“
ONE thing that makes
me luckier than other
people in the travel
trade is that I actually got
to travel extensively before
I had to pay for it myself,”
says Darryl Erasmus, chief
quality assurance officer of
The Tourism Grading Council
of South Africa (TGCSA).
“I had quite a disruptive
childhood – my parents
travelled a lot and I ended
up going to school in the UK
and South Africa.”
By the time Darryl had
completed high school
he had attended seven
different schools. “But,
I’m so grateful for the
experience because it
allowed me to see the world
through different eyes – I
got to see how everyone
else operates.”
Darryl says growing up in
circumstances that forced
him to constantly adapt
honed his ability to cope in
the travel industry. “Changeagent
should be my middle
name. You only grow outside
your comfort zone and the
more you try new things
the more your comfort zone
shifts.
“The industry has its
moments of magic and its
moments of madness.”
Darryl says the industry has
taught him one of his most
important life lessons.
“While working at Protea
I had a manager who
taught me that the best
way to handle a customer
complaint was to own it.”
He says focus should be
applied to finding solutions
and not on the problem.
“I think this is a principle
you can apply to life.
“There’s opportunity in
chaos.”
Darryl studied marketing
and business management.
His first job was at Standard
Bank, followed by a move
to Protea Hotels, then
an independent hotel
management company that
managed properties owned
by HPF.
He then worked at
Travelport where he
headed up marketing and
communications across
Africa.
He says the position gave
him exposure to the TMC
environment and helped
him understand the GDS.
“Now I am at a destination
management organisation
– so I have a very holistic
view of the sector.”
Policeman to partner
Darryl says much of the
TGCSA’s work has been in
shifting its reputation from
“policeman” to a partner of
companies operating within
the sector. “In order to
add value we have to give
graded establishments the
opportunity to improve and
not just give them an audit
report.” The TGCSA has
a basket of benefits that
gives graded properties
access to facilities
including procurement
services of linen, custom
furniture and legal services
at discounted rates.
The organisation also
worked with Treasury on
the accommodation rates
stipulated in the costcontainment
measure
notes for government
accounts. The TGCSA
helped specify appropriate
rates for establishments
like self-catering properties
and country cottages
(often used by government
officials) that were not
initially included in
Treasury’s first note on
accommodation rates.
The TGCSA has a
database of graded
establishments – updated
every month – comprising
11 categories, including
lodges, hotels, guest
houses, country houses,
convention centres and
meeting or events facilities.
“Any travel agency is
welcome to have access
to the TGCSA’s database
through their system,” says
Darryl.
Currently, the TGCSA’s
work focuses on grading
the hospitality sector and
meetings and event centre
space. But Darryl says
within the next three years
he hopes to fulfil the full
mandate of the TGCSA
Tourism Act, which includes
grading and ensuring the
quality of all SA tourism
touch points. These include
tourism attractions and
experiences, car-rental
companies, airlines, tour
operators and restaurants.
“Essentially we want
to ensure that all the
facilities, services and
amenities offered at a
place like Constitution Hill
are of an international
standard so that we can
comfortably market it in
South Africa.”
Getting to know Darryl
“I have a deep love
of cars – it’s my one
vice,” he says. Darryl
has more than one
Mercedes.
He describes himself
as dedicated, focused
and inclusive. “I think
everyone should be
treated the same way
and that the team
should get recognition
for a victory.”
Darryl, a middle child,
always dreamed
of studying hotel
management when at
school, but for some
reason – one he can’t
explain – he ended
up applying to the
SAA cadet programme
to become a pilot.
He wasn’t accepted.
“Maybe one day when
I have money I will buy
a plane and learn how
to fly.”
He says he doesn’t
read much and is more
of a visual person. “I’d
rather page through a
magazine and look at
the pictures.”
