5 Top HotelasBoost in economy bodes well for business travel
WITH things looking up
for the Botswanan
economy, the
destination is well placed to
grow in popularity among both
business and leisure travellers.
In fact, the country’s GDP is
expected to grow at a faster
pace this year compared with
2017. When Finance Minister,
Kenneth Matambo, delivered
his 2018 budget to parliament
recently, he said GDP growth
was projected at 5,3% in
2018 – up from the 4,7%
growth experienced in 2017.
Thompsons Holidays has
already seen an increase
in requests coming through
for leisure travel to the
destination, says Candice
Perry, marketing, media
relations and social media
co-ordinator. “The average
length of stay of these
travellers varies between three
and five nights,” she says.
Not surprisingly, the outlook
for business travel from South
Africa to Botswana is also
positive. “According to the
Economic Impact of Travel and
Tourism, which was released
in March last year, business
travel was expected to grow by
6,3% over the course of the
year,” says Allan Clingham,
chief operations officer for the
Masa Square Hotel.
He says, based on the
number of South African
entities that are up and
coming within the country,
there is likely to be an
increase in business between
South Africa and Botswana.
Angus McMillan,
communications manager
for the City Lodge Group,
agrees, pointing out that the
South African and Botswanan
economies are closely linked.
“As business confidence in
South Africa increases and
companies spend more on
travel, this should result
in more business travel
to Botswana too. We are
certainly hoping 2018 will be
busier than 2017.”
Most business travellers
head to Gaborone as it’s
Botswana’s economic hub,
comments Derick van der
Nest, gm of the Grand
Palm Hotel and Convention
Resort. “Many travellers base
themselves at the capital and
conduct day trips to other
cities such as Francistown.”
The average stay for
business travellers is between
two and three days, says
Allan. “The three- and four-star
hotels generally attract the
business market. However,
the guest houses and bed
and breakfast facilities
mushrooming across the
city are also becoming a
popular option.”
Agreat regional Mice alternative
THOUGH Botswana has stiff
competition for the SA MICE
market from the likes of
Victoria Falls and Mauritius,
the country has plans to
promote its conferencing and
incentive proposition.
Masa Square Hotel’s Allan
Clingham says the Botswana
Tourism Organisation aims to
diversify from its wildlife and
tourism strategy, extending
into MICE to attract more highspending
individuals.
Easy access to Gaborone
from Johannesburg, Cape Town
and Durban makes it a very
good alternative for the MICE
segment, says Peermont’s
Derick van der Nest.
At the moment, the number
of MICE facilities in Botswana
is limited, says Allan,
with Gaborone the typical
starting point as it has the
infrastructure in place.
Derick says the state-of-theart
Gaborone International
Convention Centre can
accommodate up to 1 800
delegates and its facilities are
well suited to international
meetings. “There are a few
other well-equipped venues
such as the Grand Palm Hotel
Casino and Convention Resort
as well as our sister resort,
Chobe Marina Lodge,” adds
Allan. The property is on the
banks of the Chobe River and
offers daily game activities in
the Chobe National Park.
The Chobe region in general
is a must for corporates
looking to blend some
leisure experiences with their
conference, agrees Cansaf’s
Robin Brown. He says not
only are there excellent hotels
with conference facilities, but
the region also caters for
large numbers on morning
and afternoon safari cruises
and game drives. He says
Botswana works best for
medium-sized conferences
and is also a good option
for high-end incentives,
particularly when inclusive of
the Okavango or Chobe.
He recommends combining it
with Victoria Falls, particularly
if the company is looking to
host a seven-day event on the
ground, in two destinations
that link well together.
5 top hotels bussines travel
Business travellers headed
to Gaborone aren’t short
of accommodation options.
The city has everything from
large resorts to mid-market
hotels on offer.
Robin Brown, md of
Cansaf Creative Teaming
– a specialist DMC for
Zimbabwe, Botswana and
Zambia – recommends
a number of different
properties.
He says of particular
note is the fact that the
Minor Group has recently
refurbished the AVANI
Gaborone. “The money
has been well spent to
provide visitors with a luxury
accommodation option,
conveniently close to the
centre of the city.”
Robin says the property,
which was originally run by
Sun International, is well
designed. “Now with this
new upgrade, it’s an option
that is difficult to beat.”
Another very good hotel
in the CBD, says Robin, is
the Masa Square Hotel,
run by aha Hotels and
Lodges. “This is a high-rise
property with stunning views
over the surrounding area.
What’s more it is close to
the Gaborone International
Convention Centre (GICC)
and is within walking
distance of restaurants and
cinemas.”
The Grand Palm, which
is run by the Peermont
Group, is a large resort on
the same property as the
GICC. Visitors to the resort
can stay at the 188-key
Peermont Walmont Hotel,
with a full range of services,
says Peermont’s Derick van
der Nest. “Alternatively, the
146-key Peermont Metcourt
Inn offers business
travellers affordable comfort
combined with excellent
meeting facilities and
communication technology.”
City Lodge’s Angus
McMillan points out that
the Town Lodge Gaborone
is another ideal choice
because of its proximity to
both the CBD and airport.
“It is also conveniently
situated at the Junction
Complex, which provides
shopping, dining and other
related services.”
For business travellers
looking for a middle-market
option for conferences
across the large and
medium-sized towns
around the country, Robin
recommends Cresta Hotels.
This includes areas like
Gaborone and Kasane.
Bleisure time in a soughtafter safari destination
IF YOUR clients are travelling to
Botswana for business, you should
suggest the addition of a leisure
component. After all, it’s not every day
people find themselves in one of the
leading safari destinations in Africa.
Gaborone itself is surrounded by
a number of nature reserves and
game-rich sanctuaries, says the Masa
Square Hotel’s Allan Clingham. These
include the Mokolodi Nature Reserve,
Gaborone Game Reserve, Khutse
Game Reserve, Gaborone Dam and
the Lion Park Resort.
“The golf course at Phakalani is a
good option if visitors are looking for
a short afternoon leisure break,” says
Cansaf’s Robin Brown. “However,
for those looking for something
longer, travellers can fly to Kasane to
access Chobe or to Maun to visit the
Okavango Delta.”
Karin Murray, marketing and sales
manager for Airlink, says the Okavango
Delta is a particularly popular
destination for travellers to include in
their itinerary.
“We’ve seen demand for the
destination on both Airlink’s direct
flights from Cape Town to Maun,
and Johannesburg to Maun.”
The airline also provides direct flights
from Johannesburg to Kasane, which
Karin says is a unique experience
because of the exclusive African river
safari on offer.
“Our daily flight schedule to Maun
and Kasane is timed to connect with
international, domestic, and regional
arrival and departure times to and
from OR Tambo and Cape Town
International, so that travellers can
maximise their time spent at the
destination, and minimise their time in
transit at airports,” she comments.
Because Airlink has a direct
afternoon flight to Gaborone from
both Maun and Kasane, it’s easy
for travellers to experience these
incredible leisure destinations and
then connect seamlessly to the capital
city to conduct business.
Karin points out that, with Airlink’s
connections, travellers also have the
option of using Kasane to add on
other leisure destinations to their
itinerary, such as Livingstone and
Nelspruit (the Kruger Park), or even
Vilanculos, which is the gateway to the
Bazaruto and Benguerra islands.
8 handy self-drive tips
Self-drive is a good option for
business travellers bound for
Botswana, but they should
familiarise themselves with these
do’s and don’ts.
“The roads are generally in
good condition and it’s relatively
easy to navigate major towns
and cities,” says Lance Smith,
executive director of sales for Avis
South Africa. He advises first-time
travellers to the country to consult
an Avis rental agent. However, for
a more general guideline, Avis has
compiled the following tips.
Driving on gravel roads can cause
damage to tyres, so travellers
should always try and stick to
tarred surfaces.
On tarred roads the limit is
120kph outside built-up areas,
and 60kph in cities, towns and
villages.
The north of the country often
has potholes. Drivers should slow
down to navigate carefully.
Petrol stations are often few and
far between, so travellers should
fill up tanks whenever possible.
Drivers also need to be aware
of roads flanked by tall grass as
animals can suddenly emerge.
Similarly, travellers might want
to avoid travelling on intercity
roads at night as there are often
wild animals out and about. It’s
important not swerve as this may
well cause cars to roll.
Drivers should also be warned
about controlled foot and mouth
roadblocks. This might require
them to exit the vehicle, walk
over special mats and drive their
car through medically treated
water.
Travellers may end up paying
more for car rental in Botswana
as the country has different
levies on vehicle purchases. The
availability of parts is also often
a problem, meaning rental costs
can differ.
Suggest a road trip!
FOR travellers driving to Gaborone from
Johannesburg, agents can suggest
several fun stops along the way.
First on the list, says Gaynor Von
Loggenburg, executive for sales and
marketing at Bidvest Car Rental, would
be Hartbeespoort Dam – where there
are several curio shops and hospitality
areas. “Several towns along the toll
road also have small curio shops to
visit.”
Though Gaborone is close to the
Tlokweng border, if travellers pass
through the Pioneer or Ramatlabana
borders, they will journey through small
villages with houses made of mud and
small shops selling woven baskets and
other ornaments, says Gaynor.
There is also the opportunity to
see wild animals like ostriches,
kudus and warthogs along the road,
she says. “Additional wildlife can be
seen further north, such as elephants
and giraffe.”
