20 Aug 2013

Tourism, Travel & Hospitality

Don't sucker Zucker

A researcher who hacked into Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg's profile to expose a security flaw won't be in the money. Facebook offers rewards for people who find security weaknesses, but not, apparently, if you target the big man himself... in which case you seem to be deemed a hacker who went too far.

Meanwhile, back at Armscor, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has gunned for a couple of the top people and has fired the chairman and his deputy. The dismissals at the state-owned arms procurement agency‚ which are effective immediately‚ follow delays in crucial decisions that have stalled a R9bn manufacturing production contract for a new infantry fighting vehicle by Denel Land Systems (DLS).

Looking for a job? Juliette Attwell, writing this week in the BizCareers column, discusses the social media landscape and how it can affect your career.

Are you in the estate agency business and if so, do you use online marketing tools to generate sales? Here we show you some simple and cost-effective ways to embrace the internet and get the most out of it for your business.

And to end... Don't forget to vote in the Times' Creative Press Ad Challenge and stand a chance to win yourself a Samsung tablet.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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Weekly top stories

Mango announces leisure schedule between Johannesburg-George
Low cost airline Mango announced on Monday, 19 August 2013, the introduction of a leisure schedule between Johannesburg and George with bookings for flights departing 18 November 2013 onwards are now available. Read more >>

Tourism, Travel & Hospitality
More than 400 brands at the Gauteng Getaway Show
This year the Gauteng Getaway Show promises even more fun with an exciting new feature. From 30 August to 1 September 2013, the Coca-Cola Dome will be transformed into an adventure wonderland, as over 400 travel, outdoor and adventure brands will all be offering interactive exhibits. Read more >>

Hosted Buyer Programmes at Africa Travel Week announced
In the lead-up to the first Africa Travel Week, to be held from 28 April to 3 May 2014, Reed Travel Exhibitions has announced further details of its exclusive global Hosted Buyer Programme for Africa Travel Week events. Read more >>

Le Fanschhoek Hotel and Spa appoints new GM
Following his success as general manager at Premier Hotel Moorings in Knysna and Premier Hotel Cape Manor, Chris Snyman has been appointed as GM (general manager) of the Three Cities Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa in Franschhoek, Cape Winelands. Read more >>

Wilderness Holdings' report secures top spot in SA tourism sector
Wilderness Holdings' Integrated Report for the 2012 Financial Year scored highly in an independent assessment of the integrated reports of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The report ranked first in the JSE's Travel, Hotels and Tourism sector in the Sustainability Data Transparency Index (SDTI) and sixth overall across all sectors. Read more >>

Townhouse launches interactive website
The Townhouse Hotel & Conference Centre in Cape Town has launched its new website that puts guests and site visitors increasing usage of tablets and smartphones at the heart of its design and accessibility. Read more >>


Accommodation
June tourist accommodation up 7.9% y/y
[Helmo Preuss] Income for SA's tourist accommodation sector rose by 7.9% year-on-year (y/y) in current prices in June after a 10.1% y/y gain in May‚ Statistics SA's tourist accommodation survey released on Monday (19 August) showed. Read more >>


Hospitality
Hilton Worldwide strengthens sales team in Africa
Hilton Worldwide recently announced the appointment of Ewan Neveling as Cluster Sales Manager for the Southern Africa region, based at Hilton Windhoek in Namibia. Read more >>

Taj Cape Town wins global housekeeping award
Taj Cape Town was recently selected from a pool of 119 luxury hotels, including 15 international gems in the Maldives, Malaysia, the UK, the USA, Australia, the Middle East, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, to win the Best Housekeeping Team award at the annual Taj Awards for Business Excellence. The ceremony was held in Mumbai, India recently. Read more >>

City Lodge Hotels dividend up 31% to 351c
City Lodge Hotels‚ which has "refreshed" its branding to better differentiate its four brands and reflect its ongoing enhancements and modernisation‚ increased average occupancies by three percentage points to 62% in the 12 months to June‚ underpinning a revenue increase of 11% to R975.9m and a 32% rise in normalised headline earnings to R252.2m. Read more >>

Slower retail sales growth in June
Retail trade sales growth came in below expectations in June‚ although the quarterly figures indicate the sector contributed positively to gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter. Read more >>

The Park Inn by Radisson Abuja Kaura to open in 2015
The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the Park Inn by Radisson Abuja Kaura in Nigeria, a full-service mid-market property which is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2015. Read more >>


Restaurant
Healthy food at new drive-thru Marcaronis
Pasta is hardly associated with fast food - it's a meal we enjoy at a restaurant or make for ourselves at home. Read more >>

Oasis builds new 'oasis' for McDonalds
[Nick Hedley] Sharia-compliant Oasis Crescent Property Fund has entered into a lease agreement with McDonald's SA to build a new McDonald's restaurant‚ McCafe and Drive-Thru in KwaZulu-Natal. Read more >>


Tourism
New website for Madikwe Game Reserve highlights corporate identity
The newly formed Madikwe Marketing Action Group (MMAG), created by the North West Parks & Tourism Board and the 21 lodges in the Madikwe Game Reserve, has designed a new website consolidating the offerings of South Africa's fourth largest game reserves. Read more >>


Tours
Bookings surge for MSC Cruises
With the new cruise season months away, with the arrival of MSC Opera on 11 November, 2013, bookings with MSC Cruises for the local season are 80% ahead of those in 2012. Read more >>

SI Explorers offers international travellers a bridging year solution
A quick search on the internet for gap year experiences shows just how popular South Africa as a choice destination is fast becoming. A recent research study carried out by the Year Out Group has found that South Africa and Kenya are popular destinations for structured international gap year placement. Read more >>

Kirstenbosch Chelsea Flower Show entry on display at Waterfront
The South African National Biodiversity's (SANBI) Kirstenbosch Gardens' Chelsea Flower Show entry will be recreated and on display from 30 August until 24 September at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Read more >>


Lifestyle

Your very own sales team to grow customers
The Entertainer, with its two-for-one incentive offerings for some of the best leisure, hospitality and entertainment establishments, is designed to mean business in today's local economy... Read more >>


People on the move


Exclusive Hire hires Mike Burger - more info
Exclusive Hire hires Lisa Meyer - more info
Top new team brings fresh energy to One&Only - more info



Jobs offered



New events to diarise

The BEST of KZN & BEYOND Travel Guide
Creative Solutions - 19 Aug 2013 to 31 Aug 2013 Durban
Getaway Travel & Tourism Conference
Getaway - 28 Aug 2013 Johannesburg
Food Safety Seminar
LRQA - 13 Sep 2013 Johannesburg
Nedbank Golf Challenge 2013
Cindy Cousins - 5 Dec 2013 to 8 Dec 2013 Rustenburg


Upcoming events

UCT Guest House Management short course
GetSmarter - 26 Aug 2013 Countrywide


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