VALUE OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER
To Recognise, Reward and Uplift
This month is all about acknowledging the hard work and dedication of those around us. A special mention goes out to Simon Mandy (Managing Director), who recently celebrated his 15-year work anniversary with us on the 01st of September. Congratulations, Simon, on this incredible milestone and thank you for your unwavering commitment to The Royal Portfolio.
A huge thank you goes to Sharon Bennett (Accounts Receivable Clerk), who meticulously put together a timeline and photos of the development of the Vision, Purpose and Values. This glimpse into our past reminds us of how far we’ve come as a company.
HEAD OFFICE
Human Resources
All properties, including Head Office, have been engaging in various tasks to receive the new culture cards. It has been a fun and engaging process, and it's wonderful to see so many happy faces as part of this initiative.
In other exciting news, we are in the process of moving into our new head office, Primrose House. Ali McAdam (Foundation Founder) and Marie Bliss (Project Manager) are hard at work, brightening up the spaces as we prepare for the big move. Our goal is to transition into Primrose House by late September. We can’t wait to welcome you all for a visit!
As many of you know, Victor is currently writing a book. A huge thank you to the 72 people who have already expressed interest in contributing their stories and insights. We’ll be sending some additional tasks soon to those involved. If you haven’t yet signed up and would like to participate, the link remains open, so feel free to add your name and join the journey!
A reminder that the 2-pot retirement system has been implemented from the 01st of September 2024. If you are considering to withdraw money from the savings component of your policy, please discuss the implications of this with your property HR.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming training sessions designed to enhance your skills and knowledge. We encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities for professional growth and development. To join, please talk to your HOD and ask HR for the link.
Marketing
A big thanks goes to Lourenco Afonso (Wildlife Photographer and Content Creator) who has sent through some stunning new photography from Royal Malewane Lodges. His weekly updates are filled with vibrant wildlife images and beautiful pops of color, which we archive and add to our media library. These photos are not only great for our website but also help enhance our brand across various channels. In addition to wildlife photography, Lourenco is also working on capturing images of staff, food and interiors.
Our recent blog post focused on “Winter Moments at La Residence.” The goal is to position La Residence as a year-round destination, highlighting its cozy winter ambiance with new seasonal menus and fireside experiences. Blog posts like these are crucial for driving traffic to our website through search engine optimization (SEO). By optimizing for terms like “La Residence” or “winter dining,” we aim to draw in potential guests who might ultimately book a stay with us.
Our preparations for the launch of Franschhoek House, set for the 1st of December 2024, are in full swing. We’ve been working on sales presentations and detailed narratives to describe the rooms, design, and décor of the new property. Although we’re using some photos from the construction site, more polished photography will come closer to the launch. This material will help trade partners and media understand the property layout and the guest experience.
In August, we sent out a newsletter highlighting the refresh at Birkenhead House, along with a blog post on whale watching and updates on the property. We’ve also started integrating content from the Foundation into our newsletters, such as the “Pack for a Purpose” initiative. Additionally, we promoted the Royal Itinerary, our ten-night experience across all properties. A photographer and videographer is currently on-site capturing this itinerary, and we’ll soon have visual content to tell its full story.
We also recently sent out a staff mailer to ensure that all employees, including those without a TRP email address, receive important updates. If you received this email, please click the opt-in button to stay connected with our news and marketing efforts.
We have been working on various collateral, including a gifting catalogue to upsell amenities like cakes, caps and handwashes, and a grab-and-go breakfast menu at La Residence. Seasonal Spa packages have been promoted for Birkenhead House, and we’ve introduced coffee minibar descriptors at The Silo Hotel and interactive wine tasting sheets to enhance the guest experience at Royal Malewane.
Our WeTu portal, used by agents, has been updated with more information about our properties, particularly Royal Malewane, to ensure easy access for booking. Additionally, we’ve added a new bank of 150 images for Birkenhead House, featuring moody and beautiful shots of the guest experience, from food and wine to spa and location views.
On the social media front, Darien Hensberg (Social Media & Content Co-ordinator) been doing fantastic work with Instagram stories. These stories are backed by content from our other channels, such as emailers and the website, to create a cohesive marketing approach.
At La Residence, our focus remains on our wine story, with new technical sheets and wine labels adding depth to the narrative.
Events
We’ve had a bustling August with events and general arrangements, along with several new inquiries and last-minute bookings. We recently hosted a Bridgerton-themed baby shower at La Residence. The event was a huge success, and the guests were thrilled with the décor and experience. Liz Biden (Founder and Co-Chair) also visited the property and was very impressed with the event's setup.
Another highlight was an all-female event where we had a talented, all-female marimba band perform, adding a unique touch to the occasion. Fatima from Dynamic Group also joined us for this special event.
We hosted two small conferences, one of which was for the Cape Leopard Trust’s 20th anniversary. The event went smoothly, and the guests were appreciative of the attention to detail. We also repurposed flowers from the Bridgerton-themed event, creating a stunning setup for the in-house guests during one of the conferences.
The chandelier used in a previous photoshoot has become a popular guest request, and we plan to incorporate it into future event offerings.
We received excellent feedback for the month of August, and we are excited to see what September will bring!
Sales
We’re excited to report that Virtuoso Travel Week, the industry’s largest trade show with over 4000 attendees, was a great success for us. This year, we had a day of nine-minute presentation slots, allowing us to showcase our properties in greater detail than previous years. The feedback was fantastic, with many praising our team’s exceptional service and dedication.
Werner Krause's (Sales Manager - USA) recent visits to Atlanta and Chicago were highly productive. Despite the challenges of meeting in cafes and temporary offices, the meetings were successful, and feedback about our properties and teams was very positive.
Ian Taylor (Sales and Revenue Manager) attended the SATSA conference at the Arabella Hotel near Hermanus and learned more about upcoming industry challenges and opportunities. The conference emphasised the importance of collaboration within the tourism sector. A big thank you to Birkenhead House for hosting him.
Ian also visited key partners in Johannesburg, including A&K and andBeyond, as well as smaller operators, and received positive feedback about our properties and teams. These interactions are crucial for maintaining strong relationships with our international partners.
We’re thrilled to recognise Anneline Gerstner (Junior Duty Manager) for her exceptional site inspection with Merle and Diane from Tourvest. Her dedication and passion left a lasting impression, embodying the outstanding service we strive for.
PROPERTIES UPDATE
Birkenhead House
We recently had the pleasure of hosting a distinguished guest for 36 hours. The heartfelt letter left in our guestbook highlighted the legendary hospitality that defines us. It’s always rewarding to see our efforts appreciated so deeply.
To celebrate Women’s Day, we honoured all the incredible women on our team. Shane Brummer (General Manager) was seen spreading joy with roses, adding a special touch to the celebration.
Our staff bathrooms have been refreshed for enhanced comfort and privacy and we have added a new roof to the kitchen for improved space and functionality.
Our weekly floral arrangements, incorporating local fynbos, have been particularly stunning recently. They add a special touch to our hotel’s ambiance.
Our garden at the local creche is thriving and we are also continuing our support of the night shelter, involving as many team members as possible.
We have invested a lot of time in introducing our Vision to everyone at Birkenhead House and we are well on our way to having every staff member receive their Culture Cards.
Our team members have been actively involved in site visits at La Residence and The Silo Hotel, despite a recent power outage that meant we had to postpone one team visit, which will happen soon.
Nicola Koegelenberg, our Pastry Chef, recently completed an advanced Icing & Decoration course in Cape Town. Her exceptional performance was recognised by the organisation, further enhancing our culinary offerings.
The Silo Hotel
We’re thrilled to share a recent review from guests who stayed in room 904. They were impressed by the personal touches, including being greeted by name and offered welcome drinks without having to ask. The exceptional breakfast experience also stood out. Your dedication to making our guests feel special is truly appreciated!
In celebration of Women’s Month, our team participated in a self-defense class. It was a valuable experience for everyone, enhancing our skills and fostering a sense of empowerment and unity.
We visited our cleaning partner, Texcare, to understand their process and strengthen our relationship. This visit provided valuable insights into their operations and improved our communication with them.
We recently engaged in team-building activities outside the hotel, gaining fresh perspectives and learning new strategies. This experience was both educational and enjoyable, helping us grow as a team.
Our team continue to impress with their dedication as they all continue to complete the necessary steps to receive their Culture Cards.
Exciting news! We’re preparing for the upcoming Distell Challenge in October. Our team is enthusiastic and ready to showcase their talents.
A huge congratulations goes to Thando Chauke (Commis Chef) for winning the SA Chef of the Year - Junior Hot Kitchen semi-final. We are extremely proud of you Thando!
Michael Jacobs (Art Concierge & Guest Liaison) has been spending some time with the staff and taking them on informative Art Tours throughout the hotel.
We continue to support our beloved Foundation initiatives, Leliebloem and Mandisa's Kitchen, and it is always a heartwarming experience when we are able to put a smile on someone else's face through a small act of kindness!
La Residence
We've had an exciting few weeks at La Residence, and we're thrilled to share the latest happenings with you all. We hosted multiple guests and we curated special experiences across the board. This included anniversary celebrations, a memorable braai to celebrate a weekend of Springbok rugby, and a walk with Tango and Twist.
We also welcomed Arsenal fans from the UK with a fun personalised gift. Julian, another guest who extended his stay due to an eye surgery, also sent us an update on his Jacaranda seedlings.
Our Front of House team completed cocktail training, equipping them to handle any drink order with ease.
Theo Jefthas (Junior Floor Supervisor) and his team have improved our food ordering system, while Irna Geritse (Laundry Attendant) stepped up during Sherlydine Maree’s (Hotel Florist) recent absence, to ensure our flower arrangements look as lovely as always!
We treated the ladies at La Residence to a mini spa day with professional makeup and sweet treats in celebration of Women's Day and in appreciation of their hard work.
We hosted an eventful staff party, "A Night at the Oscars", which gave everyone the opportunity to dress up and have a great evening with their colleagues.
A huge congratulations to all of our award winners:
A special thanks to Craig Versfeld (General Manager) for his outstanding contribution to our culture over the past six months.
We have also enjoyed several team braais and other joyful moments around the hotel. Thank you to everyone who contributes to giving our guests a complete experience and a perfect stay daily and for ensuring that La Residence is a joyful place to work! And don't forget to check our Culture wall in the staff canteen, capturing all these memorable moments!
We bid farewell to Chef Emile after seven years of dedication. His calm leadership will be missed, and we wish him success in his future.
ROYAL MALEWANE
At Malewane Lodge, we were thrilled to receive heartfelt feedback from guests, including handwritten notes praising the team for an unforgettable experience.
We bid farewell to Zilcke Slabber (HR Generalist), Billy Mhlongo (Waiter) and Thabo Mathebula (Staff Driver). We wish them all the best and hope to see them back in the future.
It’s been a remarkable month for the guiding team, with several key achievements, well done to everyone involved in these significant milestones!
Conrad Zeelie – SKS Birding South Africa Qualification
Nicola Bargiacchi - Forest Birding Biome Qualification
Ross Gariepy – Professional Field Guide Qualification
John Motubatse - Professional Tracker Qualification
Brad Marais – Specialist Trailing Qualification
Nik Vounnou – Specialist Trailing & FGASA Scout Qualifications
Despite some rainy weather, the guiding team also participated in various training exercises, including track and sign practice, backpack trails, and shooting mentorship. We’re proud of the commitment to continuous learning and development.
The Food & Beverage teams at Waterside and Malewane Lodge have been busy expanding their skills. Sydney Kgasu (Waiter), Wonder Mlambo (Senior Barman), Sherine Lourens (F&B Floor Manager) and Michelle Broodryk (F&B Manager) completed WSET Level 1 wine training, while barista training and ongoing wine education sessions have also been highlights. Wonder has also been honing his Barista skills, and the teams are eager to continue building their expertise in Food & Beverage service.
We also had some great moments with guest experiences at Waterside, including a memorable cooking class where children joined the pastry kitchen team to bake cookies and cakes. Guests also had the opportunity to use a Swarovski spotting scope to enjoy stunning views of a full moon.
Wildlife sightings were a highlight as always, with elephants, lions and our local warthog, Mr. Pablo, delighting our guests.
For Women's Day, the team participated in a health-focused event with a 2.5km walk and 6km run, followed by some well-deserved sweets and drinks to celebrate. We also took some guests to visit the local creches that our Foundation supports and they thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The kitchen team at Malewane Lodge enjoyed a quiet day with a braai, drinks, and music, creating a joyful, team-bonding atmosphere.
The Culture Cards and the activities that went along with handing them out was another point of excitement, with the team quickly and enthusiastically completing their tasks.
FOUNDATION UPDATE
Firstly, I’d like to introduce the Mamelani Projects and although we’re not officially adding new partners at this time, this project is a significant extension of our support for Leliebloem, our child and youth care centre. Many of the children from Leliebloem face challenges transitioning into adulthood, so Mamelani Projects offers crucial support. They provide mentorship, study assistance and accommodation over a three-year period, starting while the children are still in school. We’re excited to have placed one of Leliebloem's children into this program.
Secondly, I want to highlight a recent initiative from our Birkenhead House Foundation committee. Instead of adopting a new project this year, we chose to focus on supporting the social workers at the Child Welfare. These dedicated individuals face incredibly challenging situations daily. We decided to offer them wellness support by providing massages at the Spa at Birkenhead House.
I received a touching response from David, the head of Child Welfare. His email expressed profound gratitude and joy, stating that our gesture was beyond amazing and that it had a significant impact on his team’s morale. It’s a reminder of the importance of nurturing those who support others, and how a small act of kindness can deeply affect people. I encourage everyone to continue these acts of kindness, whether for our guests or our Foundation partners. These gestures, no matter how small, can make a big difference and create a ripple effect of positive change.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT TRP
Our Careers page is the reference point for all open positions available across The Royal Portfolio group. We accept internal and external applications here, and always, internal applications are given preference.
In order to ensure your application stands out, please apply via the Careers page and let your HOD and property HR Manager know of your desire to develop yourself further.
Feel free to share the site with your industry friends and networks too, in order to help us reach a wider network of exceptional candidates.
You can click here, or scan the QR code to visit the website.
TO BE WELCOMING GENUINE AND WARM
NEW STARTERS
A very warm welcome to the following new, and in some cases, returning, team members across The Royal Portfolio:
TO RECOGNISE, REWARD AND UPLIFT
PROMOTIONS & INTERNAL MOVEMENTS
Congratulations to the below staff for their hard work and for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure that we Give our Guests a Complete Experience and a Perfect Stay!
LONG SERVICE AWARDS - 5, 10, 15, 20 & 25 Years with TRP in September!
Congratulations and thank you to the following staff for their loyalty and hard work over the years:
Nhlamulo Makamu (Houseman @ ML) | 5 Years on the 09th of September 2024
Rudolf Potgieter (Sous Chef @ BH) | 5 Years on the 16th of September 2024
Werner Krause (Sales Manager-USA @ HQ) | 10 Years on the 19th of September 2024
Simon Mandy (Managing Director @ HQ) | 15 Years on the 01st of September 2024
Garth Alkaster (Senior Tour Guide @ LR) | 15 years on the 25th of September 2024
Zenzile Ndubane (Senior Ndubane @ ML) | 20 years on the 01st of September 2024
Central Malapane (Storeman @ ML) | 20 years on the 08th of September 2024
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