What is the situation/progress with the proposed hotels in Kruger?

[Lisbeth]

I like that letter a lot

[H. erectus]

Well here we have it once again, not only a slap in the face for Mr. Fernsby, more so
a situation of useless and careless communication!!!

Dear Mr Fernsby,

Please take note that I occupy the post of Director: Appeals and Legal Review. My function, therefore, is to administer and advise the Minister in respect of all appeals lodged in terms of national environmental legislation.

The questions which you seek clarity on, and in particular questions 1-4 in your email below, should therefore be addressed to the relevant officials responsible for biodiversity and conservation in the DEA and/or the relevant officials at SANParks. You may also want to consider requesting information from the Department via an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act – this will ensure that your queries are attended to by the relevant officials.

With regard to question 5 below, please can you direct your queries to Mark Jardine (copied in this email) from the Enforcement section of the DEA.

Regards

Ziyaad Hassam
Director: Appeals and Legal Review
Department of Environmental Affairs
Tel: 012 399 9356
Mobile: 083 456 9878
Email: zhassam@environment.gov.z


Take note, highlighted in red,..will point out my frustration,..

This the very same person that took matters on his shoulders,
granting the applicant,Secprop, more time to come forward
with a proper traffic assessment,...re Malelane!! He mentioned
that he did not prejudice any IAP's in the process!!!!

With regard to the PAIA process, oh goodness,... Mr G. Smit done
that very disappointing trip already,..

Fact is, legally speaking, all goes across one persons conscience,
in advisory capacity !! Therefore will this person uphold integrity
as a norm when advising,...

[H. erectus]

Carlson Rezidor launches major African expansion drive

By: Hilka Birns

4 Sep 2017 13:37 (UTC+2)
Carlson Rezidor launches major African expansion drive

Carlson Rezidor has a new five-year expansion drive.

Carlson Rezidor has launched Destination 2022, a five-year expansion drive that aims to grow its current portfolio from 78 to 120 hotels in Africa by the end of 2022.

Andrew McLachlan, Senior VP Business Development Africa & Indian Ocean, says the group will also introduce a new brand into Africa early next year. He declined to elaborate, except to say that the brand would be pitched between the Group’s Radisson Blu and Park Inn products.

Meanwhile the first alternative-style Radisson Red property is due to open at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront Silo Precinct on September 12. There are plans to open 10 Radisson Red hotels in Africa over the next five years, in Johannesburg, Durban, Maputo, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Luanda and Lagos.

In addition, three luxury Quorvus Collection hotels are under construction in Lagos, Abuja and Kampala. Ten Quorvus Collection properties are planned for Africa, including one in Johannesburg, to be announced in the next six months.

McLachlan says Carlson Rezidor’s accelerated growth strategy in Africa has seen the Group sign a new deal every 37 days and open a hotel every 60 days over the past two years. This has accelerated to a new hotel opening every 45 days this year. All Carlson Rezidor’s 78 hotels and 16 500 rooms in Africa are operated under management contracts. In general, 13% more hotels have been built in Africa over the past 12 months, totalling 417 properties under development at present, he says, 84% of which are under management contracts.

McLachlan says 77% of Carlson Rezidor’s current Africa portfolio consists of the market leader, Radisson Blu brand, and it will remain the largest, followed by Park Inn, with Radisson Red and Quorvus making up 15% of the mix. The plan is to have Park Inns in at least eight of the nine provincial capitals in South Africa, as well as multiple Park Inns in numerous locations in Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast.

Positioned as a ‘lifestyle select’ hotel aimed at ‘Millennial thinkers’, the new Radisson Red in Cape Town will be an entry-level four-star hotel with a difference. “The brand is all about music, art, fashion and being tech-savvy,” explains McLachlan. “The reception is an art gallery with art rotated from the neighbouring Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa and the focus will be on showcasing South African music and design talent. There will be no reception desk as guests self-check-in with an app on their cellphones or tablet. They also use the app for keyless entry into their room, to watch movies, or order room service. The GM is called a curator. Staff are cross-trained to perform multiple tasks,” he says.

[H. erectus]

With regard to my post above,..

* Shocking to note the organizations drive in exploitation
of the continent!! Them not the only ones!!!,..
that aims to grow its current portfolio from 78 to 120 hotels
in Africa by the end of 2022.
*Andrew McLachlan, Senior VP Business Development Africa & Indian Ocean, says the group will also introduce a new brand into Africa early next year. He declined to elaborate, except to say that the brand would be pitched between the Group’s Radisson Blu and Park Inn products.
*Meanwhile the first alternative-style Radisson Red property is due to open at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront Silo Precinct on September 12. There are plans to open 10 Radisson Red hotels in Africa over the next five years, in Johannesburg, Durban, Maputo, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Luanda and Lagos.

The lowly Malelane venture not mentioned!!! A blessing in disguise????


*McLachlan says Carlson Rezidor’s accelerated growth strategy in Africa has seen the Group sign a new deal every 37 days and open a hotel every 60 days over the past two years. This has accelerated to a new hotel opening every 45 days this year. All Carlson Rezidor’s 78 hotels and 16 500 rooms in Africa are operated under management contracts. In general, 13% more hotels have been built in Africa over the past 12 months, totalling 417 properties under development at present, he says, 84% of which are under management contracts.


And then,....

*There will be no reception desk as guests self-check-in with an app on their cellphones or tablet. They also use the app for keyless entry into their room, to watch movies, or order room service. The GM is called a curator. Staff are cross-trained to perform multiple tasks,” he says.

[Lisbeth]

What's wrong with opening hotels in Africa? Lots of jobs being created and lots of taxes being paid.

As long as they do not open one in KNP

[H. erectus]

As long as they do not open one in KNP

Well then you got my drift Liz,..for two reasons,..

1. Radisson, Secprop Leisure not mentioned in KNP,

2. Last, but not least, imagine Secprop Leisure being
classed as Curators for some obscure reason!!! Staff
being cross-trained to do multiple tasks!!!?? I am afraid
but I smell a rat!!! Sanparks of late being known for
double standards in ethics!!!! Allow me to quote,
"the so called peoples custodians"!!

[Richprins]

KNP’s Skukuza Safari Lodge to close temporarily for refurbishments under new management


Skukuza Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park (KNP), will be temporarily closed from 1 January 2024 for refurbishments as part of a strategy to enhance parks as nature tourism destinations by diversifying tourism offerings in partnership with the private sector.


SANParks undertook a public tender process for the appointment of a private operator to manage the lodge for a period of ten years.

The appointed operator is a joint venture between Tourvest Holdings and Karibu Leisure Resort. Tourvest Holdings will be represented by AHA Hotels and Lodges, the tourism property management company of Tourvest Accommodation Activities. Karibu Leisure Resort is owned by its founder and CEO Nyeleti Mushwana and has world-class conference facilities.

The 256-bed lodge is expected to open its doors again in February 2024 under a management agreement between SANParks and the joint venture. In cooperation with SANParks, the joint venture will manage, operate and maintain the Skukuza Safari Lodge and the Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre situated adjacent to the lodge.

This intervention is also an effort to create broad-based black economic empowerment opportunities and advance transformation of the tourism industry. In the past twenty years this strategy earned SANParks an income of R1,512 billion through its public-private partnerships. The revenue generated contributes significantly to the funding of conservation and the overall sustainability of SANParks.

The SANParks Tourism public-private partnership portfolio has expanded to 60 diverse projects spanning accommodation, restaurants, retail and activities.

https://mylowveld.net/knps-skukuza-safa ... XravYbiqP8

[Lisbeth]

SANParks has finished losing money on that one at least They must be happy to get rid of it

[Richprins]

It just shows you what a waste of money it was. I think the three or four huts they destroyed to build would have made just as much money as the odd bookings they have had for it so far...

[Lisbeth]

That's for sure