Industry comment

Travel policy is about to receive a complete overhaul in years to come. What can you expect? More advanced technology, enhanced communication and better education are all on the cards to make your life easier. An added bonus for companies is that these factors are also expected to enhance travel policy compliance.

The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) provides a rigorous framework and process for the quality assurance that is continuously sought by tourism products seeking to showcase and differentiate their products in the industry. Darryl Erasmus, newly appointed Chief Quality Assurance Officer at the TGCSA, took some time to shed light on the association and its benefits to the tourism industry.

The burning question on my mind today is: why are airlines still levying fuel surcharges when fuel prices are at an all-time low?

Hard Rock has chosen Lagos as its second city in sub-Saharan Africa to open one of its iconic Hard Rock Cafes. Okay, so Johannesburg beat us to it, but that restaurant is a long way away, and this one is right here, in Victoria Island, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Despite its troubled financial situation, South Africa’s national carrier is making strides to recover its favourable standing. SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali outlined some of the recent changes to the airline’s route map and fleet and updated Business Traveller Africa on the effect the oil price and exchange rate have had on the airline.

In its nearly 20 years of operation, Birchwood Hotel and O.R Tambo Conference Centre has made a name for itself as the go-to venue for large corporate or government conferences. But the times are changing, and so is this stalwart establishment. Kevin Clarence chatted to Dylan Rogers about what’s been happening at Birchwood over the last 18 months.

Since the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa in 2014, the region’s tourism business has taken a huge knock. While Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were hardest hit, surrounding countries suffered a severe drop in visitor numbers last year. Thankfully, with infection numbers on the decline, life is starting to flow back into West Africa. But Ghana experienced a double whammy of a badly performing economy on top of the medical crisis. This is no reason to count the country out, however. Axel Hauser, General Manager of the Moevenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, is confident that despite these setbacks, Ghana has what it takes to fully recover, and is already seeing occupancy figures rise.

Robyn Christie looks back on her journey at ASATA and says her final goodbye.

Your friend in Africa - Ewan Cameron - talks about the future of commercial aircraft in Africa.