Study by South Africa Travel Online reveals attitude towards basing airfares on passenger weight. According to the survey a majority of South Africans aged over 60 think it's acceptable to base airfares on passenger weight, but most South Africans younger than 60 think it's unacceptable. 17 July 2013, Cape Town -- GoAir in India was recently in the news for saying that they're only hiring thin, female flight attendants, in a bid to save money on fuel (they didn't mention whether they'd only hire thin female pilots too!). This follows on from last year when Samoa Air became the first airline in the world to charge airfares according to weight (about R10/kilogram). The most surprising discovery was the difference of opinion between those over and those under 60 years old. While 53% of South Africans older than 60 believe it's perfectly acceptable to weigh-in like a boxer before a flight and be charged accordingly, 64% of younger folk say it's unacceptable. So, who is right - the youngsters or the retirees? On an overall basis, 61% of the 2334 South Africans who participated are against having airfares based on weight. Most of those against a weigh-in reasoned that it would be discriminatory, against the Constitution, that some people have medical conditions whereby they cannot control their weight, and that it would be just plain embarassing. "No way should overweight people be charged extra for their tickets. This is immoral." was a typical response. The SouthAfrica.TO survey demonstrates that here is a substantial minority (39%) who are for airfares based on passenger weight, with reasons varying from it making economic sense (since fuel costs depend on weight) to it encouraging people to live healthier lifestyles (there were even a few who were concerned that heavy people would interfere with the aircraft's avionics!). Certainly there's enough of a minority to make up a market for any airline gutsy enough to implement airfares based on weight. But …
CAPE TOWN’S COCKNEY CAB DRIVER SAYS THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE TO BE A CABBIE
When London’s East End-born Peter McLeod says he can’t think of a better city in the world to be a taxi driver, he’s referring to Cape Town, where he is a driver for Rikkis London Cabs. When 64-year-old Brit Peter McLeod immigrated to South Africa nearly 39 years ago seeking new opportunities, little did he know how well his distinctive accent and Cockney background would serve him in his eventual career – as a cab driver for Cape Town’s best known taxi service, Rikkis London Cabs. Born and raised in Poplar, East London, McLeod is a Cockney through and through. A furnaceman by trade, McLeod came to South Africa in his thirties to pursue a new life. He worked in the furnace and television industries before trying his hand at cab driving in Cape Town. Since joining the company in 2006, his chatty, charming manner has made McLeod one of Rikkis’ most popular and memorable drivers. “We have clients who regularly call for Peter and Peter only, and are prepared to wait for him should he be busy,” says General Manager, Ayub Baker. “You don’t build that kind of reputation with customers unless you give exceptional service, which Peter definitely does.” “I just love Cape Town. Alright, the pedestrians who jaywalk can be annoying and some Cape Town drivers are notoriously inconsiderate, but it is such a beautiful city. Personally, I can’t think of a better place to drive a cab,” McLeod says. “The most fascinating part of Cape Town for me is the area from Observatory to Woodstock, where you can be driving past a row of small homes and then come across an old farm house. The architecture is picturesque and I doubt you can find that sort of diversity anywhere else in the world!” His rapport with the locals is also strong. “Capetonians are similar to us East Londoners in that we share a similar sense of humour. Passengers tend to be more serious but people who talk to me on the street are really interesting to interact with.” Rikkis, founded in 1984, has …
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Rebrand100 celebrates birth of the Adventure Province
The repositioning of the Eastern Cape as Adventure Province by Boomtown has been recognised globally as one of the most significant rebrand exercises of a destination by REBRAND 100. Once a year, a fresh panel of international business, marketing and design executives is selected to jury the competition, with the goal of showcasing globally the most effective brand transformations. The Eastern Cape has a lot to offer, to many people, so the challenge was defining a single and unique draw that would stand out above the rest. After hours of: research, focus groups, comparisions, insight generation, uncovering brand perceptions and the development of brand tools, Boomtown crafted a compelling brand that would be a first for the country. Looking at the other eight provinces there was one unique, compelling proposition with great growth potential for the Eastern Cape. Adventure. So the Adventure Province was born. Glen Meier, Boomtown’s Port Elizabeth Managing Director said of their work: “The Province has a better profile and is accessible due to having a strong brand identity. The positioning has worked exceptionally well, and included the development of a range of merchandise that could generated a new revenue stream. “The positioning allowed us to create a truthful and memorable proposition and encourage travelers to take pleasure in their own adventures, while exploring and discovering our exceptional piece of South Africa.” REBRAND 100 is a leading source of case studies and expertise from over 36 countries and range from multi-national firms like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Virgin Atlantic, to nonprofit organisations, regional, and local small businesses. URL: https://www.boomtown.co.za Twitter: Facebook: YouTube: Author: Kimberley Nanson from Sapphire Street. Originally distributed by MyPR.co.za. No of Images Uploaded: One To gain access to One image/s please Like, Tweet or +1 this …
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LONGRIDGE GET THUMBS UP FROM TRIPADVISOR
Longridge wine estate and restaurant recently received a Certificate of Excellence from leading travel website TripAdvisor. This prestigious award is granted to only 10% of the top-performing listed global businesses that have earned consistently high ratings from TripAdvisor travellers. Tripadvisor.com is considered to be the leading social travel network in the world and in 2011 the company claimed that over 100 million travellers have used the site. Now in its third year, the award celebrates hospitality excellence and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor. The Certificate of Excellence was awarded to Longridge restaurant as over 90% of the reviews recommended the restaurant and commended its food, service, value and atmosphere. To qualify, businesses must maintain scores of four or more out of five by reviewers, something that only a select few manage to achieve. According to Jasper Raats from Longridge Wine Estate, they are delighted with this acknowledgement. “It is a great honour for us to receive this award and it shows that all our hard work is paying off when we receive this kind of feedback from our guests. The restaurant prides itself on its classic country cuisine, inspired by the freshest produce available locally and from our kitchen garden. Our consultant Marilou Marais and chef Bruce von Pressentin hand-pick our staff for their warm personalities to make guests feel welcome and then train them extensively to ensure the best service. Combined with our range of award-winning wines and stunning setting, this is proving to be the recipe for success,” mentions Raats. For more information, visit www.longridge.co.za or follow Longridge Wine Estate on Facebook or Twitter. ENDS URL: https://www.longridge.co.za Twitter: Facebook: YouTube: Author: Ronelda Visser from Peridot Communications. Originally distributed by MyPR.co.za. No of Images Uploaded: Two To gain access …
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Rhulani Safari Lodge earns 2013 TRIPADVISOR Certificate of Excellence
Honoured as a Top Performing Safari Lodge as Reviewed by Travellers on the World’s Largest Travel Site Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, 11, June, 2013 – Rhulani Safari Lodge today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 per cent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award. Rhulani Safari Lodge is set along a crest commanding stunning vistas of Madikwe. It offers 5-star luxury accommodation in a malaria free environment. Early morning and late afternoon game drives will give you the opportunity to view a wide variety of wildlife species, including the legendary Big 5 mammals. To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months. Rhulani Safari Lodge is pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said Rolf Steiner, Rhulani owner. “We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor.” “TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago, Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer experience,” said Alison Copus, Vice President of Marketing for TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award provides top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers.” URL: …
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Alan Winde Touts 365-day Brand Position To Fill Cape Town Accommodation Winter Beds
Every year Cape Town self-catering accommodation providers tap into the lucrative peak season. Unfortunately, when winter comes they are not able to maintain the same momentum and many beds are left empty. Alan Winde, MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, said the the Western Cape could counter seasonality only by ensuring that it was a year-round destination. “We can do this by giving visitors a range of reasons to come to our province. For example we are increasing our focus on business tourism. Over the next year it’s estimated that conferences will bring in R74-million to the local economy. Business tourists have a higher spend than leisure tourists. In the run-up to Cape Town hosting the World Design Capital next year, the creative sector is a particularly exciting space. Cape Town needs a 365-day brand position to fill beds during the quieter months." We asked Johan Horak, from CapeHolidays.info a provider of more than 400 self catering rentals in and around Cape Town, what he believes accommodation owners can do to fill more beds and how to tap into the lucrative business tourism market. "Giving visitors a range of reasons to come to our province is only one of the issues. It's like asking a dog to go and catch a bus. The dog don't know what to do with the bus when he brings it home. The same is true for self catering owners. They know there's a bus full of business travellers but they don't always know how to attract them. Most self catering owners focus on the leisure market. This is the seasonal market. I want to explore how self catering owners can adapt to business traveller's needs? What do business travellers want? Are we geared for them? Only then can we tap into this market." Some of the issues that need to be looked at, according to Johan, are: * Most accommodation owners don't use professionally taken photos on websites to sell their accommodation. Web surfers love photos. The more images the better your chances of …
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Tswalu Kalahari Spa wins two World Luxury Spa Awards
Tswalu Spa at Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve in South Africa has received two awards in the 2013 World Luxury Spa Awards: the Continent’s Best Luxury Safari Spa, and the Continent’s Best Luxury Beauty Spa. The announcement was made last week by the organisers who say that the awards recognise “those spas that have raised the bar of service excellence within a highly competitive industry over the past year.” “The announcement of the winners marks the highlight of a year-long search for the very best spas on the global front,” says Marinique de Wet, executive manager of the World Luxury Spa Awards. “The awards aim to raise service standards within the luxury spa industry.” The winners and finalists were selected by means of an annual voting process where thousands of spa guests worldwide were given the opportunity to vote online in order to have the fairest judging process possible. Award-winning spas are announced on a country, continent and global basis and judging criteria are based solely on service excellence. The size of a spa is not taken into consideration during the nomination or voting phases. Tswalu Kalahari Spa was awarded Best Safari Spa by the in the 2011 Les Nouvelles Esthétiques Spa Awards, and Spa Manager Corli Schoeman was named runner up in the “Spa Management Excellence Award.” The spa is a combination of sensual spaces which combine to create an inspirational venue for what must be one of the most unusual spa experiences in Africa. The outdoor treatment area is within an indigenous spa garden where guests may find the occasional antelope grazing alongside them and be lulled into a deep state of relaxation by the sound of birdsong. The indoor spa area is a natural extension of the earth, inspired by nature and the splendour of the Kalahari, with natural finishes and fabrics and simple spaces which together create a sense of tranquillity and barefoot elegance. Guests may also choose to have their treatments at an …
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ENJOY A SPECTACULAR EASTER FEAST AT LONGRIDGE
Longridge Wine Estate and Restaurant will offer visitors a special Easter feast in the heart of the Cape winelands this week. In addition to a special Easter Saturday high tea, the restaurant will also be serving an authentic traditional Jewish menu until Easter Monday. The traditional Easter meal will be served daily for lunch and dinner and is an ideal feast for families. Guests are welcomed with a glass of Longridge Brut on arrival with cured salmon on rosti and chilled tomato gazpacho with gruyere toasties. A starter fest of assorted tapas includes marinated olives, roasted peppers, hummus bi tagine, roasted aubergine puree with garlic and parsley, baked pita breads, spicy chicken wings and pan-fried duck livers with red wine and cream. A refreshing rose geranium sorbet is served to clear the palate before the main course platter is served. The platter feature a delectably slow-cooked, oven-roasted shoulder of lamb flavoured with rosemary and garlic, served with chunky potato wedges, grilled vegetables, garden salad with Albanian feta and roasted pine nuts, grilled baby beets and home-made full cream yoghurt. The dessert platter includes halva, baklava and cinnamon balls. Longridge Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc will be served during the meal with coffee afterwards. This fabulous Easter feast costs R450 per person. Bookings are essential. Don’t miss the exquisite Longridge High Tea, which will be served on Saturday, 30 March 2013, from 12h00. The popular high tea is a true celebration of the skills of the pâtissier. Guests will be able to enjoy beautifully crafted cakes and pastries including baked cheesecake, mini red velvet cupcakes, lemon and orange madeleines and hazelnut biscotti. An assortment of gourmet finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones served with homemade shiraz grape jam, vanilla cream and mature gouda as well as smoked salmon served with crème fraiche and rocket on white sour dough blinis will further tantalise the taste buds. A …
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Download The First Car Rental City Guide App And Explore South Africa This Easter
For South Africans hitting the road this Easter, First Car Rental in association with Tourism Radio offers travellers the perfect companion to assist them during their stay in South Africa’s top cities. The Easter long weekend is a great time to pack up and explore South Africa's diverse and dynamic cities. The First Car Rental City Guide app ensures that travellers don't miss out on any exciting points of interest. Travellers can visit the iStore or Google Play to download the free app, or see the First Car Rental desk ‘wobblers’ at any of their branches. There is also a QR code applicable for smart phones, that travellers can use to discover the ultimate travel guide app from First Car Rental. Packed full of quality locally researched travel information; the First Car Rental City Guide detects locations and plays points of interest to travellers so that they don’t miss out on anything. With more than 350 points of interest, the First Car Rental City Guide covers most of the major cities in South Africa. Scenic highlights, landmarks, historic points, cultural places of significance, attractions, activities, accommodation and cuisine are all in the one complete travel App. The First Car Rental City Guide features include: • Hours of quality audio for hundreds of points of interest • Local landmarks, scenic wonders, hidden gems and attractions are highlighted as the traveller approaches. • Information about the history of each area, the geography, culture and more. • Local knowledge on the best things to see and do, the best places to stay and the best cafes, restaurants and wineries. • Detailed point of interest information includes text and audio descriptions, multiple images and contact details. • Built in search, a category filter and detailed maps of South Africa to make it easy to find points of interest. URL: https://www.firstcarrental.co.za/-download-the-first-car-rental-city-guides-app.aspx Twitter: …
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LONGRIDGE CELEBRATES THE HARVEST
Longridge Wine Estate celebrated all things grape during a harvest celebration in traditional style. Hosted in conjunction with Ligia De Coito of The Wine Desk, the fun-filled day was attended by an eclectic group of wine lovers from across the globe. The day kicked off in perfect weather conditions as guests made their way into the vineyards in picking bins pulled by a tractor. As the sun peeked over the Helderberg mountain, the eager pickers descended on the Shiraz block to hand-pick their grapes. An accordion player added to the festive atmosphere as visitors were overawed by the panoramic views sweeping across the lush vineyards towards False Bay and Table Mountain. As the heat started to rise, it was time to retired to the cellar for a cellar tour hosted cellar master Jasper Raats. In the cool barrel hall, Raats explained the Longridge philosophy to winemaking and the farm’s ongoing conversion to organic and bio-dynamic winemaking practises. Fortified by freshly poured must and fabulous traditional caramelised onion and gruyere tarts created by chef Bruce von Pressentin from Longridge Restaurant with its trademark country cuisine, it was time for everyone to get their hands – and feet – dirty by stomping their own grapes. According to Jasper Raats, the harvest celebration is a perfect opportunity to gain insight into the life and heartbeat of a working wine farm. “Although we are exposed to the harvesting process on a daily basis during the season, it is a great way of exposing consumers to the complexity and intricacies behind winemaking. Everybody has loads of fun, but I also think that they leave with a newfound respect for the process and the people who make it happen. It is amazing to see the transformation from grape to wine in such a hands-on manner,” explains Raats. Guests then retired to a long table set underneath the verandah to enjoy a traditional harvest lunch featuring the farm’s elegantly crafted wines as well as freshly baked …