Aug 811 min read

TRP News 05/08/2024

FOCUS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST

The Royal Portfolio Vision - Enriching Lives Through Luxury Travel

Across The Royal Portfolio, there will be emphasis placed on our Vision for the month of August, and we have recently seen some employees living the Vision in their everyday duties:

A reminder that the 9th of August is National Women’s Day. As we celebrate the achievements and contributions of women, let's make August a month-long tribute to women's empowerment and accomplishments.

HEAD OFFICE

Human Resources

The SA Government has introduced a change to retirement plans - the Two-Pot System. Training sessions will be held later this month to explain the details, including tax implications and withdrawal restrictions. If you have questions, please join the session or contact HR.

For all employees who are on Connecteam, a reminder to complete the "Royal Compass" course under the Course section. We will also be launching Wine training and a Leadership course soon.

With the launch of Connecteam, we have also launched a Time Clocking Policy, which is available under the Connecteam Knowledge Hub and the Microsoft Teams TRP Hub. Please familiarise yourself with the policy and should there be any concerns or queries, please contact your property HR.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our second quarter's Employee Engagement Survey. With a 71% completion rate, we gained valuable insights to improve our workplace. The overall satisfaction rate is 79%, with our culture rated at 82%. We will use the upcoming weeks to address areas needing improvement. Thank you.

We are excited to announce that we have started the renovation of our new head office, located on Primrose Avenue in Claremont. Exciting changes are underway, and we’ll share progress photos as we go.

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

The Marketing team has been very busy over the past month, here are some updates on the campaigns that they have been working on:

We focused on creating engaging collateral for Bastille Day, including a Rocket Seed banner leading to an interactive PDF on our website. The French feast at La Residence was a huge success and the RMC mailers had a great response. We're planning to start advertising early next year using the content we've already created.

We continued to celebrate HJ Esterhuizen's (Professional Guide) win at the Safari Guide of the Year Awards with a press release and increased social media activity, especially on LinkedIn. This campaign highlighted our exceptional guiding team, enhancing our brand's prestige.

We ran an integrated campaign that included a blog post, an interview with Darrel Camden-Smith from the Anti-Poaching K9 Unit, LinkedIn stories and a fundraising mailer. The campaign was very successful in delivering our message across multiple channels.

We released a well-received whale watching blog post, highlighting Birkenhead House and its appeal during whale season. We also created a mini newsletter featuring the latest stories, including articles about Michael Jacobs (Art Concierge & Guest Liaison) from The Silo Hotel, the Royal Malewane Apprentice Programme, and the whale watching blog post.

The Silo received two new guest vehicles, the BMW I7 and X7, with a photo shoot and new fact sheets available in the link library.

We updated the terms and conditions on the website to make them more prominent and accessible.

At the beautiful La Residence, we launched a new Afternoon Tea menu and a traditional South African Braai feast menu for Friday nights. We also updated the Dining page on the website, enhancing descriptions for meal times at La Residence.

Lourenco Afonso, our Wildlife Photographer and Content Creator, has been busy with staff profiles across all our properties as well as capturing winter moments at La Residence to promote it as a year-round destination. We also worked on a press release and new imagery for Birkenhead House following its refresh, including a hero video and a staff story on Sandile Mnyuka, the Food & Beverage Manager.

The Marketing team also celebrated Mandela Day by packing parcels for Friends of Child Protection with the Silo and Head Office team, which was a huge success!

We took the opportunity to hold a Marketing team building at La Residence, focusing on consolidating roles and responsibilities to foster a high-performing team. It was a very productive few days and we look forward to taking the TRP marketing to new heights!

Lourenco Afonso (Wildlife Photographer and Content Creator) continues to create stunning photography for Royal Malewane, focusing on lodge interiors and the overall guest experience. His weekly photography roundup provides valuable content for social media, mailers, the website, and the Trade library.

Sales

Anton Noll (Sales Manager - UK & Europe) recently attended the "Experience Africa" trade show in London, meeting with 42 agents over 3 days. He also visited Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich and London, focusing on key agents. His feedback indicates that South Africa remains a top African destination, though there's a slower buying pattern due to the Euro Cup.

Werner Krause (Sales Manager - USA) has just returned from a two-week trip to Florida. The general feedback from meetings suggests guests are still booking and traveling frequently. He visited various travel partners, had productive meetings, including online presentations and in-person office meetings. He traveled extensively across Florida, visiting places like Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Miami, Naples, Coral Beach, St. Petersburg and Tampa.

Events

July was bustling with activity, and our in-house American guests at La Residence had a fantastic time. They led the way in creating an amazing experience, supported by our team. The 4th of July (Independence Day) event was held at the terrace room with an incredible menu and fire spinners to start the evening. Despite the rain, the timing was perfect, adding to the magical atmosphere.

We also hosted the Giltedge management team, who expressed their gratitude with heartfelt messages. The evening was filled with joy, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

A large family, who booked through andBeyond enjoyed a beautiful lunch and experience at La Residence. Despite the cold, they took a dip in the pool, capturing moments with the team and the delicious food.

Guest, Anita Lloyd hosted her afternoon tea in the cozy main hotel by the fireplace. The ladies had a wonderful time, and she shared her appreciation on social media, praising the exceptional experience. We also provided a delightful afternoon tea for a group from Discover Africa. Without any in-house guests, we spoiled them at the main hotel. Discover Africa called us on the day to express their admiration for the exceptional experience.

A beautiful proposal took place with Chef Renursha van Wyk (Pastry Chef) explaining the wonderful afternoon tea offering. The couple went down to the Tea House, where the proposal happened, creating a cherished memory.

PROPERTIES UPDATE

Birkenhead House

Our guests from the USA enjoyed a cooking demonstration, including pasta making and mussel picking and cooking. They spent significant time in the kitchen, with our excellent kitchen team and loved the experience.

We also had guests who joined us to celebrate their 9th anniversary and in light of this special milestone, we curated a thoughtful gift consisting of a ceramic candle to help them commemorate this memory.

We have been hard at work helping with room 10 renovations and it took three days to remove the four-ton reinforced concrete bed from the room. The room is now being tiled and underfloor heating is being installed. Expect completion pictures in the next newsletter!

There have also been extensive renovations taking place in the hotel during our 9-day closure, including:

Re-tiling and replacing the fiberglass in all three pools.
Painting cupboards and guest bathrooms for more privacy.
Painting and cleaning the roof.
Replacing and regrouting of all travertines.
Transforming the Conservatory with green stripes, palm trees and tall pots.

We moved furniture back into the lounge and dining room just before a guest arrival and the housekeeping team worked tirelessly, often late into the night, to ensure everything was ready.

The Housekeeping team kept their spirits high with a fantastic vibe and music while working hard to prepare the property for guests.

And last but not least, we introduced new uniforms for the Front of House team, ensuring they are ready to give our guests a complete experience and a perfect stay!

The Silo Hotel

Our esteemed guests are raving about our high tea service, particularly enjoying the variety of offerings and the quality of service. Peter Manci (Waiter) received glowing reviews for his knowledge of the menu and exceptional service.

We had a successful Mandela Day with many employees participating in various initiatives to contribute to our surrounding communities. Despite the cold weather, the experience was heartwarming and well worth all the effort!

We also took the opportunity to recognise various Silo employees, with Silo Star awards, for their hard work and dedication to our guest experiences. Well done to every one of you!

We introduced the new and improved Culture Card, with a V, P & V challenge, which highlights our Vision, Purpose and Values. The cards are circulated among the team to remind us of how to embody these values daily.

We’ve created a new brunch menu featuring various popular dishes as pictured below. They have all received excellent feedback.

Using estate-grown oranges, lemons, garlic, ginger, and chili, we’ve marinated olives that are now a complimentary addition to drinks at our bars.

In addition to Mandela Day, we continue to engage with the community at Leliebloem and Mandisa's Kitchen, with regular visits planned.

We are thrilled to announce that Dumisani Goniwe (Kitchen Porter) was selected as our Employee of the Month. He was recognised for his hard work and dedication in the kitchen, going the extra mile for the team.

La Residence

We had the pleasure of hosting many special guests over the past month and received some excellent feedback! We look forward to continuing to provide our lovely guests with exceptional service and personally curated experiences.

These lovely guests included Christian Marais, who generously donated R39,000 to La Residence and contributed Jacaranda trees that will grace Franschhoek House for generations to come. Such gestures underscore the impact of the exceptional service provided.

Our recent Employee Engagement Survey showed significant growth, thanks to the strong leadership of Craig Versfeld (General Manager) and Hoon Kim (Deputy General Manager). Your efforts have made La Residence a great place to work, and we are all proud of the progress we've made together.

We are extremely excited to announce the official opening of The Royal Cafe, a beautiful space where all the staff can all enjoy delicious meals together.

We have also introduced the Culture Card handover to reinforce our company's Vision, Purpose & Values. The enthusiasm that everyone has shown for this initiative is wonderful to see, and we look forward to its continued success.

Innovation remains key at La Residence. Our new Afternoon Tea menu and Coal menu have both been well-received, and our ongoing training sessions, including wine training, are helping to keep our team at the forefront of industry expertise. We're also working on a guest and agent gift guide, which will be launched soon.

Our Mandela Day projects are progressing well, with rugby post protectors delivered to Wes Eind Primary School and career day participation at another local school. These efforts reflect our commitment to social responsibility, which remains a priority for us.

Financially, our curio sales have increased significantly — up by 174% compared to last year and up by 296% on our budget. This success is a testament to the hard work of our team, including our new model, Hoon Kim (Deputy General Manager).

Lastly, I want to thank everyone for the fantastic events we've hosted, including Bastille weekend and the 4th of July. These celebrations were a hit with our guests, and I appreciate everyone's efforts, especially Chef Veronica Canha-Hibbert (Executive Chef at TS), for leading our kitchen team with such passion and expertise.

ROYAL MALEWANE

Both Malewane and Waterside also hosted special celebrations for the 4th of July, guests and employees alike enjoyed the festivities!

Waterside had the privilege of hosting a Kosher group of guests who booked out the entire lodge. They had a fantastic 4-night stay filled with beautiful drinks stops and unforgettable sightings.

We recently hosted an inspiring Long Service Awards Ceremony, themed around the Olympics, recognising everyone’s dedication to Royal Malewane. The event was warmly received, and all staff members were treated to enriching lives through luxury travel tote bags, along with our temporary new V, P & V's cards. A big thank you to everyone involved in making the day such a success!

At Waterside, we marked our two-year anniversary with a moving speech from Jon Morgan (General Manager) that sparked both laughter and tears among our staff. The V, P & V's Champions have also initiated a "Player of the Week" recognition program, celebrating exceptional contributions from various departments. Each week, selected staff are rewarded, fostering team spirit and motivation.

On the development front, we welcomed the Moletele community to Farmstead for a site inspection of our suites, followed by lunch overlooking the waterhole. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community.

We’ve also been utilising the Tracker Institute for mentorship programs, with Master Tracker Jonas Mhlula, back on site to guide our team through essential evaluations.

Innovation continues to thrive at Malewane, with new water bottles introduced for guests and children in the Royal Rangers program. These bottles are designed to be both functional and eco-friendly, perfect for outings.

In community engagement, our teams recently collaborated on a winter soup kitchen initiative, preparing frozen soups for community members, which was particularly appreciated during the colder weather. We also took part in cleaning elderly residents' homes for Mandela Day, reinforcing our commitment to social responsibility.

We’ve taken advantage of quieter times to complete maintenance work at both Farmstead and Malewane Lodge. Our floors are being refreshed, and the team has been busy ensuring that the lodges are in top shape for our guests.

Additionally, we organised firebreak burning around the lodges to enhance safety, led by Riaan Beeslaar (Maintenance Manager). Our maintenance team even assisted in rescuing an elephant trapped in a snare, showcasing our commitment to wildlife preservation.

In exciting news, we’re thrilled to announce that Stefan Schoeman (General Manager) and Ally Ross (Field Guide) are expecting a baby girl, continuing our tradition of welcoming girls into the Malewane family. They celebrated with a creative reveal that left them overjoyed.

Lastly, a heartfelt thanks goes to our resident wildlife enthusiast, Nik Vounnou (Deputy Head Field Guide), for his efforts in caring for the local wildlife. He has been instrumental in rescuing a starling that needed help and baby Nyalas that got themselves into sticky situations.

FOUNDATION UPDATE

Since welcoming Menelisi Ngomane, our Community Enrichment Officer, he has been spending time at the Conservation and Research Centre and he has been introduced to our culture and operations, including an engaging game drive around the reserve. Menelisi recently completed a two-week internship at the Hoedspruit Library, where he gained valuable experience in managing library systems, such as cataloging and circulating books. He is now undergoing further training at another library, enhancing his skills as he prepares for this exciting role.

On Mandela Day, Menelisi, Lee-Anne Sonnekus (Conservation and Research Co-ordinator), Ali McAdam (Foundation Founder), Colin Khoza (Junior Lodge Manager), and Joseph Gumede (Grounds and Maintenance) joined forces at Sihlekisi Primary School, where they worked on fixing and organising the school’s bookshelves. They discovered many years' worth of books, some of which go back a long way, and made progress in sorting them. We are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of computers to complete the setup of a dedicated computer room.

Once Menelisi returns from his training, he will officially take on the librarian role, implementing the necessary systems to ensure the library runs smoothly.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT TRP

Please refer to The Royal Portfolio's Careers page (www.theroyalportfolio.com/careers) where we list most of the open vacancies in the group. This is the reference point for all internal and external applications, so feel free to share the site with your industry friends and networks. You can click here, or scan the QR code to visit the website. Or check in with your HR Manager who will be able to discuss all opportunities across the group.

Internal applications, please let your HOD and property HR Manager know if you are interested in applying.
External applications are only received via our Careers page (no paper-based CVs, or direct emails, this is to ensure that we remain POPI compliant).

TO BE WELCOMING GENUINE AND WARM

NEW STARTERS

A very warm welcome to the following new 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 can Give our Guests a Complete Experience and a Perfect Stay!