Current trends and investment opportunities for hotels and tourism

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Hotel Investment Conference Africa (HICA) 2014 began today in Cape Town under the theme of what most tourists would want when they book a hotel – “A room with a view.” In recent times the Wester

Hotel Investment Conference Africa (HICA) 2014 began today in Cape Town under the theme of what most tourists would want when they book a hotel – “A room with a view.” In recent times the Western Cape has seen an increase in tourist numbers which also positively impacts on hotel occupancy rates.

Jointly compiled by Wesgro, the official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, the City Of Cape Town and PwC, “A room with a view” is set to be a valuable source of information to potential investors in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry of the Western Cape. The publication highlights key deciding factors such as; current foreign direct investment figures, tourism stats like bed nights stays and arrivals, recent hotel transactions, total foreign direct spend and occupancy and governance in the hotel industry.

Wesgro CEO, Nils Flaatten believes that the HICA conference is the perfect platform to launch the publication: “We understand that investment in the hotel industry is fundamental to the growth of our economy and the HICA conference gives us the perfect platform to engage international hoteliers, investors, developers and senior public sector leadership to promote Investment opportunities in our province.

“The Western Cape held a total of 13.5 million bed nights between January and September 2013, growing by a steady 14.7% when compared to the same period in 2012. This kind of increase in tourist numbers coupled with a strong share in bed nights spent in the province, clearly has a direct bearing on our hotel occupancy rates,” says Flaatten.

Of late, Cape Town has received a number of accolades which include; being named the number one place to visit in 2014 by the New York Times, identified as the number one holiday hotspot by Guardian.com, and being billed as one of the world’s top ten most loved cities according to CNNgo, just to name a few.

According to the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille: “This recognition by international and local organisations reflects the confidence in Cape Town as a destination of choice for visitors. The tourism and hospitality sector therefore remains a vitally important contributor to economic growth, development and inclusion in Cape Town. The City of Cape Town has been providing strategic interventions which include the provision of infrastructure, like the expansion of the Cape Town International Convention Centre; continued engagements with the Transnet National Ports Authority regarding harbour developments which will include berthing facilities for cruise liners as well as working with private sector partners who are strategic to this industry. All of which adds to making investment in our city that much more attractive to potential investors,” she says.

According to Danie Folsher, Partner in Charge, PwC Western Cape the publication will go a long way in promoting business and investment in an industry which serves as a direct and sustainable source of employment and extended activity to the province. “Our research puts the directly measurable foreign tourist spend in the Western Cape at more than R18 billion per annum – which highlights the investment potential in our province. I am confident that this publication will add to the prosperity of not only the travel and leisure industry in the Western Cape, but of the entire economy,” he says.

Mmatsatsi Ramawela, Conference Chairman and CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) says that this year’s conference was a huge success, attracting high profile speakers and delegates from various sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry. “I am delighted that our conference was identified as the platform to launch this publication. “A room with a view” is informative and speaks to the level of information which investors are after. Well done to Wesgro, the City of Cape Town and PwC for putting together this comprehensive basket of information,” adds Ramawela.

“A room with a view” also features a number of informative Q&A’s with leaders of industry such as; Joop Demes – CEO Pam Golding Hospitality and Kamil Abdul Karrim – Managing Director, Pam Golding Tourism & Hospitality Consulting, Enver Duminy – CEO Cape Town Tourism, Alayne Reesberg – CEO Cape Town Design, Michael Tollman – CEO Cullinan Holdings, John van Rooyen – Operations Director Tsogo Sun Cape Region and David Green – CEO V&A Waterfront,

PHOTO (L-R): Wesgro COO Howard Gabriels addressed delegates at the launch of a “Room with a view” with him in the image is Mr Joop Demes, CEO Pam Golding Hospitality.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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