OK, so it’s back to normal!  Whilst some of us may be suffering the dreaded Post WC Blues, I think others will be quite relieved to get back to the routine of being able manage our businesses without the distractions (admittedly great fun!) of The Beautiful Game. 

On the positive side, our regular corporate & local holiday guests will be travelling again and in the long-term, the enormous success of WC 2010 will produce great international spin-off.  GHASA looks forward to reporting improved tourism stats in future newsletters!

HOUSEKEEPING/BACK OFFICE MATTERS

Please create our logo link!

It is of great concern to us that only ?? members have bothered to link their websites back to ours.  That’s a lousy ??% of our membership base! By going through the very painless exercise of doing the link, you’re not only improving GHASA’s window to the world.  You’re also improving your own visibility. 

If you’ve not already done the link, PLEASE do this NOW:

Stuck?  No problem!  Please phone Kristi & she’ll be happy to assist.

Minimum Wages for Hospitality Sector (Sectoral Determination 14)

Minimum wages for employers with 10 or less employees:

1/7/2010 to 30/6/2011:  R1 981.48 per month; R457.30 per week; R10.17 per hour.

For more information, please contact us.

Catholic Welfare and Development - Zanokhanyo Training Centre: 

This worthy project provides basic skills training to unskilled, unemployed women in Khayelitsha and then seeks to place them into jobs within domestic, cleaning and hospitality areas of employment. 

They would be grateful for the opportunity to have some of their Trainees to do an In-service training for a week, so that they can get exposed to the working environment with a view to employment. 

Should you be able to assist, please call Thembisa Nontsele(0839840061)

TOURISM STATS & FACTS

Unfortunately, we’ve not received any stats regarding WC2010 occupancy levels.  There has been much speculation, but it is our opinion that although guest houses situated closer to stadiums were busy, the rest of the country reported lower than normal winter season levels.  This could have been due to the vacuum caused by local business travellers putting off trips till after WC.  Also, would-be local holiday travellers were put off by increased accommodation & air ticket prices.  However, there was some reprieve for guest houses when these travellers changed their minds & took advantage of last-minute reduced prices.

Tourism Update (8 June 2010): Room prices drop prior to World Cup

Leading online search engines have confirmed that the price of accommodation in South Africa has drastically decreased in the lead-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

HotelsCombined.com and Expedia have both noted that accommodation prices have steadily dropped concurrently with the reported decrease in visitor numbers for the tournament and MATCH's large-scale release of room inventory previously held for visitors that were meant to take up official tour packages.

"We've never expected the hotel industry to drop prices during a peak sporting event. It's most unusual that prices have dropped this significantly. We reject claims that hotel prices are rebalancing due to a stronger US dollar over the last weeks - which hasn't moved against the rand as strongly as other currencies. Clearly, media reports of violence are affecting demand, which hotel chains and sole operators are reacting to in the form of competitive re-pricing," said Michael Doubinski, General Manager of HotelsCombined.com.

Expedia Market Manager Africa, Ross Kata, notes that many accommodation providers have sold their inventory for deeper discounts than normal and are about equivalent to their 2009 low-season rates.

Expedia also confirms that it has been able to move large amounts of inventory over the period of the tournament with fairly aggressive late demand from international markets. It says this is as a result of the company having point-of-sale outlets in all the countries that will be participating in the World Cup.

Kata said: "It's also significant that we not only have independent accommodation providers signing up to sell their inventory through Expedia's channels but also hotel chains that had previously sold off their inventory to MATCH for the World Cup."

SUPPLIER INFORMATION

1.  Get Smarter UCT Guest House Management Course:

10-week part-time course presented through online distance learning

 - Ideal for existing and prospective guest house managers and owners

 - Highly practical, with several assignments completed during the course

 - Continual assistance, monitoring and guidance is provided by the Course Convener and Course Coordinator

 - Includes additional modules on website planning and eMarketing

Course dates:

Registrations close: 13 August 2010

Course starts: 23 August 2010

A course calendar and is available on request.

Payment details:

Course fee: R5,250 (excl. VAT)

Payment deadline: 13 August 2010

A 10% discount is offered to groups of 3 or more when arranged with GetSmarter staff.

Contact:  Abby – abby@getsmarter.co.za; tel. 021 6854775

2.  Through the implementation of the Oxygenics power and water saving shower head we have identified the most cost effective way by far, to address the issues of our major negative environmental impact and current financial hardship. The results benefit both planet and pocket, all for minimal cost and effort.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to call Clare Anderton  021 790 4636 or refer to the website : www.oxygenics.co.za

20% discount to all Ghasa members.

3.  Enterprise Development Consultants:  Please contact Grant Whittaker if you require advice on the DTI’s new government grant incentive scheme:  Tel. 021 685 5990;  Email: grant@smedp.co.za

www.dti-incentives.co.za

Member of the Incentive Consultants Association

4.  DIY accommodation marketing “saving you money on marketing”

We are now offering consultation and a customized Marketing program

ü       Increase your bookings, room nights sold and turnover

ü       Free program and training for bulk mails

ü       Access and customized setup of target market data base

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity. BOOK NOW

Adine Perel :0824687111 or 021 5561009 or adine@bottomlinehospitality.co.za

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

We take great pleasure in welcoming the following new members and we look forward to a long and happy relationship with you all:

Roodenburg Guest House 1882; Nomndeni de la Changuion; Lapologa Bed and Breakfast; The Sir Herbert Baker; Homely Guesthouse; Potter In Self Catering; Thatch and Thorn; South Hill Guest House; Peacock Gardens; Claridge House; Lansdell 24; Wild Peach Cottage; The Ultimate Guesthouse; 5 Camp Street Guesthouse & Self Catering; Cherry Place Guest House; Grotto Bay Living cc; Queens Place; Haus Ottokkie; Farquhar Lodge; The View; Sangasava; Fordsburg Inn; Datuma Guesthouse; Mooi Bly; Kwa - Muzi Lodge; Blueview B&B; Abalone Place; Aan Dorpstraat Guest House; Sanambo Guesthouse; Msambweni Beach House & Private Villas.