2011 furniture trends- The 49th edition of the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, the International Furniture Fair of Milan, renowned as the largest decoration trade fair in the world, revealed the 2011 furniture trends.  

Rooms on View- Rooms on View is a themed event encompassing room settings which seeks to give visitors a transparent vista into the possibilities for creative expression. This top-end show caters specifically for the design industry, and invites young and aspiring designers to embrace cutting-edge thinking. These designs were all on display at the Sandton Convention Centre as testament to South Africa’s wealth of untapped potential for artistic expression.

This year, Rooms on View partnered with the iconic ABSOLUT Vodka, marketed and distributed by global drinks giant Pernod Ricard, in the ABSOLIUT Designers Pavilion. Here, five leading designers - Otto De Jager Events, Ditau Interiors, INK, Julian and Generation – were selected to showcase their unique designs and talent. Three of the ABSOLUT designers were chosen to receive Awards of Excellence by Vicente Wolf and Nina Campbell.

Mixing cool contemporary and African chic - The Village Market Hotel in Nairobi – TRIBE - is part of Protea Hotels’ exclusive African Pride Hotels collection and has been chosen as one of the world’s hottest new hotels by Conde Nast Traveller.
The hotel is a sensational design mix of cool contemporary and African chic. Inside, a four-story glass atrium and more than 800 artworks create a striking, vast space in which modern architecture and traditional African forms intermingle.

The 142 rooms and suites—decorated in shades of ocher, brown, and beige — convey an urban cool, with curved walls and headboards, and contemporary and traditional sculptures. All rooms have glass-walled bathrooms, some with freestanding tubs, packets of Kenyan coffee and complimentary mini-bar treats, with sumptuous bedding, wi-fi, mood lighting, floor-to-ceiling mirrors and large LCD televisions.

Green decorating need not be costly - Decorating that's environmentally friendly need not be exorbitant – there are many ways to go 'green' even if you're on a tight budget. Chas Everitt International property group has the following suggestions:

• Repainting is one of the most cost effective ways to create a new look, and environmentally friendly paint, primer and sealants are no longer hard to find. Harlequin Paints, BreatheCoat and ProNature are three SA companies making non-toxic paints and wall coatings, while Aqua Coat also makes a whole range of environmentally friendly varnishes, metal primers, waterproofing sealants, boning liquid, flooring, brickseal, crackfill and pool epoxies.  
• Ensure large purchases such as new curtains, new furniture or new flooring are eco-friendly. Buy curtains made from natural fibres, for example, and pick light colours to help keep out the heat in summer and lined drops to help prevent heat loss in winter.
• When it comes to flooring, bamboo and the new laminates are cost-effective options, and much more 'green' than wall-to-wall carpeting - which not only produces formaldehyde gases, but has to be replaced about every seven years.
• Donate your old furniture and linen to a welfare organisation. In this way you can help the less fortunate, and reduce waste in landfills.
  

Lighting with balloons - Turn regular into radical and standard into spectacular with the LED balloon lights from Firewater Light. Ideal as a promotional tool or to add glamour to any function, these are certain to be the highlight of the night! The LED balloon lights turn regular latex balloons into illuminated glowing spheres. Available in static or flashing modes, the balloon lights can be used with air or helium filled balloons.

Lighting trends for 2010 – global issues guide choices - Rather than startling new trends coming to the fore, 2010’s lighting trends seem to be a maturing or deepening of the preferences we have seen developing over the last year, says Valerie Poyurs, Director of Marketing at the Radiant Group, a South African lighting and electrical manufacturer and distributor. “Broadly speaking,” says Poyurs, “global trends for 2010 are everywhere characterised by a desire for quality and durability, uniqueness and handicraft, simplicity and reductionism, natural materials, and sustainable, eco-friendly lighting solutions.”

The Spa Warehouse launches Soak it!- Soak it is a range of eco-friendly biodegradable compressed usable items. The first in the range to be launched is a full sized wet wipe that is hydraulically compressed into a coin shape. It’s composed of 100% biodegradable cellulose derived material, soft, durable, portable, convenient, environmentally friendly and multi-purpose. It is in a dry form and cannot be contaminated by germs or bacteria. By adding just a little water this ‘small coin’ transforms into a full sized wet wipe. Because of its compact size and dryness it can be used anywhere and is ideal for restaurants or guest houses. It does not take up any space and is not affected by heat or sunlight. With no exogenous chemicals added, it is safe for all skin types. The wet wipes are available in bulk bags of 500 for commercial use.

Five star hotel guest amenities - Charlotte Rhys is a major player in the hospitality sector, supplying five star hotels and resorts within South Africa and beyond its borders with luxurious, top-of-the-range guest amenities and pillow gifts, specifically developed and formulated to meet the stringent requirements of this demanding and complex market. According to Shaun McDermott, Joint MD of Charlotte Rhys, the hotel amenities sector has escalated over the past three years to 60% of the company’s business, and continues to grow despite the general downswing in the economy. An unexpected spinoff from this market sector has been the extensive and ever-expanding international customer base of ex-hotel guests, who enthusiastically continue to buy Charlotte Rhys products online once they have returned to their own countries. 

"We are proud that the brand has continued to maintain a balance between technology and nature, providing our customers with premium quality, innovation and design, without compromising our ethos of sustainability,” says McDermott. Charlotte Rhys bath, body and skincare products are approved by Beauty Without Cruelty and its unique, technologically advanced formulas are biodegradable and free of petrochemicals, artificial colourants, parabens and PEGS. The company also prides itself on having the shortest lead times in the business, stringent process controls, and quality systems with the flexibility to adapt quickly and efficiently to specific client requirements. 

Numatic’s top tips for keeping floors fabulous- In order to prolong the life of carpets, a
daily vacuuming schedule and a dirt trap mat at all entrances is crucial. Hard floor surfaces
will keep their original condition if vacuumed to clear all surface dust and
particles, and the correct floor care procedures are implemented.

Soiling is the most serious abuse that a floor is subject to. Since most of the dirt is
brought into your establishment through the entrances, the installation of a quality
dirt-trap matting outside the doors will pay for itself many times over in terms of protecting
your floor from the ingress of dirt, grit and water – particularly with hard floorcoverings
that may scratch easily. Support the outside mat with a lighter wipe mat, scatter rug or
even carpet off-cut placed inside the door, and you will then have the ideal
protection system for any floor covering. But keep these mats clean
as well or placing them will be a waste of time.

The most valuable accessory for the flooring in your establishment is the vacuum cleaner.
Every type of floor covering needs regular vacuuming – some more than others – if they are
to remain in good condition. Investing in a good quality vacuum cleaner will considerably
prolong the life of a floor. Make sure that the vacuum cleaner you purchase is suitable
for the type of floors in your establishment. Buy the best vacuum cleaner you can
afford and remember that vacuum cleaners also require regular attention to
operate optimally. Clean and store equipment after use in a dry environment.

Sharp increase in bedbugs- Reports of an increase in bedbug activity pose major reasons for concern in the hospitality industry.  “We’ve seen an increase of more than 300% in bedbug activity since March 2009, and this trend is predominant over the warmer months, confirming that bedbugs are a concern for hotel, guesthouse and other accommodation owners. If we compare the income generated through the treatment of bedbugs in February 2009 with that of February 2010, we have seen an increase of nearly 500% ” says Nathalie Leblond, marketing manager of Rentokil Pest Control. Following the influx of travellers during the SWC, these numbers are bound to increase.

SAPCA joins hands with USA’S National Pest Management Association - Globalisation has enabled pests to spread faster and easier throughout the
world and as a result, a number of protocols have been thrust upon the local
pest control industry.  Such protocols include ISPM15 (International Standards
for Phytosanitary Measures 15) which deals with the fumigation of any timber
used for the transportation of goods over international boundaries, and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) that relates to food safety in the food manufacturing sector. 

Linen that lasts- Exclusive Home Fashions’ Percales have withstood the ultimate wash tests.
Their three ranges of Percale products, T180 Poly/Cotton, T230 and T600 100% Cotton Ready
Mades, have been undergoing wash tests with Boston Laundry. To date the wash test count
stands at 402 wash cycles and 200 ironing cycles. Boston Laundry comments: “The
general appearance so far is very good. There is no visual fraying of the edges
of the pillow slips, and no holes or damage on the surface either.”

SA first: guests book live on Facebook - The historical 5-star Hout Bay Manor, Cape Town has married old with new and become what is believed to be the first hotel in South Africa to give guests the convenient option to make a reservation via their newly introduced Facebook page.

Data Mining for Customised Marketing Campaigns - Data mining is a critical tool for the success of any database driven marketing campaign, something which is of the greatest importance to the Entertainment and Hospitality industries.

Using a proven data mining tool can help organisations in these sectors find important customer information hidden within millions of database records and use this information to gain important customer insights and conduct successful customised marketing campaigns. Read more...

Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct - Protea Hotels recently became a proud signatory to the Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct. The initiative was started by ECPAT International (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography
and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes), a global network of organisations ensuring that children enjoy their fundamental rights. Locally, Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa has taken up the cudgels with support from the national Department of Tourism. The initiative receives funding and advice from Unicef
and the International Labour Organisation. For more information visit www.thecode.org. The Director of the ILO office in Pretoria is Mr Ken Andoh
(Tel: +27 12-3412170).

Dedicated crisis call line - Africa Incident Management (AIM) Centre, the provider of SATIB24 Crisis Call crisis service in the tourism and hospitality trade, has been appointed as Southern Sun’s emergency and incident management service provider. With extensive experience in the logistics and risks of managing incidents, the AIM Centre provides professional incident management, removing the stress and shouldering the burden of liability. MD of SATIB Risk Solutions, Gavin Courtenay, comments that guests are becoming increasingly more litigious and a liability claim can easily exceed ZAR10 million. “In an emergency situation - from medical and fire to floods and criminal activity - it makes sense to hand the decision making over to a team of experts who include medical doctors and other facilitators, to ensure that the best outcome is reached and your overall risk is reduced.”

Free frontline training from Disney Institute- The National Department of Tourism, in partnership with FEDHASA, has started 75 comprehensive service excellence readiness seminars in each province, including host cities, with the aim to register 250 000 frontline staff and 200 training providers within the tourism value chain and will result in improved customer service at no cost to the participants' bottom line.

Tips 'not minimum wage' - Wage increase in the hospitality sector came into effect on July 1, in line with the annual adjustment of minimum wages as stipulated in the hospitality sectoral determination. Establishments employing more than 10 workers were expected to pay a minimum wage of R2209 per month and an hourly rate of R11.33. Those employing 10 workers or less were expected to pay a minimum of R1981.48 per month and R10.17 per hour.

SATIB’s WING Appointment- SATIB Risk Solutions have announced their acceptance into the Worldwide Insurance Network Group (WING), the only African broker to achieve such an accolade. WING is a group of independent partner brokers from 50 countries across the globe. This network enables brokers in different countries to offer their multinational clients coordinated, integrated insurance and risk management solutions.

Nice Toilets for 2010 and beyond - A professional event requires aesthetically pleasing, spacious and hygienic ablution facilities. The Nice Equipment Company’s portable toilets used at 2010 World Cup Stadiums and Fan Parks, built by  Serco Industries in Cape Town, not only sported an upmarket look, but were larger, being fitted with separate compartments for women and men.

The trailer chassis for the units were delivered to Serco, who fitted the upper structure which includes partitions, windows and hatches. Using fibreglass ensures the ablutions are corrosion resistant and easy to clean. Thereafter, Nice Equipment installs the sanitary ware for a completed product. Managing Director of The Nice Equipment Company, Allan Searle, said: "They have been built for use by the hospitality industry. After the World Cup, they will no doubt be used at various outdoor events."

Night school for guests- Hotels have had to keep innovating to survive in the tough economic climate, whether by implementing the latest technologies or hiring a roving reader in residence for entertainment. The latest spotting from trendspotters Springwise.com is an in-hotel programme of ongoing cultural events designed to enrich guests' stay. Sales of food and beverages at the hotel are up 25% according to the New York Times, and room bookings are up as well.

South African concierge service - Africa Talking is a 24/7 South African concierge for visitors to South Africa with dedicated travel, entertainment and emergency assistance. Upon arrival at any South African international airport, members receive a free Nokia 1208 mobile phone, an Africa Talking SIM card and talktime
at up to 70% savings on roaming cost. Directions, rentals, tickets, reservations and all kinds of attraction advice are available from Africa Talking via its phones, which can be used for personal calls. In emergencies, meanwhile, the Africa Talking mobile phone serves as a tracking device. Used handsets are dropped
off at the airport and are resold, with 50% of the proceeds going to a local charity. Membership ranges from GBP 29 for a single trip to GBP 169 for multiple trips
over the course of a year.

Prime-located guesthouses in demand - Since the Soccer World Cup kicked off Pam Golding Lodges and Guesthouses (PGLAG) – a member of Pam Golding Hospitality - has experienced an increasing demand for guesthouses and boutique hotels with a surge in enquiries from international visitors as well as from investors who are overseas.

One-on-one with Claudia Mueller – General Manager of Hout Bay Manor - Hospitality Forum spoke to Claudia Mueller, the General Manager of Hout Bay Manor, about the local hospitality industry and how it compares
on the global stage.

HF: How does the South African hospitality sector compare to the European hospitality sector?

News round-up

Tourism INDABA - The Tourism INDABA takes place from 8-11 May at the Albert Luthuli
Convention Centre (Durban ICC) in Durban. INDABA is the biggest tourism and travel
trade show in South Africa with representatives from all across the spectrum of the industry
attending: hotels, lodges, airlines, travel and tour operators, safari cruises, government
bodies, convention centres, etc. For more info, visit www.indaba-southafrica.co.za.

Hostex celebrates 25 years with best-ever show in 2011 - Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011, Hostex will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 13 to 16 March 2011. Over 250 exhibitors will be showcasing every possible requirement in the hospitality environment. Hostex facilitates networking with other stakeholders in the hospitality industry and updates on the latest industry developments. The anchor attractions at Hostex Gauteng 2011 include the Greenstuff Village and Green Boutique Hotel, a showcase of suppliers of green products and services, alongside an exhibit of rooms furnished, equipped, serviced and operated from floor to ceiling with eco-friendly products. Visitors will also enjoy The Hospitality Emporium of niche and SME product and service providers, The Wine Circle, The SA Chefs Village, and the third annual Global Pizza Challenge.

The Square Boutique Hotel & Spa in Umhlanga open for business - The Square Boutique Hotel & Spa, a brand new Three Cities hotel, opened in the heart of Umhlanga Ridge within a vibrant, active mix of retail and commercial properties. This sophisticated and trendy hotel offers the ultimate in luxury for business travellers and families designed with synergy and natural cool colours, creating the perfect atmosphere for relaxation with 43 superior and 7 deluxe rooms equipped with extra length king size beds, air-conditioning, satellite TV, telephone, internet and email, mini bar, room safes, fold out sofas for children under 12 years, and laundry service.

Deal poised to transform SA’s R4bn catering industry - Compass SA has formed a new
partnership with Thebe Investment Corporation, South Africa’s oldest BEE company, which
now holds a 25% BEE equity stake in the R1,5 billion catering and support services group.
The deal will make Compass SA the largest BEE empowered company in the
R4 billion contract catering industry, employing in excess of 7 000
people and operating from more than 700 client sites.

Gawie Marx appointed as GM of The Grande Roche - As the new GM of The Grande Roche Hotel and Restaurant in Paarl, Gawie takes over from one of South Africa’s most respected hoteliers, Graham Vass, who will be relocating to the UK to become GM of Ellenborough Park in Cheltenham. Gawie joins the group with invaluable hotel management experience, having worked at prestigious properties such as the Lake Pleasant Hotel and Spa, Fancourt Hotel and Country Club and more recently the Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Cape Town.

New CFO at Compass- Drieka Wilson has been appointed Chief Financial Officer at Compass Group Southern Africa, South Africa’s largest food-service company. Prior to joining the group, she was the Director and Shareholder at TBOP Capital, a subsidiary of Thebe Investment Corporation.

Kievits Kroon wins prestigious award for second year - Kievits Kroon, the renowned conference and leisure estate north of Pretoria, emerged as the winner for the second consecutive year in the category ‘Country Style retreat – Large’ at the 2010 AA Travel Guides American Express Accommodation Awards. Having received top accolades in the 2009 Diner’s Club International Wine List of the Year Awards, Kievits Kroon was also chosen as the official hotel to host the FIFA World Cup referees. Extensive renovations introduced 42 new luxury rooms.

Bytes Communications receives top accolades - Bytes Communications was recently honoured
with an award in recognition of excellence for best Converged Solutions for Hospitality. The
hospitality portfolio developed by Bytes Communications has been designed to address
the individual needs of hotel guests, the management and the staff, by providing professional
services ensuring revenue generation, operational efficiency and guest satisfaction. In
offering these services Bytes Communications has been able to secure the
business of various well-known hotel groups throughout the country.

Expedia® Insiders’ Select™ List - Expedia® travellers have ranked The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, the five star hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, among the world’s best hotels on this year’s Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list, based on the more than one million Traveler Opinions hotel reviews. The list formally recognises individual hotels worldwide that consistently deliver excellent service, a great overall experience and a notable value. 

Legal & Tax assist tourists - Legal & Tax, the only legal insurance company in the country
to provide both legal and tax services to its clients, was selected as the Johannesburg
Tourism Company's legal advisory associate for the duration of the FIFA World Cup. The
company’s expert team of lawyers was available 24 hours a day to provide telephonic
legal advice to local and international visitors on various topics, including: car accidents,
unlawful arrest, buying property in South Africa, immigration and general legal advice.

Protea Hotels score in World Cup - During the SWC, 27 of the 32 competing teams decided
to stay at Protea Hotels. Protea Hotels is the largest hotel group on the continent with
more than 125 hotels spread across nine countries, and easily has the biggest
footprint in South Africa, with close to 80 hotels spread across all nine provinces.