Wow! It’s hard to believe 2009 is almost over - and what a year it’s been. GHASA has certainly been very busy, with many new members joining us and lots of exciting stuff going on in the office.
Amongst other things, we’ve managed to launch a new website (thanks to John of Oshima), re-write our data base (thanks to Shauneil) and improve our Search Engine Optimisation (thanks to Neil of WebGrowth).
We’ve also employed the services of Dedrè, our very able Accounts and Back-Office Manager and Kristi, our new Admin Manager, who is learning the ropes as fast as possible.
So, we’re looking forward to 2010 with much optimism and enthusiasm and our promise to you all is that we’ll continue to work hard to ensure that GHASA offers you good value for money!
We take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Blessed, Busy and Happy Festive Season. Thank you for your continued support and may 2010 be The Best Year Ever.
The GHASA Team
HOUSEKEEPING
- World Cup 2010 Booking Enquiries: We’re setting up a Booking Enquiries page in the NEWSLETTER section of our website. So, if you’re looking for guests over this period, please keep an eye on this page. We’ll let you know as soon as it’s up & running.
- Rates update: Please check your page on our website & let us know if your rates, photos or any other information require updating.
- Certificate: Please let us know if your GHASA certificate has expired.
TOURISM STATS & FACTS
Tourism Update(10/12/2009):
Tourism Minister urges industry to protect SA's good value reputation
South African Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, has stressed the importance of protecting South Africa's reputation as a value-for-money destination in the run-up to next year's Soccer World Cup.
Speaking at a media briefing at Parliament in Cape Town, he said he was unaware of any attempt on behalf of accommodation providers to hike rates over the tournament. "Fedhasa (Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa) is working with us to ensure we protect our reputation and at the moment we don't detect any attempt to hike prices," he said. "If billionaires are paying exorbitant prices for private homes, as has been reported in the newspapers, this is a question of supply and demand and has nothing to do with general accommodation rates."
Concerns that accommodation providers and airlines will fleece soccer fans during the World Cup recently emerged in local and overseas media.
However, Jaime Byrom, executive co-chairman of MATCH, FIFA's own accommodation agency, told journalists the 30% commission it was charging contracted accommodation suppliers was "standard". Establishments contracted to MATCH have agreed on terms based on their published rates of 2007 plus 16% inflation. He said smaller establishments (SMMEs) such as guesthouses and B&Bs, 12 000 of which have for the first time been included in MATCH's inventory, were charging their normal peak season rates plus a 30% MATCH surcharge. Byrom couldn't say why airlines were not subjected to the same rate-capping scenario as accommodation providers.
Byrom said all participating teams now had found good facilities for their base camps and training. Of the 48 000 rooms contracted to MATCH, 64% were hotels, 15% were SMMEs, 8% were team base camps, 6% were timeshare, 3% were apartments and 2% were SANParks and new developments respectively. The majority of MATCH's contracted accommodation was in Johannesburg (23%), Cape Town (16%), Durban (14%) and Port Elizabeth (12%).
Some 32% of MATCH inventory would be available to the general public, 15% was designated for team hotels, 14% was block booked for MATCH Ville participating tour operators, 18% was for the media, 14% for commercial partners and 7% for FIFA officials.
MATCH Ville packages, including airport shuttles, base camp accommodation, domestic air transfers and shuttles to matches, would operate from Gauteng, Rustenburg, Durban, Cape Town, the Garden Route and SANParks (Kruger National Park). MATCH Ville packages from Mauritius depended on an air transport solution.
More than 100 authorised tour operators from around the world were participating in the official tour operator programme and, following a recent workshop in Cape Town, had expressed their satisfaction with arrangements to date, Byrom said.
He said MATCH had contracted about 100 000 air sectors between SAA and BA/Comair. There would be up to 10 flights on each route in each direction per match in the "golden triangle" of JNB/CPT/DUR with night flying included for return sectors. MATCH seats will be sold in minimum blocks of 20. He said SAA would release 20 aircraft to operate on routes outside of the "golden triangle".
Tourism Update (01/12/2009):
Cape Town - unpredictable summer ahead
Predictions for the summer tourism season ahead are hard to call in a world where economic goalposts are constantly shifting and a peaked interest in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup has already catapulted Cape Town's global profile into unprecedented territory, says marketing authority, Cape Town Tourism (CTT).
While the United Nations World Tourism Organisation believes that the overall global downturn in tourism (based on international arrivals and departures) will level out at a -8% drop, Africa has managed to buck the global fall in tourism numbers by being one of the only areas to show improvement, with an increase of 4%.
"It has been an imperative part of our marketing strategy to ensure that our key source markets recognise that Cape Town has a multitude of unique attractions and that the city has not out-priced itself ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup", says Lianne Burton, spokesperson for Cape Town Tourism. CTT hopes that this message will be conveyed by media attending the 2010 FIFA Final Draw in December.
Based on accommodation surveys conducted (November 2009) by CTT for season 09/10, accommodation providers in the greater Cape Town area are reporting occupancy predictions for December 2009 of 62,4% on average. The greater concentration of bookings is being secured in the traditional holiday destinations of the city and the Atlantic Seaboard, where average occupancies are expected to be 68%. However, trends are showing a big shift to last-minute bookings, so these figures could rise quite swiftly as visitors make the spontaneous decision to spend their summer holiday in Cape Town.
SUPPLIER INFORMATION
Touchscreen Facilities
Our Touch Screen units offer all participants impressive nationwide marketing opportunities. The project entails a network of 2.5m tall interactive Touch Screen Kiosks placed in strategic high traffic areas such as airports and shopping centres that enjoy annual foot traffic of no less than 100 million people per annum.
Every holiday accommodation property across South Africa that is affiliated to a provincial Tourism Authority such as Cape Town Tourism, has been given a free directory listing on our touchscreens. The visitor will scroll down from province to city/town, neighbourhood and finely under type of accommodation i.e. guesthouse, self-catering etc. This technology allows the visitor to locate what they are searching for in a specified area within seconds.
As a GHASA member we are offering you the opportunity to convert your basic directory listing into a 23” digital brochure featuring photographs, descriptions, rates etc. The cost of this brochure is currently set at R95 per month for a 12-month period, plus a once-off production setup fee of R400 plus VAT.
AN INTRODUCTORY 25% DISCOUNT WILL BE OFFERED TO ALL GHASA MEMBERS that take up the brochure offer before the 31st January 2010. For further information without any obligation please contact STELIO MALAMIS on 083 417 8236 or 021 790 1713 or email stelio@shoutmedia.co.za
Volpes – A tradition of good linen
We offer all GHASA members our Volpes Hospitality list price less 12.5% as well as a further 2.5% settlement discount. This pricing structure is valid for a period of 12 months from 1st November 2009. We will be able to fulfill orders received from 4 January 2010
Contact: Nicole Wuest: nicole.wuest@volpes.co.za or phone 0866612147
Property Valuation
It is close to year-end, and once again, we have a promotion for GHASA members, which will be running until 31 January 2010, with 10% discount on all valuation fees. If any of the members require valuations to be done on their properties, please let me know. These valuations can be done for audit purposes, finance purposes, insurance purposes, etc.
Contact: Chris Veldsman, Professional Associated Valuer - 082 880 0108
iTT Connect – Fax2Email
iTT Connect has made the commitment to implement Fax2Email in order to save costs and to improve business efficiency.
The product works as follows:
- Give senders your personal unique Fax2Email number
- The sender will send you a fax as they normally would
- Open your email & you’ll see notification of the faxes received
- Open the attachment & read your fax.
You don’t need to upload any additional software or change settings. GHASA uses iTT Connect Fax2Email!
Contact: Thomas Altmann on support@ittconnect.co.za
Tourvest
TEAM is a division of Tourvest Inbound Operations (www.tio.co.za) the largest Inbound Tour Operator in Southern Africa and a wholly owned subsidiary of Tourvest [www.tourvest.co.za]
TEAM - Tourvest Event Activation Management - was formed to specifically look after accommodation, transportation and other requirements (excluding tickets) for both the Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup. In addition TEAM recently hosted around 9,500 guests during the IPL Cricket and British Lions Rugby Tour.
TEAM is receiving requests for smaller properties. In order for us to be able to fulfill this need we would appreciate it if you could send us
- Rates for June & July 2010
- Details of your property [number of rooms, room types, facilities, contact details]
- Availability for June & July 2010
Contact: Talia Moolman - (021) 532 6350 / 082 336 9121 or email tmoolman@tio.co.za
GreatGuide Navigator
GreatGuide Navigator is like a GPS on steroids.
We have a special launch deal as follows:
· You rent the GreatGuide from us for R380 pm.
· You can then rent the unit to your guests for R 99 per day. (so after 4 day you have covered your costs, and if rented out for the full month, you can earn in excess of R 2 500 per device).
· The R380 includes insurance with a minimal excess.
· We also supply brochures, rental contracts, training etc… to you.
GHASA Members are eligible for 5% discount.
Contact: Ivan Arnold – 021 9132734 or email ia@telkomsa.net. Website: www.gratguide.co.za
Leftover bit of soap?
We are looking for soap to be used at Pollsmoor prison for craft making. I teach inmates at Pollsmoor crafts to better themselves and feel they have a purpose in life and some of the crafts need soap so if you could please help such a needy cause by donating any kind of soap , pieces, leftovers it does not matter in what shape or form anything will be gratefully appreciated.
Contact: Pat Donald – Cell:0726066670
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to the following new GHASA members. We look forward to a long and happy relationship with you all!
Piguet’s Self-Catering Guesthouse; Echo Point; Kabeljauws Holiday Apartments; Toontjiesrivier; Lucky Bean; Gum Tree Manor; Grendon House; Collin’s Place; Villa L’Apparita; La Boheme Bed & Breakfast; Ambleside House; The Maple Village Guest Lodge B&B; Lazy Daze B&B & Self-Catering; Kamerkloof; Trout River Falls; Skaapwagtersrus Cottage; Kumbaya House; Elly’s Dutch Touch B&B; Amble Inn guest House; Silver Palms Guest House; 17 Ravensteyn Road; Lavender Cottage; Southern Cross; House Cherry; Mongoose Guest House; 6 on Scott.