Bookings up, trade positive
SALES are looking good
so far for December.
Marc de Jager,
business development
executive at Travel
Counsellors, says bookings
for December are up 16%
from 2018. He adds,
however, that there still
seems to be inventory
available judging by the
number of specials from
tour operators still coming
through for December.
“Early December has sold
nicely this year and we still
have dates available from
around December 18
for travel to Mauritius and
Zanzibar,” agrees Sue
Garrett, gm of marketing and
product at the Flight Centre
Travel Group (FCTG).
“We’re definitely seeing a
spike in enquiries for lastminute December travel
within the leisure space.
From an air perspective,
we’ve noted the same trend
as last year, with the first
half of December filling up
first and fast. Our air sales
are up on the previous year
as well.”
More people are travelling
this year compared with
last year when some clients
cancelled their December
bookings and moved them to
June and July this year, says
Corbin Parker, manager of
STA Travel Rosebank.
“Bookings do fluctuate
over December, although
bookings to Southeast Asia
are looking good at the
moment. While airline pricing
has gone up, inventory is
still available at properties.
We expect to see a spike
in bookings for travel after
December 14/15 when
businesses lock up.”
Premier Hotels & Resorts
is receiving encouraging
enquiries regarding yearend functions and those
important final meetings
and conferences, says
group sales, marketing
and revenue director, Mark
Jakins.
“As always at this time,
booking activity is increasing,
as people have started
to arrange their year-end
holidays.”
Peermont sales manager,
Yugashnee Naicker, says
historically December tends
to take a dip and booking
trends decrease for the
market segments.
“Compared with last year,
however, we’ve enjoyed a
slight increase in bookings
that can largely be attributed
to the launch of our trendy
rooftop venue, Olympus Sky
Bar, above the Peermont
Metcourt hotel at Emperors
Palace.”
Andrew Widegger, ceo of
the City Lodge Hotel Group,
finds bookings for December
are picking up now, despite
a slow start.
Positive outlook
“Things are looking fairly
positive for Durban/
Umhlanga, Cape Town
and Port Elizabeth, even if
volumes are slightly below
the same time last year.
We expect this to catch up
once our great-value summer
campaign gains traction. We
also expect to benefit from
the England cricket tour to
South Africa.”
In typical South African
fashion, however, people
still wait for the last minute
to book car rental for
their holidays, says Leslie
Matthews, sales director of
Thrifty Car Rental.
“We normally see an
increase in our bookings
from early to mid-December.
In my opinion, this has
been the case for the last
20 years in the car-rental
industry; the December rush
will always lead to a demand
for vehicles that exceeds
supply.”
When comparing 2018 and
2019, Leslie has also seen
a positive growth in revenue.
Deal detective
Mauritius
World Leisure Holidays
has extended the Sun
Resorts December special
offer booking deadlines to
November 30 (originally
October 15). Book at Long
Beach in a junior suite on
a half-board basis for travel
between December 6 and
28 and qualify for a 45%
discount. Seven nights ex-JNB
from R30 950pps. Package
includes return flights; coach
transfers; breakfast and
dinner daily (half-board); all
land and non-motorised water
sports; daily entertainment;
and approximate taxes, levies
and surcharges. Kids under
12 stay and play free when
sharing with adults.
Caribbean
Norwegian Cruise Line
is promoting a sevenday ‘Eastern Caribbean
from Miami’ itinerary on
Norwegian Encore. The
sailing date is December 15.
Prices are from US$929pps
excluding taxes (R13 594)
for an Oceanview stateroom.
Book your customer’s
cruise in an Oceanview or
higher category stateroom
before November 30 and
the second person in the
stateroom pays 50% of the
cruise fare. Why not use
the offer to get those 2020
bookings in now too? The
discount does not apply
to government taxes, port
expenses and fees, or
on-board service charges
and is for new individual FIT
reservations only.
Summer specials in SA
The City Lodge Hotel
Group (CLHG) is currently
campaigning with its big
summer half-price promotion,
bookable online, which
is expected to stimulate
occupancies for Courtyard
Hotels, City Lodge Hotels and
Town Lodges around SA. Rates
per room per night for up to
two people sharing range from
R604 (Town Lodges), R715
(City Lodge Hotels) and R776
(Courtyard Hotels). This is
valid for stays from December
13, 2019 up to and including
January 19, 2020. Discounts
are on the accommodation
value only; food and beverages
are not included. CLHG is also
offering discounts on rack rates
at its hotels via the Bid2Stay,
Team Scheme and Spouse on
the House promotions.
SA Summer FunStays
Peermont is putting the sizzle
into summer with its Summer
FunStays accommodation
packages, with up to 35%
discount on the best available
rate at any Peermont resort
hotel. This offer is valid for
stays between December 13,
2019 and January 31, 2020.
Southeast Asia
Departing Singapore
on December 17, the
Sapphire Princess’s 11-night
Christmas cruise will be in
position to view the annular
solar eclipse on December
26. The itinerary roundtrips
from Singapore and visits
Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City,
Sihanoukville, Bangkok, Ko
Samui and Kuala Lumpur.
Discover the World is
marketing an inside cabin
for R11 999pps (includes
taxes and transfers on
arrival and departure to/
from the ship) and there
is no single supplement
for inside and Oceanview
cabins. A balcony cabin is
selling for R20 999pps.
On December 28, Sapphire
Princess leaves Singapore
on a 10-night itinerary selling
from R13 999pps (includes
taxes, transfers and no
single supplement) and
R16 499pps (Oceanview).
Boksburg
The Birchwood Hotel has won
multiple awards based on
public opinion and votes so,
as a gesture of thanks, in its
THANKU promotion, the hotel
is offering a 30% discount
on Silverbirch (four-star)
accommodation (including
breakfast) during the festive
season. There is a limit
of ten rooms per person/
booking and it is only
valid from December 15
to January. Applying the
THANKU promotion, rates for
a Silverbirch room can be as
low as R1 315 per room per
night for one guest.
Magaliesburg
African Pride Mount Grace
Country House & Spa,
Autograph Collection is
promoting its ‘Country
Getaway’ deal, with a
focus on year-end family or
couples holidays over the
festive season. It is valid
seven days a week through
to May 22, 2020. Rates
are from R2 600 per room
per night. A limited number
of rooms is available for this
promotion. Tax is additional
and the offer does not apply
to groups of ten or more
rooms. Blackout dates
may apply.
Great deals across SA
With the December holidays
calling and a wide selection of
holiday destinations on offer
in the Faircity and Premier
Hotel & Resort portfolio, it’s
time to book your client’s
summer getaway to snap up
some great deals. By booking
a Premier or Faircity Summer
Holiday, guests save more
than 30% on accommodation
rates, plus kids under 16 stay
and eat free when sharing
with parents in a family room.
Breakfast is included at
selected hotels and resorts.
Joburg and Pretoria
Let your clients soak up
the rays at The Capital
Hotels and Apartments and
make Joburg and Pretoria
the hottest destinations
this season for stays from
December 15 to January 15,
2020. Book at The Capital
Melrose, for example, and
not only will your clients get
35% off the best available
rate, but they will also
get another discount by
qualifying for an additional
voucher that gives them
25% off their next stay at
the hotel in 2020.
The 25% off voucher can
be used for any room type
and is valid for stays
between February 1 and
November 30, 2020.
Cape Town
Lagoon Beach Hotel & Spa
is offering a rate of R1 200
single or R1 410 sharing,
inclusive of breakfast and
a R300 food and beverage
voucher. The rate excludes
the period December 25 to
January 3.
What’s on trend this year
SOUTH Africans are
snapping up one-of-a-kind
itineraries in far-flung
locations for their 2019
year-end travels.
This is according to
Nick Wilkinson, Norwegian
Cruise Line vice president
and md UK, Ireland,
Israel, Middle East &
Africa, who says while the
Mediterranean is still the
most ‘cruised’ international
region for South Africans,
locals are becoming more
adventurous.
“Cruising can take you just
about anywhere these days,
thanks to the growing fleets
of mega-ships with topnotch facilities, and smaller
vessels adapted to river and
expedition cruising.”
He says, according to
2019 data by the Cruise
Lines International
Association (CLIA), the
Caribbean remains the
biggest market based on
ship deployment this year at
34%, compared with 11% in
the Mediterranean.
Flight Centre Travel
Group’s Sue Garrett
confirms that beach
holidays, local packages
and cruises always do well
at this time of year.
“We’ve seen a rise in
bookings to Bali and
Maldives this year. Florida
is doing well, as it’s not only
the home of Disney World,
but also the launching
point for Caribbean
cruises. London and Paris
are popular European
destinations, but we’re also
seeing a lot of interest in
Turkey.”
Corbin Parker of STA
Travel Rosebank agrees that
Europe is a big seller this
year. “A lot of our clients
have been to Southeast
Asia and are looking for
alternative destinations. If
it’s not Europe, it’s South
America to destinations
such as Buenos Aires, Rio
de Janeiro and Argentina.”
World Leisure Holidays
marketing assistant,
Marlin Magadani, says
the Mauritius portfolio has
shown significant growth.
“It remains a local
favourite because it is
easily accessible and South
Africans love the special
deals and discounts offered
by resorts and preferred
airlines.”
This year for December,
Travel Counsellors has
recorded increases of
32% to Mauritius, 35%
to the USA and 40% to
UK/Europe, confirms
Marc de Jager.
City Lodge Hotel Group’s
Andrew Widegger says
Sandton and Waterfall City
are favourites for shoppers
from the rest of the
continent as are areas such
as Polokwane, Rustenburg
and Mbombela for domestic
tourists looking for value-formoney local holidays.
The new City Lodge Hotel
Maputo in Mozambique
is nearing completion, he
says.
“The hotel should be open
in time for the December
2019/January 2020
holidays and we expect
it to be popular, given its
diverse offerings and easy
accessibility by both road
and air.”
Photocap: New hotel for Bloem
The first phase of the newly built Premier Splendid
Inn Bloemfontein is set to open mid-November, with
48 rooms, the restaurant, lobby/lounge and terrace
available. The remaining rooms and conference centre
are expected to open fully in January 2020. Formerly
the old Stanville Inn, the property has undergone major
renovations to include an extension of a new hotel
wing, five floors and a modern conference facility. Once
completed, the hotel will provide 88 rooms offering
premium three-star accommodation. The conference
centre, overlooking the iconic Naval Hill and sports
stadium, is situated on the rooftop (accommodates
up to 150 guests). Opening special rates on a bed and
breakfast basis until end-January 2020 are R605pps
(R1 045 single).
Prepare clients for the silly season
DECEMBER is a busy period almost
everywhere around the world so it is
always wise to book a trip in advance
to take advantage of early booking
discounts and any other special offers,
suggests World Leisure Holidays’
Marlin Magadani.
“Clients may also score on lastminute December deals, however
there is the risk of availability issues
and airlines being fully booked, which
results in clients having to be flexible
with travel dates.”
Corbin Parker of STA Travel Rosebank
says a lot of people at pre-departure
stage realise that they have the wrong
names and e-mails for tickets, which
causes problems. “Make sure all travelrelated documents are up to date and
correct.”
Sue Garrett of Flight Centre Travel
Group suggests consultants advise
clients to leave earlier than normal,
especially when it comes to airports.
“Check in online and book essential
excursions ahead of time so they are
not fully booked by the time your client
gets there.”
Leslie Matthews of Thrifty Car Rental
recommends evaluating all mobility
options. “Sometimes what you believe
is a saving works out more expensive.
Mobility solution companies such as
Uber and Taxify also work on a demandand-supply model and their rates
increase during December.”
He says after working hard the entire
year, people are in a rush to start their
holidays. “Caution clients to rest and
drive carefully. About 5% of all car
rentals are involved in some sort of
accident.
Did you know?
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore is the newest addition to a fleet of 16. The ship
holds nearly 4 000 passengers and is scheduled to launch this month. Norwegian Encore
offers a range of on-board amusements including a race track that measures 350m and
spans two decks. After the inaugural Caribbean season, the ship repositions to New York
City from where it is offering seven-night cruises to Bermuda.
City Lodge to open second Waterfall City property
THE ‘new concept’ Courtyard
Hotel Waterfall City north of
Johannesburg is due to be
completed in November 2020,
confirms CLHG’s Andrew Widegger.
The hotel will feature ten levels
and include a rooftop bar/function
area as well as a 100-seater
conference facility. It will have
160 rooms as well as eight
suites, meeting rooms, swimming
pool and gym.
CLHG already has the 149-room
City Lodge Hotel Waterfall City in
this mixed-use residential, office
and commercial area located in
the rapidly growing node between
Johannesburg and Midrand.
“Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City will
be the sixth Courtyard Hotel within
the group, complementing one
each in Pretoria and Port Elizabeth
and three in Johannesburg. The
Courtyard Hotel brand is undergoing
a repositioning that includes the
introduction of an à la carte meal
service for lunch and dinner.”
Once this property and the City
Lodge Hotel Maputo are operational,
the group will have 63 hotels in six
countries in East and Southern Africa
offering 8 070 rooms, he says.
