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  • Cape Town Tourism new CEO appointment announced

    After an in depth and competitive recruitment process, the recent CEO of Cape Town Tourism was announced as Enver Duminy.

    The appointment was announced on the City of Cape Town’s Tourism, Events and Marketing Portfolio Committee meeting today and can take effect on August 1, 2013.

    Duminy has held the title of Tourism Services Executive Manager at Cape Town Tourism for just about four years and has played an active role in crafting Cape Town Tourism’s new three-year Marketing strategy.

    He has built firm relationships at different levels in the tourism industry; a background in an effort to form his new role and enable him in order for the organization continues to feature value to the industry.

    Says Duminy: “It’s an honor to just accept this post of CEO with humility and appreciation of the service it is going to be to the tourism industry of Cape Town. Cape Town Tourism is an agile, innovative, and passionate organization, and we shall continue to uphold these values as I take the helm. As incumbent, I plan to focus my first 100 days on setting the roadmap with the Cape Town Tourism team as to how we can deliver our agreed strategic objectives and tactical plans. My predecessor, Mariette, have been a source of inspiration and expertise, and that i wish her well in her future endeavors.”

    Current Cape Town Tourism CEO, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, commended Duminy on his appointment: “Enver was a powerful force within Cape Town Tourism, and he’s certainly able to rise to the challenge. I wish him luck and will confirm that he’s incredibly fortunate to go up a dynamic organization equivalent to Cape Town Tourism, working with an industry as passionate and committed as ours is.”

    Du Toit-Helmbold would be launching her own destination and tourism marketing agency after her exit on July 31, 2013.

    Says Chairperson of Cape Town Tourism’s Board, Sabine Lehmann, “Enver brings a good mixture of leadership, operational experience, and fervour for customer care. Mariette leaves Cape Town Tourism in a great place, with a powerful executive management team who’re acquainted with Enver and may indisputably find this handy within the transition of leadership. The Board is worked up concerning the next era for Cape Town Tourism and appears forward to building at the solid foundation and momentum achieved by the organization within the previous few years.”

    Grant Pascoe, Executive Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, confirmed that Duminy’s appointment was well received by the town of Cape Town and that he looked forward to working with him: “Tourism is a challenging yet dynamic industry that may be a significant contributor to the economy. We’re sure that Enver’s pragmatic approach and partnership-orientated style would be great assets to the industry because it weathers challenges and victories within the years yet to come.”

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  • News: The St. Regis Mauritus Resort celebrates official debut

    St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, portion of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc, proudly celebrated the highly-anticipated official opening of The St. Regis Mauritius Resort, marking the brand’s first hotel in Africa and the 30th St. Regis hotel on earth.

    The official opening ceremony was inaugurated by the Prime Minsiter of Mauritius, Dr The Hon Navinchandra Ramgoolam within the presence of Mr. Ashok Uttamchandani and Mr. Ashish Nurani, owners of The St. Regis Mauritius Resort, Mr. Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Hassan Ahdab, Vice chairman Africa and Indian Ocean and Mr. Bernard de Villèle, General Manager. The celebration was attended by greater than 350 influencers and guests from Mauritius.

    Hosted on the exclusive St. Regis Mauritius Resort across the Manor House, the festivities were designed to celebrate St. Regis hotels from 1904 to 2013 and opened with a dance performance and speeches by the Prime Minister and van Paasschen. The evening event included cocktails and an epicurean tour, followed by a spectacular fireworks show and live musical performances.

    The St. Regis Mauritius Resort follows recent openings in Hainan and Shenzhen in China; Doha and Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi within the Middle East; and Bal Harbour within the U.s., all in the last three hundred and sixty five days. Having greater than doubled its portfolio in exactly five years, St. Regis continues its dynamic global growth, further strengthening Starwood’s lead in luxury hospitality, offering guests exceptional levels of service and beautiful experiences in exciting destinations worldwide.

    “As we add new, must-visit destinations to our global portfolio of hotels and resorts, the hole of The St. Regis Mauritius Resort truly marks a necessary milestone for the emblem,” says Paul James, Global Brand Leader St. Regis, The posh Collection, and W Hotels Worldwide. “Celebrating Mauritius’ rich and assorted cultural heritage, we glance forward to welcoming guests to the neatest address at the island, offering bespoke service and refined elegance both befitting of the destination and true to the St. Regis legacy.”

    “We are excited to introduce a brand new luxury travel experience to Mauritius with the hole of the highly-anticipated St. Regis Mauritius Resort,” adds Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “It is our first St. Regis hotel in Africa and a big addition to our growing portfolio of luxury hotels world wide.”

    Island Sanctuary

    Situated on probably the most privileged locations at the southwestern tip of island, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is found at the pristine white natural beaches on the UNESCO World Heritage site of Le Morne, bordered by a turquoise lagoon. The resort’s backdrop of Mauritius’ iconic Le Morne Brabant Mountain is defined by a lush green patchwork of sugar cane fields encircling a sequence of lofty peaks that overlook the Indian Ocean.

    Designed by Stauch Vorster Architects with interiors by Trevor Julius of celebrated design firm dsgn, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is modelled on a Victorian sugar-baron’s manor house set in a historical estate. With vast terraces, sumptuous rooms and colonnades, the resort provides guests with an idyllic island sanctuary similar to the destination’s unique colonial past.

    The resort features 172 elegant guestrooms and suites, starting from 700 to 2300 square feet, all with expansive terraces and breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. The lavish beachfront St. Regis Villa contains a private entrance, four luxurious bedrooms with private pools and gardens, stylish entertainment and dining areas, an infinity pool, a bar and personal spa consultation room. The resort features the famed hallmarks of the St. Regis brand, including signature St. Regis Butler Service.

    Exquisite Culinary Experiences

    The resort’s signature restaurant, Simply India, promises an unforgettable fine dining experience created by Michelin-starred celebrity chef Atul Kochhar and provides a contemporary interpretation of authentic Indian cuisine.  Led by Executive Chef Olivier Belliard, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort offers six other distinct gastronomic experiences starting from Le Manoir Dining Room with a menu inspired by a mix of French and standard Mauritian cuisine, to the fashionable Asian menu at Floating Market, and a calming beachside spot for informal oceanfront dining on the Boathouse Bar & Grill.  Inspired by the legendary St. Regis Ny Hotel which opened in 1904, The 1904 Bar offers elegant rum cocktails and vintage whiskeys alongside the St. Regis ritual of champagne sabering.

    Luxury Leisure and the primary Iridium Spa in Africa

    The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is home to the region’s first Iridium Spa, offering 22,730 square feet of blissful surroundings including a whole-service salon, relaxation lounge, jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, in addition to a dedicated men’s grooming salon and a 24-hour fitness club. Featuring 12 treatment rooms with ocean views, the Iridium Spa works with renowned beauty and skincare brands Valmont and Bella Luccè to indulge guests with bespoke spa treatments.

    The unique conditions at the windward side of the island allow for a variety of aquatic activities, including the exhilarating sports of wind and kite surfing in world-class conditions, in addition to deep-sea fishing, snorkeling and diving amid fascinating coral reefs. With direct access to 1 of essentially the most sought-after kite surfing spots, “One Eye” at Le Morne, the resort offers the world’s first Club Mistral Prestige Kite Surf Club where guests gets expert assistance and an enhanced sporting experience. Other water recreational activities and facilities include the dive centre, canoeing and kayaking, in addition to catamaran and sunset cruises.

    The Kite Flyers Club offers complimentary childcare services for kids from four to twelve years old, including recreational highlights reminiscent of beach bonfires and kite-making, in addition to facilities like indoor and outdoor play areas, the children’s kitchen corner and a swimming pool. Optional activities include guided excursions to the zoo and sugarcane museum, cooking classes and horseback riding.

    Situated within the heart of the resort, the manor house comprises seven luxurious suites with in-room spa facilities, a personal 24-seat cinema, a Drawing Room for indoor entertainment and games, a swimming pool, in addition to a library and conservatory. Other leisure facilities on the resort include a beachside swimming pool, a tennis court and a resort boutique. For personal celebrations, the Astor Room can also be booked for events hosting as much as 100 people.

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  • Auberge Resorts opens luxury hotel featuring Asian-inspired Spa Botanica

    Tucked under swaying palms at the white sand of St. Kitts’ Turtle Beach, the Beach House restaurant, the most recent project from luxury hotel developer and operator Auberge Resorts, opens today. The restaurant, previously Turtle Beach Bar & Grill, has undergone an in depth makeover by Auberge Resorts, creators of award-winning small luxury resorts and restaurants in North America, including the Michelin-starred Auberge du Soleil restaurant in Napa Valley.

  • News: Routes Europe sees its strongest airline attendance to this point

    In six weeks time, Europe’s aviation community will meet at Routes Europe, happening 12-14 May. Over 100 Airlines are expected to wait Routes Europe in 2013 and already almost 200 airline delegates representing 96 carriers have registered to wait the development confirming that this year is determined to be the most important gathering yet of Europe’s key decision makers.

    Now in its 8th year, Routes Europe is the one network planning forum for the full European region and the 2013 event, hosted by Budapest Airport, will happen in Budapest, the pretty historic capital of Hungary. Routes Europe brings together over 800 delegates from airports, airlines, tourism authorities and other industry stakeholders from across Europe to speak about air service development.

    “The large collection of airlines and the seniority of the delegates attending Routes Europe in Budapest, demonstrates the price that the development can offer to Europe’s largest airlines,” says Paul Winfield , Airline Relations Director for Routes. “Being in a position to source key data and intelligence for brand spanking new routes, and having the ability to meet their existing partners to be sure the success of existing routes under one roof is invaluable,” he added.

    The Less costly and Regional sectors could be well represented in Budapest with Cheap Carriers easyJet, Norwegian, Wizz Air, Germanwings, Air Berlin, Volotea and Vueling amongst those registered to wait, including senior representatives from airlines corresponding to Wizz Air, whose CEO, Josef Varadi will attend, and Jet2.com’s recently appointed CEO, Steve Heapy . The regional market can be well served by carriers including Skywork Airlines, Cityjet, Darwin Airline, Eurolot, Flybe, Blue Islands and TAROM.

    For airports wishing to fulfill with European network carriers, attendees include Air France, British Airways, Iberia, Lufthansa, SAS, CSA Czech Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Swiss International Airlines, whilst out of region presence comes from American Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air Transat, Etihad Airways and Emirates. The CIS market is likewise well represented with confirmed attendance from Aeroflot, S7, Rossiya and UTAir. The development may also see a primary time attendance from Reykjavik based WOW Air in conjunction with out of region carriers UPS, SriLankan Airlines and Nordwind.

    In addition to the Face-to-Face meetings on the core of the development there’ll be a powerful programme of airline briefings occurring in Budapest including Lufthansa delivered by Director of Network Planning, Dr Sebastien Hollmeier and CCO of Darwin Airline, Christian Schneider amongst others.

    Routes Europe continues to grow at a huge rate in relation to airline participation with airlines afforded the time and selection to satisfy airports, not only to speak about potential new air service development but additionally to satisfy existing airports to debate route performance.

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  • Travel industry set for a lift

    With the united kingdom narrowly avoiding a miles feared triple dip recession, international research from communications experts, Pitney Bowes, has revealed that the travel industry is about to be the primary to prosper once the British economy finally stabilises right into a period of solid growth again.

    The study, entitled ‘Recovery Signals’, asked consumers where they’d be trying to increase their spending once the economy improves, and it showed that virtually two thirds of shoppers (60%) are planning to splash out on holidays.

    After travel, the garments retail (38%), DIY (33%), restaurant (28%) and car industries (25%) respectively are set to achieve the main from increased consumer expenditure.

    Colin Forrest, Head of promoting for UK and ROI at Pitney Bowes, said “Tightened belts have meant that professionals and families alike have needed to reduce on escaping the daily grind over the past few years, and our findings confirm that Brits have missed their holidays. This research shows that excellent news is at the horizon though, and SMEs within the travel industry should be sure their customer communication strategies are perfected now so that you can maximise revenues from this predicted increase in holiday spending.”

    Babysitters and taxi drivers are least more likely to see a rise in custom, with the survey revealing that just 3 per cent of the British population intend on increasing their spending in these areas.

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