Winter Solstice is almost upon us and there’s no escaping the fact that it’s time to gear up for lots of rain down south & clear but icy days up north.
This is a good time to review business & marketing strategies and with a plethora of companies promising to improve your occupancy levels, especially leading up to 2010 World Cup, it’s more important than ever to be mindful of where you’ll get the most “bang for your buck”. GHASA offers some great member benefits – please ensure that you’re making good use of them.
Reminder: Do you have our logo displayed on your website & marketing material? Use your GHASA accreditation as a selling toolJ.
Please check your GHASA Certificate. If it has expired, it probably means your annual subscription hasn’t been paid. We currently have a large number of unpaid dues and although we do send reminder invoices, they sometimes get lost or misplaced. We value all our members and really don’t want to “click” you off our system! Your ongoing support is much appreciatedJ.
Housekeeping tip: Keep your staff busy and happy by offering them exciting training programs. It’s a great way to improve their motivation & self-confidence!
Tourism Stats & Facts
· Final Indaba stats released (TravelHub 15 May)
The final statistics have been released for this year’s Indaba and it would appear that most spheres of attendance have been affected by the global economic downturn.
In total, there were 12 230 participants this year, in comparison to last year’s 12 591. This is a 2,95% decrease in the total number of exhibiting personnel, visitors and media.
The total number of registered international visitors topped 2 062, a 6,88% decrease on last year. Local visitors also dropped with a 10,73% decrease to 1 602.
While there was a 13,77% growth in attendance by local media, international media visitors dropped 1,53% to 195.
There were just under 200 less exhibiting companies this year with 1 579 registered, compared to last year’s 1 725.
· Opinion: Arrival stats mix-up for SA (TravelHub 10 May)
This week, Statistics South Africa released the first arrivals statistics for the year, January 2009. Attached in the tiniest writing, hidden on the very last page, the report mentioned that the format of the tourism and migration statistics had been altered with the advent of the beginning of the year.
And while I do agree we need more refined tourism statistics, I wonder how the industry is going to benefit from a new format for measuring SA's tourist arrivals that cannot be compared with the previous year's arrivals.
The new format is different to that of 2008. So the results released yesterday on TravelHub (SA arrivals figures take a dive) are no longer a true representation of the growth (or lack thereof) of tourism arrivals into the country.
A note at the end of the report explains: “Statistics South Africa has completed its Duration of Stay exercise as part of improving its information on foreign travellers and measurement of foreign tourists.
"As a result of this exercise, it is now possible to distinguish same day visitors and overnight visitors (tourists) from the arrival data it receives from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). That is based on the date on which the arrivals that entered the country for purposes other than work left.
In essence, there is no exact way of telling whether tourism in 2009 has seen growth or a drop-off in numbers. It will also mean that the industry will have to wait an entire year, until the release of the January 2010 numbers, before it is able to compare any arrivals statistics.
SA Tourism did however note that while Stats SA was heading in the right direction to better define arrivals statistics, it warned against any comparison to 2008.
“SAT commends Stats SA on their efforts to improve tourism statistics in South Africa as they able to give us the number of foreign tourists who visit the country. However, we caution the use of the January 2009 data in comparative analysis to previous years because we cannot compare ‘total foreign arrivals’ to ‘total foreign tourist arrivals’.
"SAT together with DEAT are engaging Stats SA to discuss how to manage the improvement in the reporting of tourism statistics.”
· SA arrivals figures take a dive (TravelHub 7 May)
Statistics South Africa has released its January 2009 results and the picture they paint does not give a rosy outlook. Total overseas arrivals took a major dip of 30,7% compared with January last year, while individually, all major source markets have shown double-digit percentage falls.
Interestingly, the French market showed a big slow-down in January. Until this year it was one of the markets that showed positive growth into South Africa.
The top source markets for January were:
- UK, down 18% from 48 357 to 39 675
- Germany, down 28% from 24 546 to 17 662
- USA, down 21,7% from 19 132 to 14 978
- France, down 18% from 11 252 to 9 242
- The Netherlands, down 24,7% from 11 103 to 8 358
- Australia, down 22,8% from 7 988 to 6 168
- Sweden, down 32,9% from 6 363 to 4 272
- Ireland, down 36,8% from 4 928 to 3 115
- Canada, down 24,2% from 4 841 to 3 671
- India, down 25,7% from 4 678 to 3 478
Supplier Information
Pest Control has become an integral part of responsible tourism in South Africa. In view of the FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 Soccer World Cup, travel activities to South Africa is bound to increase tremendously. “As seen with recent Swine –flu reports, increased travel activities are the major cause of viruses and unwanted pests such as Bed Bugs,” said Professor of Entomology, Michael Potter from the University of Kentucky at a Rentokil Bed Bug Seminar earlier this year. Rentokil’s intention is to work with establishments through an educational drive to ensure proactive measurements are put in place to prevent or control infestations. This could be detrimental to the reputation of your establishment and to tourism services in South Africa. We invite you to get in touch with the experts in pest control. Please contact Marlene on 021 914 2821 or email her at marlene@strategicpr.co.za.
Internet Marketing Training
In Hospitality Site's half-day course "Internet Marketing Simplified", you will learn what it takes to turn lookers into bookers, how to optimize a website for search engines and market your website with pay per click campaigns, how to keep in touch with guests through effective e-mail marketing, how to find accommodation directories that work, how you can benefit from Social Media websites like Facebook and Twitter and how to plan, implement, measure and analyze your online marketing strategy.
The afternoon course starts at 1pm and runs until 5pm with a short break in between. The course will be offered between 30 April 2009 and 16 July 2009 in the following locations: Durbanville, Camps Bay, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Claremont, Paarl, City Bowl, Muizenberg, Hout Bay, Franshoek, Blaauwberg, Langebaan, and during the month of August in other provinces of South Africa.
The cost is R399 per delegate, for GHASA Members R360. To book your seat, please click here or visit www.hospitalitysite.co.za/training.php or send and e-mail to support@hospitalitysite.co.za or call Busisiwe Matshobeni on 021 556 3469. Please state that you are a GHASA member. Please note that the number of delegates for most locations is limited to 10, so book now to get a spot in your area!
- Intermarket Guest Amenities (soaps, shampoos, body lotions & much more!)
New contact details: Tel : 021 761 4246 Fax: 021 761 4249, or visit at: 6,
Wetton Park, Dolphin Way (off Wetton Road), Wetton.
e-mail and website: info@intermarket.co.za and www.intermarket.co.za
And don't forget they offer a 10% discount on all standard items for bonafide GHASA members on production of your membership number.
- IVAL Consultants - Property Valuations
We are a property valuation company that specialise in the valuation of hotels, lodges, guesthouses etc, beyond the normal commercial and residential property valuations that we handle on a daily basis. We have found that obtaining of finance for guesthouses at most of the financial institutions are quite a difficult exercise, which can in most circumstances be directly related to the incorrect valuation of these businesses.
A 10% reduction on the valuation fee will be given to all registered members of GHASA.
Contact Chris Veldsman on 082 8800108 or email cnt@telkomsa.net.
- Haywood Designs – Wood furniture manufacturer
We supply furniture to retail and hospitality industries (nationally). All projects are designed specifically to accommodate the client’s budget and style. Why go to retail stores when you can go direct?
10% discount for all GHASA members on production of membership numbers.
Contact Tim Proome at 011 6728010 or email blokproducts@telkomsa.net.
solar heat specializes in the design, supply and installation of solar hot water systems. One of our company owners has over 40 years experience in the hospitality industry ranging from hotel design and development to hotel management and consulting. We therefore realise the importance of hot water in your members’ business environment as well as the high electricity costs associated with heating this water.
Contact Lili Kozul at 011 4620024 or email info@solarheat.co.za
New members
Welcome to the following new GHASA members. We look forward to a long and happy relationship with you all!
2nd Avenue Bed & Breakfast; Beachway Lodge; Precept Ministries Guest House; Samia Guesthouse; Elephant Hills Country Cottage; Leaves Exclusive Guest House; Nu Rock Inn; Baysands Lodge; An African Villa; Blackpride Guest House; Goedgedacht Farm; Kufra Cottage; Wind Dancer Villa; River Meadow Manor; Crystal Sands Guest House; Rouge on Rose.