industry news November 2011

From the CEO: Cape Town inspires wonder

Cape Town Tourism recently concluded four fruitful and insightful days at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, one of the leading global events for the travel industry. A highlight of the conference was a session on the latest WTM Global Trends Report, where several key emerging international travel trends were discussed. The global overview was of “recovery on the brink” with many analysts anticipating a double dip recession, specifically in Europe. Online marketing was also discussed and is considered the most significant growth area in the long term, across all markets. Read the latest From the CEO article on our website.

On the heels of the conference was the announcement of Table Mountain as one of the New7Wonders of Nature. We are very excited about this win especially after Cape Town was recently awarded the World Design Capital 2014 title. There are many benefits to winning the New7Wonders of Nature, but our biggest opportunity is job creation.

Cape Town Tourism will be attending the COP 17 climate change conference with the aim of profiling Cape Town as a sustainable destination and exchanging ideas with delegates from other cities. We fully support the objectives of the conference and will continue to play a role in promoting responsible tourism.

Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold

CEO: Cape Town Tourism

2012 Trade plan

Cape Town Tourism will partner with international airlines, trade, media and the local travel industry in selling Cape Town as a destination. We will empower them with destination knowledge and practical selling tools including:

• An incentive programme to bring top-performing trade from each key source market on an educational trip to Cape Town in the off-peak or shoulder seasons.

• Implementation of a dedicated Customer Relationship Management process.

• The provision of content for print, online and visual media on new experiences  for trade, and airline newsletters and in-flight magazines.

• Sample itineraries with costings ranging from budget to luxury, and advice on how to book products.

A brand box to give life to Cape Town Tourism’s ‘You don’t need a holiday, you need Cape Town' campaign.

Cape Town is Climate Smart ahead of COP17

Environmentally friendly bikes are one way of getting around Cape Town

South Africa is hosting the COP17/CMP7 United Nations Climate Change Conference from November 28 to December 9, 2011 and Cape Town Tourism will be joining the City of Cape Town at their destination Cape Town stand.

Cape Town has a solid reputation when it comes to responsible tourism and ethical environmental practices. In 2009, Cape Town was awarded Best Destination at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards and, last year, Ethical Traveler (a non-profit organisation) listed Cape Town as one of the Top 10 Ethical Destinations in the World 2010.

Earlier this year, the City of Cape Town launched Climate Smart Cape Town, a campaign aimed at educating people about climate change and what they can do to mitigate the effects. The campaign's objectives include reducing the city's carbon footprint, using energy resources more efficiently and protecting citizens from the effects of climate change.

To get updates from the conference, follow Cape Town Tourism on Twitter or visit our dedicated COP17 page.

Cape Town Tourism, along with its members, has put together a number of special offers for COP17 delegates visiting Cape Town.

Upcoming events

Freedom to Create Exhibition
November 17 to December 17
Iziko Slave Lodge, Cnr Adderley and Wale Streets, Cape Town
+27 (0)21 460 8242
www.iziko.org.za

Cape Town Festival of Beer 2011
November 25 to 27
Hamilton’s Rugby Club, Green Point
+27 (0)21 481 1822
www.webtickets.co.za

Volvo Ocean Race
November 25 to December 11
V&A Waterfront,
Cape Town
info@volvooceanrace.com
www.volvooceanrace.com

Kirstenbosch Carols by Candlelight
December 15 to 18
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
+27 (0)21 531 9807
www.sanbi.org

Member noticeboard

• The Visitor and Member Management System (VMMS) is now live. Members are reminded to update their establishment’s details in the VMMS.

• Collect your copy of the City of Cape Town’s Integrated Development Plan from your nearest Visitor Information Centre. While there, please ensure that there are enough of your business brochures in our Visitor Information Centres.

• We are reinstating the new member orientation sessions, giving new members the opportunity to introduce their businesses to Cape Town Tourism staff and other interested members. The first session will be taking place on November 28 from 11h30 to 13h00. Please contact Coleen van Staden, Industry Services supervisor, on coleen@capetown.travel or +27 (0)21 487 6800 if you are interested in either presenting your business or attending.

• The Tourism Child Protection Code of Conduct celebrates its first birthday in South Africa. If you are interested in signing this charter to increase the protection of children from sexual exploitation in tourism, e-mail info@fairtourismsa.org.za.

• The National Department of Tourism, in conjunction with the Hospitality Youth Initiative (HYI), a non-profit organisation, is providing entry level hospitality training aimed at the disadvantaged youth passionate about working in the hospitality industry. Applications can be emailed to kwamasitara@telkomsa.net with the subject “Become a student” or faxed to 086 543 1649.

Summer season survey 

Cape Town Tourism will be conducting our annual summer season surveys as a barometer for the tourism industry, and we would like you to participate.

We will be conducting three online surveys with the objective to report on a historic two-month period, forecasting occupancy and measuring our members’ confidence about the summer months ahead.

The surveys will incorporate global trends observed at World Travel Market 2011 and take into account the leaps and bounds that Cape Town made as a city in the past two weeks. The first survey invitation will be sent to members on 2 December 2011.

A summary of the key findings of each survey will be sent to participating members and an overview report will be available towards April 2012.

Please send all feedback and suggestions via email marisah@capetown.travel throughout the survey process.

Membership showcase

Several Cape Town Tourism members have clocked up a number of achievements in the past few months.

Southern Africa’s responsible tourism awards, the Imvelo Awards, were announced on November 9, 2011. Cape Town-based companies were well represented, comprising 12 of the 38 finalists and winning six of 14 awards (three Cape Town finalists were also part of a seventh award given to their hotel group and one finalist was highly commended).

Special recognition goes to Table Mountain Aerial Cableway for being the overall winner of the 2011 Imvelo Awards, as well as the Backpack & Africa Travel Centre for winning awards in two categories. Table Mountain Cableway Environmental Control Officer Marié Abraham was on hand to receive the award on behalf of the cableway (pictured). Read the full list here...

Congratulations to Brendon van Stavel of BVS Transport Consultants for being nominated for outstanding HSSE performance by Shell SA. BVS Transport is the preferred chauffeur service for Shell SA in the Cape Town office.

Exclusive membership offer: 

rmservicegroup is a company dedicated to revenue management and pricing to give hotels, lodges and guesthouses, irrespective of size, the opportunity to benefit from revenue management without having to employ anyone, purchase any system or analyse any data.

rmservicegroup is offering Cape Town Tourism members exclusive revenue management services for as little as R58/room/month. Contact Corne de Waal on 082 771 2990, email cdewaal@rmservicegroup.com or visit the website  www.rmservicegroup.com.