write this – in late May – the South African Weather Service has issued a flood alert for Cape Town, with...

Private aviation in Africa is in a healthy state, but it’s not showing the growth that it should – yet – according to those players with a vested interest, as Kate Kennedy found. The African private aviation industry is growing, but it remains relatively under-developed – when compared with the world’s more developed regions – and largely concentrated in a...

At Sun International’s newly unveiled The Maslow Time Square, the luxury is in the detail and the emphasis is on the experience. This specialist business hotel burgeons with innovations that will delight every business traveller. The Maslow Time Square is distinguished in ways that go far beyond what has become conventional for business hotels. A first for South Africa, the...

The travel industry has gone to great lengths to develop a ‘wow’ retail shopping experience for leisure travellers. Consumer-friendly websites are being developed to offer ‘shoppers’ proper retail therapy and seamless online shopping ‘experiences’. How is the corporate travel sector stacking up? Business travellers have reported they are frustrated with corporate travel booking systems as they feel these have limited choices,...

We have just published the 10th edition of our annual Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa 2018 report, which shows all the deals signed by the international and regional (African) hotel chains with investors. This year’s report has a record 41 contributors reporting 418 deals with over 100 brands. We report continuing growth in the market, from 67,000 rooms...

The Bull Run restaurant located adjacent to the Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Balalaika Sandton on Maude Street will undergo a full revamp worth R12 million ($964,000), to increase capacity and create an ‘international’ feel, as well as attract new patrons and provide a change of scenery for loyal regulars. Over 18 years of trading the restaurant has only undergone minor,...

While the South African Revenue Service confirms that it is not obligatory for South African residents travelling abroad to declare their personal effects when leaving the country, Flight Centre Travel Group encourages frequent travellers to do so to avoid any inconvenience or confusion. Recent reports circulating in the media and on social media suggest that SARS has instituted a new...

The Capital Hotels & Apartments has opened The Capital On The Park. The property is situated on Katherine Street, and is in close proximity to the heart of Sandton. The Capital is calling it Sandton’s ‘only business resort’, and some of its features are an infinity pool, sun deck, spa, signature outdoor champagne bar, and restaurant. The property is home to more...