Q: What exactly is Extrabold and what do you do?
A: We are an independent hotel management company which focuses on operating and managing hotels under various different brands.
Q: How does Extrabold differentiate itself from other hotel management companies?
A: We focus on identifying the right brand for each of the hotels under our management and we are not brand prescriptive. As we are entrepreneurs by nature, we like to drive a hotel management model which is focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, empowerment and engagement. The guest experience and developing the right talent to deliver is central to what we do.
Q: Do you purely manage hotels or do you own some as well?
A: We don’t own any of the hotels that we manage and we don’t intend to do so in the short term.
Q: How do you select the hotels that join your portfolio?
A: We manage a very diverse portfolio of hotels, ranging from a two-star city hotel to a five-star resort. As a key principle, we would never accept a management appointment if we don’t truly believe that we can add significant value to the guest experience and the operating performance.
Q: What are some of the bigger hotels you manage?
A: Our largest hotels are the Crowne Plaza Johannesburg – The Rosebank (318 keys), the Holiday Inn Sandton, Rivonia Road (301 keys) and the Mount Grace Country House & Spa (121 keys). Aside from this we manage five Protea Hotels branded properties and two independently branded hotels.
Q: Do you only manage South African hotels or does your footprint reach other countries?
A: We currently only manage hotels in South Africa, but we will certainly look at opportunities abroad in the future.
Q: Do you have any plans to expand your current portfolio?
A: Absolutely. We recently took on the management of the Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club and we believe that there will be other exciting additions to our portfolio in 2011.
Q: What are some of the newer developments for Extrabold?
A: During the initial phase of the downturn we focused on our existing portfolio and our property-owning partners. We feel that we are now in a position to bring in new hotels, and Riviera is the most recent acquisition.
Q: How do you ensure that the corporate market is catered to?
A: It is essential to have a thorough understanding of your guests, their likes and dislikes, and ensuring that you are effectively catering to their needs. From a corporate procurement and travel management perspective we look to build on strong relationships and deliver a consistent service.
Q: What is Extrabold’s focus for 2011?
A: We are looking to innovate and to refine the guest experience at all our hotels.
Q: What message do you have for the trade about Extrabold?
A: Watch this space!