14 Finalists shortlisted for the 2008 Hospitality Investments Awards
16. Sep, 2008
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Pretoria – A total of 14 finalists in the 2008 Hospitality Investment Awards hosted by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) have been announced.
The awards, which will be hosted for the second time this year, form part of the TBCSA’s Hospitality Investment Conference Africa (HICA) which will take place at the Hilton Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg from 28 to 30th September 2008.
This according to TBCSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mmatšatši Marobe who says the awards are meant to recognise and reward organisations and individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to lifting the profile of the African tourism and hospitality sector. The awards strive to promote growth, investment, innovation and excellence, across all tourism sectors in Africa.
Marobe says the awards programme has for the first time this year attracted entries from the SADC countries. “We believe that the scope of tourism growth and development is huge in the continent and without any doubt we need to celebrate these achievements by paying tribute to those who worked effortlessly in putting our continent on the forefront.” Extending the awards into SADC is part of the TBCSA’s plans in partnership with its sponsors and counterparts to incrementally develop HICA to become the premier hospitality investment platform within Africa. “In 2007 the awards were restricted to entries from South Africans industry role players with plans to extend them into SADC in 2008 and 2009 and eventually the rest of the continent” Marobe added.
The Hospitality Investment Awards have been organised with the generous support of Grant Thornton THL Consulting (Pty) Ltd, who coordinated the entire nominations and selections processes. Entries for the 2008 awards were received from Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. The awards will be made in four categories, viz: – the Best New Hotel Development, Hospitality Innovation Award, Leadership Award and Excellence in Travel and Tourism Reporting.
The finalists are as follows:- in the category Best New Hotel Development – Protea Hotel Fire & Ice (Western Cape, South Africa), Euphoria Golf Estate & Hydro (Limpopo, South Africa) and Karibu Lodge & Conference Centre (Limpopo, South Africa). In the category of Excellence in Travel & Tourism Reporting – Helen Ueckermann of Sake Rapport and Michelle Garforth of Conservation Lobbyist & Television Personality.
In the Hospitality Innovation category, the finalists are – Gondwana Desert Collection (Southern Namibia), Mangwanani African Spa (Gauteng, South Africa), Trogon House and Forest Spa (Western Cape, South Africa) and Lesheba Wilderness Lodge (Limpopo, South Africa). In the Leadership category the finalists include Jacqueline Asheeke, CEO of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (FENATA), Anthony Ridly of Club Leisure (Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa), Bruce Chapman, General Manager Holiday Inn (Maputo, Mozambique) and Athol Stark (Mpumalanga, South Africa).
Marobe thanked a team of judges including Jennifer Seif (Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa, Morongoe Ntloyadibe-Disele (Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana), Michael Tatalias (Southern African Tourism Services Association), Mbuyazwe Magagula (IDC), Franco Jordaan (Court Classique Suite Hotel) and Dave Marsh (Now Media).
The winners will be announced just before LUNCH on the final day of the Hospitality Investment Conference Africa 2008 (HICA) on 30th September 2008 at the Hilton Hotel Sandton. Registration for those who interested in attending the conference is still open and this can be done online on the conference website – www.hica.co.za or contact Ms Nadia Oberholzer at the TBCSA’s Offices on 012 654 7525. The 2008 HICA event is sponsored by IFA hotels and resorts, GroupRCI, The Rezidor Hotel Group, FNB, Grant Thornton, Timeshare Institute of South Africa (TISA), IDC, DBSA,IFC, iBAHN and it’s supported by Pam Golding Hospitality, W-Hospitality Group and the national Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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