Oct 1115 min read

TRP News 07/10/2024

Updated: Oct 14

VALUE OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER

To Create an Environment of Relaxation and Enjoyment

This Value is not only applicable to guests but to our employees too, as pictured by Nicky Farmer (Head of Talent) enjoying her birthday cake in the beautiful Primrose House.

PRIMROSE HOUSE

We are excited to share a sneak peek of our stunning new Head Office - Primrose House, located at 5 Primrose Avenue, Claremont, Cape Town 7708! Although these are not the official images, we wanted to give everyone a glimpse of the incredible effort and creativity that has gone into this project. The results are truly amazing, and we would like to extend a huge congratulations to everyone who played a part in bringing this vision to life.

We’re currently working on arrangements to have all the HODs from each of our properties visit Primrose House. This is a very exciting moment for us, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience it!

Victor has safely arrived in South Africa and will be spending some valuable time at the properties on the following dates:

Malewane Lodge: 27th October – 2nd November
Waterside Lodge: 3rd November – 8th November
The Silo Hotel: 9th November – 15th November
La Residence: 16th November – 23rd November
Birkenhead House: 24th November – 28th November
Primrose House: 2nd December – 6th December

The Employee Engagement Survey will be launching on Monday, the 14th October. The survey links will be shared next week, so please keep an eye out.

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Biden family for the generous salary increases that were implemented in September 2024. These adjustments were warmly received, and we hope they’ll have a positive impact on everyone.

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

Work continues on Franschhoek House, which is on track to open in December. We’re nearing completion, and the Marketing team has been hard at work creating collateral that brings the property to life. This includes some of the renders, fact sheets, and illustrations that will be used to sell the property through various channels. The materials also provide a detailed narrative about the facilities and guest experiences. This visual content will soon be available on our website and via the link library, which we’re updating to include these new resources.

Additionally, we recently sent out a trade announcement mailer to staff and external stakeholders, featuring beautiful in-house photography of Primrose House.

We are also pushing our Kosher safari offerings. Our advert recently appeared in the South African Jewish Report, which reaches a broad readership, especially in the US. This is an important market niche for Royal Malewane, where our fully kosher kitchens set us apart.

Our Design team has been busy, creating fresh collateral for Birkenhead House, with an Early Bird Breakfast card and Grab-and-Go options for La Residence. We’ve also rolled out a Wine Tasting Sheet, an interactive tool that enhances our guests' experience by allowing them to make notes during tastings. There’s been some brand alignment work as well, updating labels for farm-fresh products like preserves and juices at La Residence, ensuring a cohesive presentation across the brand.

Kirsty Lee, our new Public Relations Manager, spurred a refresh of our HR presentations, particularly for new starters. These updated induction presentations now feature fresh photography and design elements, giving new employees a visually engaging introduction to our brand’s history, ethos, and values.

We have published a new blog post focused on curated trips in Cape Town, leveraging the new fleet of vehicles at The Silo Hotel. These day trips offer guests a bespoke experience, whether it’s exploring the peninsula or the winelands, all arranged by The Silo Hotel's

Concierge team.

We’re also proud to announce that La Residence has ranked among the Top 15 Hotels in South Africa in the 2024 Conde Nast Reader’s Choice Awards - a huge accomplishment, as these awards are voted for by readers, not a judging panel, making the recognition even more meaningful.

Back at The Silo Hotel, the team recently launched the new Royal Tea, which we captured in a video and images that will be released on social media and our website next week. This launch marks an exciting addition to our guest experiences, and we can’t wait to share it.

We have some incredible content coming through from Royal Malewane thanks to Lourenco Afonso (Wildlife Photographer and Content Creator). His latest work from the lodges and upcoming Tented Camp is stunning, with wildlife and moody landscapes that perfectly capture the magic of the destination. These images will be a key part of our upcoming teaser campaign, similar to what we did with the Franschhoek House launch.

Lastly, we are excited to share a video of Nik Vounnou (Deputy Head Field Guide), detailing his recent achievement of becoming a Scout, as well as a stunning video of the recently refreshed Birkenhead House.

Sales

Werner Krause (Sales Manager - USA) and Kimi Reardon (Sales Manager - USA) are currently in the USA, embarking on an extensive sales trip. This journey includes attending several important trade shows. While we await detailed feedback on sales outcomes, we are confident that this trip will build valuable relationships and generate significant interest in our portfolio.

Anton Noll (Sales Manager - UK and Europe) and Edward Morton (Ambassador) recently returned from a highly successful month-long sales tour of the UK. The trip began with a strong focus on London, where they met with key partners and potential clients across the city. Liz Biden (Founder and Co-Chair) joined them for part of the journey, and together, they visited some of our most important partners in the region. Following their time in London, Anton and Edward took to the road, traveling to key areas across southern England, including York, Chester, The Cotswolds, and Brighton.

The response to Franschhoek House and Tented Camp has been extremely positive, with a growing number of bookings coming through. The UK and European markets, while complex, are showing clear signs of interest, and we are already seeing the fruits of our labour.

Reservations

We are thrilled to share the latest updates from our Reservations team and highlight the recent educational activities that have enriched our team’s knowledge and experience. We would also like to express our gratitude to the properties that have hosted educational experiences for the Reservations Team. These activities are invaluable for deepening our understanding of the experiences we offer, helping us serve our guests even better.

Recently, the team had the chance to partake in some exciting local experiences such as The Silo Hotel Art Tour and Mussel Picking at Birkenhead House.

We’ve also had the pleasure of working with some of our outside suppliers, who graciously offered educational opportunities such as the Lion Walking Trail in Franschhoek and Camps Bay and a speedboat experience with Embark Safaris.

In an exciting development, our Travel Desk team members will be embarking on educational trips to Botswana and Victoria Falls. These trips will help us better understand these popular destinations, which are frequently requested by our direct guests.

Events

September was a bustling month filled with various events that highlighted the creativity and dedication of our team. We hosted several birthday luncheons in September, creating memorable experiences for our guests. One particularly special event was a private tasting for a client arranged through an agent. Held at the Tea House at La Residence, we set up a stunning display complete with chandeliers, ensuring the guests had a magical afternoon.

Our beautiful venues were the perfect backdrop for some beautifully orchestrated baby and bridal showers.

We also had the joy of hosting a gorgeous proposal at La Residence. The groom-to-be visited for a site inspection ahead of time and fell in love with the setting, which made the day all the more special.

PROPERTIES UPDATE

Birkenhead House

We’re thrilled to share some fantastic updates and memorable moments from the past month. Our guests have been incredibly happy, with many leaving us glowing feedback. Several remarked on the kindness of our staff, noting how much they enjoyed the warm welcome and innovative touches like the welcome drink. It’s always heartening to hear such positive comments, and we’re proud of the team for delivering exceptional service day in and day out.

On the employee front, we’ve made significant strides in engagement. Recently, staff members completed assessments through Connecteam and discussed our Vision, ensuring everyone is aligned. We also continued handing out our Culture Cards, which all staff now carry with them.

Heritage Day was a particularly special occasion, our staff dressed in traditional attire, and for those without, Veldskoene was a fun alternative! The kitchen also treated the staff to a delicious braai, with chicken wings and beef kebabs being the stars of the day. Overall, both guests and staff loved the festive energy.

We celebrated some important birthdays this past month, a big happy birthday to each team member - we hope you each had a fantastic day!

Our new gardens are starting to bloom! While they may have looked a bit sparse at first, just a few days later we saw them come to life with beautiful flowers. We’re confident that within the next couple of weeks, the space will look even more vibrant, especially as the lemon trees near the pool continue to thrive.

On the maintenance front, we’ve introduced new daily check sheets, which Roux du Preez (Maintenance Manager) is managing. This system helps us stay on top of tasks and ensures preemptive measures are taken to maintain the property in top condition.

We’ve been working on a few exciting innovations to improve our guest experience. At Birkenhead House, we’ve introduced an "Early Bird Breakfast Card," which makes it simpler for guests leaving early to order their breakfast preferences. This small but meaningful touch adds a bit of class and convenience to their stay. Additionally, we’ve revamped our wine tasting experience and we’re training our team to deliver more interactive and professional tastings. We’re confident this will elevate our guests’ experience even further.

Bringing back an old favorite, we’ve reintroduced refreshing towels for guests arriving after a hot day or returning from wine tours. Whether warm in winter or cold in summer, this little gesture adds a touch of comfort upon arrival.

Our feeding initiative continues to thrive. The community we support loves it when we come around, and we’ve built a reputation for offering the best food with generous portions. It’s something we’re very proud of, and we look forward to continuing this effort.

In the kitchen, Chef Nicola Koegelenberg (Pastry Chef) is doing an exceptional job raising the bar in both the pastry section and the hot kitchen. Her creations have been stunning, and the feedback from guests has been overwhelmingly positive.

We’ve also introduced daily pizza menus, and with our fantastic pizza oven, we’re excited to serve up artisanal, Neapolitan-style pizzas that guests can't get enough of. Chef Rudolph Potgieter (Sous Chef), in particular, shares our enthusiasm for these delicious creations!

We’re happy to report that our generator is back up and running. Huge thanks to Phil for his hard work in getting it operational again. This means no more power outages for us, which is a relief.

Crisp spring air fills the coastal town of Hermanus. As you all know Hermanus is renowned as one of the best land-based whale-watching spots in the world. From June to December, Southern Right Whales return to our waters to calve and nurture their young. During this period, you can often spot these magnificent giants breaching and fluking just off the coastline.

While the southern right whales steal the show during festival season, Hermanus is also home to playful dolphins! Commonly seen along our coast, including the Bottlenose and Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins, these creatures bring joy to visitors year-round.

The Silo Hotel

September was an exciting and eventful month at The Silo Hotel, filled with recognition, celebrations, and new beginnings. We recently held our annual staff appreciation party, which was a dazzling affair with the theme "Dazzling Disco" and "Silo's Got Talent." The night was filled with fun and joy as we took the time to honor some of our exceptional team members who have gone above and beyond in their roles this year.

We proudly recognised the following staff members for their achievements:

We are also thrilled to announce that Silo’s Got Talent crowned its winners: Mzuvukile Mbolompo, our talented Houseman, and Lincoln Basso, our Night Manager. A special congratulations to our Silo Star Award winners, Chelsea Jephta (Assistant Concierge), and Yamkela Nqezo (Store Hand).

Beyond the awards, our Front Office and Night Teams enjoyed exciting team-building activities this month, which included go-karting and an "Amazing Race" Hunt, bringing everyone closer together.

In celebration of Heritage Day, staff dressed in traditional attire, showcasing the rich diversity of our team, and enjoyed a delicious braai.

In other exciting news, our Housekeeping Team received training in the art of sewing, a valuable new skill. We also extend huge congratulations to Yamkela Gantsho (Chef de Partie) for passing her Tea Exam at Silwood School of Cookery.

We are proud to present our new and improved Royal Tea Menu, well done to everyone who was involved with developing and executing the new menu!

Our Foundation Committee and Maintenance Team also deserve a big thank you for their hard work renovating the kitchen at Leliebloem, a project that will have a lasting impact. We also had multiple team members visit Leliebloem House for a fun day of activities!

Lastly, we want to acknowledge our HR team, who were celebrated by the entire Silo family on HR Professional Day! We also extend a special congratulations to Employee of the Month for September, Asabonga Panginxiwa, our hardworking Houseman.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your continued dedication, enthusiasm, and contributions to the Silo Hotel. Together, we continue to make this a special place for both our guests and one another. Let’s keep the momentum going into the busy months ahead!

La Residence

As the weather turned, we experienced a dramatic shift, from snow-capped mountains on Monday to a blazing 40°C by Friday! With the change of seasons came a vibrant mix of guests and events that made September a month to remember.

We were honoured to host wonderful guests, including lively groups, honeymoon couples, and a beautiful bridal shower in the Terrace Room. A special highlight was when one of the group’s guides delighted guests by playing a few tunes on the piano.

Chef Renursha van Wyk (Pastry Chef) and her team crafted a spectacular spread for afternoon tea during the bridal shower, with tantalizing treats that the guests couldn’t get enough of.

Our guest feedback has been phenomenal, with overall satisfaction hitting an impressive 100%. Our ratings across various services ranged between 98.57% and 100%, which is truly fantastic.

We’ve included some of the wonderful comments left by our guests as a source of motivation for the entire team. Well done to everyone for consistently delivering excellence!

A special shoutout to Chef Ilse Doli (Chef de Partie) and Chef Renursha for an unforgettable experience involving a surprise serving of caviar on blinis. During cocktail hour, one group jokingly commented that we probably couldn’t pull off such an extravagant offering - and yet, we did! The guests were blown away, and this spontaneous gesture added a touch of magic to their stay.

Wine tastings in our cellar have also gained popularity and it’s clear that these special touches leave lasting impressions on our guests.

We celebrated Heritage Day with a fantastic braai that the whole team thoroughly enjoyed. A big thank you to everyone, and especially to our incredible chefs, for making the day extra special!

A huge congraulations to Aphiwe Dokolwana (Barmen) for being nominated as the September 2024 Employee of the Month, thank you Aphiwe for always ensuring our guests have a complete expereince and a perfect stay!

Byron van der Valk (Junior Duty Manager) and Jac-Louie Manuel (Guest Relations Officer) represented us at the Concierge Forum in Cape Town, where they had the opportunity to network and build connections with suppliers. They returned energised and ready to elevate our concierge services even further.

Our night team and duty managers also took part in a fire training course. These courses are essential, and we thank HR for organising it, ensuring our team is always prepared and equipped.

We continue our efforts to be more financially sustainable and environmentally conscious. In a new initiative, instead of printing the day’s agenda for our afternoon meetings, we now project it on the screen, saving paper and reducing waste.

We’ve also refined our “Grab & Go” breakfast packs, now using eco-friendly packaging, including sandwich boxes, paper bags, and plant-based juice bottles. In addition, we’ve been using firewood from trees cut on the farm, further reducing our need to buy wood externally.

We were delighted to sponsor new rugby balls for the Franschhoek rugby club, which was well received. The team played an important tournament in September, and although we couldn’t host them for breakfast due to high occupancy, we delivered delicious breakfast buns on game day. They truly appreciated the gesture.

On another exciting note, we’ve just received two brand-new BMWs, thank you to everyone who made this possible!

Additionally, there’s been a buzz around the property as the walls of Franschhoek House are being painted and the swimming pool is under construction. We can’t wait to unveil this new addition to La Residence!

Royal Malewane

Our guests have been enjoying unforgettable stays, and their feedback speaks volumes about the incredible service and experiences we deliver. Recently, we received glowing praise from Glen and Vicky and we hosted Alyssa Weisberg, the Director of Leisure Travel – "I just wanted to send a quick and huge Thank you!!! For such an amazing time my family and I had at Royal Malewane this past week. Thank you for showing me around Farmstead, it was so helpful to see in person! We have many clients booked and also future bookings currently in the works, and excited for them to experience the magic we did".

At Waterside, we’ve launched a new sundowner spot by a stunning False Marula tree, which has been very well received. A seasoned private guide from Ascot Tours, who has traveled extensively, remarked that his short stay with us was “the best lodge experience” of his career. Feedback like this reinforces the exceptional luxury we consistently offer.

In September, we celebrated Heritage Day in true style at both Malewane Lodge and Waterside. Staff donned traditional attire and enjoyed fashion parades around the pools, laughter-filled moments, and awards for Mr. and Mrs. Heritage Day, with winners from Housekeeping and Maintenance receiving vouchers. We also hosted a staff safari drive, allowing team members to experience the reserve and its wildlife.

We’re equally proud of our Employee of the Quarter celebration, with Ogney Thumbu (Maintenance Handyman), being nominated as the overall Employee of the Quarter. A special shoutout also goes to Sherine Lourens (F&B Floor Manager) who won the V, P & Vs photo competition, showing Reason Khoza (Waiter) going the extra mile for a young guest.

Innovation continues to thrive across our properties. At Malewane Lodge, our Receptionists had a lot of fun dressing up mannequins in the boutique with fresh outfits daily. Jan Henning (Head of HR - Royal Malewane Lodges) spearheaded the creation of a Fun Committee at Malewane, encouraging staff to organise and participate in exciting activities for guests and employees alike.

At Waterside, the Food and Beverage team, under the guidance of Sherine Lourens (F&B Floor Manager), has embraced an innovative guest-preference board with colour-coded blocks, making meal service more personalised and efficient.

On the social responsibility front, we’ve wrapped several trees around our lodges and campsites to protect them from elephants. This eco-friendly initiative is crucial for preserving our natural surroundings, and the results have been fantastic.

Our properties continue to be rich with wildlife encounters, some more adventurous than others! A particularly bold elephant recently made its way into our camps, bypassing cattle grids and electric fences. Thankfully, he hasn’t returned for a while, though he has been spotted visiting neighbouring lodges! We’ve also had plenty of lion and leopard activity, with these majestic predators hunting around the lodges. Farmstead and Waterside both had Nyala kills under the decks, with lions making their presence felt, creating spectacular (and safe) wildlife viewing experiences for all.

FOUNDATION UPDATE

The Trackers from Royal Malewane Lodges recently spent four productive days with Juan Pinto (Director: Conservation and Wildlife), Jonas Mhula and James Steyn conducting tracking and training assessments. The results of these assessments showcase the outstanding progress made, and we are proud of our team's dedication and commitment to excellence.

We hosted a "Bat Talk" event that saw 23 of our Guides in attendance. The session was incredibly well-received, with participants engaging actively throughout. Here are some fascinating facts about bats that were touched on during the session:

Bats are the only flying mammal
They are not blind
Bats use echolocation and light polarization to navigate
Male bats serenade the ladies
Bats have colony specific dialects
Free Tail bats toes glow in the dark under UV Light
Bats don't fly into your hair

We kicked off our conservation training program, with Lessons in Conservation, with a "Train the Teacher" workshop, attended by 46 staff members from the lodges. The energy was palpable as everyone participated enthusiastically in the activities related to the lessons, making it a truly memorable experience.

The following day, we welcomed 20 learners and two teachers from Sihlekisi Primary School to the Conservation Resource Centre (CRC) for a day of fun and learning. Initially a bit shy, the students quickly warmed up and fully engaged with the lessons, demonstrating their enthusiasm and curiosity. Staff members from Waterside also joined in to support the day’s activities.

On the final day, the learners ventured out on a game drive to apply what they had learned. They were thrilled to spot three of the Big Five, including an unforgettable moment when one vehicle experienced a close encounter with an elephant that walked right alongside them. The students returned to the CRC buzzing with excitement, armed with newfound knowledge about conservation and a promise to share what they had learned.

A heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Royal Malewane Lodges who participated and contributed to these initiatives. Your involvement is crucial in providing a platform that empowers today’s youth to continue the vital work of conservation and the protection of our natural areas.

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!