Why business
is booming
A VIRTUOUS circle has
been created in the
Eastern Cape, with
demand from business
travellers resulting in improved
hospitality offerings and better
facilities attracting more
travellers.
The East London
International Convention
Centre is a case in point.
The relatively new facility,
which is managed by Premier
Hotels & Resorts, has
hosted a number of diverse
events, from government
conferences to sporting
events and multinational blue
chip company conventions.
Terrence Goosen, group
marketing manager of
Premier Hotels & Resorts,
says the Eastern Cape has
benefited significantly from
hosting one of the country’s
four international convention
centres, with the local
economy receiving a boost as
more groups and associations
choose to conference in the
region.
Terrence adds that this
popularity is set to grow as
the province undertakes
initiatives to improve its
image. For instance, the East
London ICC team are engaging
with stakeholders in various
areas, encouraging them to
participate in a project to clean
up the beachfront.
The improvement of roads
in the region has also
contributed to the boost in
visitor numbers, with the
N2 – the major highway into
East London – receiving an
upgrade. Mandlakazi Skefile,
Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism
ceo, says that this has had
an important influence on the
region as the route connects
the two major economic hubs
in the area, Port Elizabeth
and East London. Further
improvements have been
made to the main road into
Gonubie and the R72, the
major coastal road connecting
East London and Port
Elizabeth. Mandlakazi says: “In
2014, the SA National Roads
Agency Limited confirmed
that it has completed the
conceptual designs for the
multibillion-rand expansion
of the R72. The project
includes resurfacing the road
and the addition of lanes
where necessary, and has an
estimated cost of R5,3bn.”
The region is also home
to leisure attractions, such
as Mpongo Private Game
Reserve, which is convenient
for business travellers wanting
to extend their trips.
Port Elizabeth has also grown
exponentially over the last
few years as a business hub.
The city is well equipped for
corporate travel, with a range
of hotels – from two to five-star
properties – catering for every
budget, says Peter Schoeman,
divisional director, sales and
marketing of the City Lodge
Hotel Group.
It, too, has attracted
attention from corporate
travellers wishing to combine
business and leisure.
Mandlakazi attributes the city’s
popularity to its proximity to
major attractions and business
facilities. “Corporate travellers
can be in a boardroom with
a beach view in the morning,
and then visit a game farm
within 30 minutes’ drive from
the city centre.” A further plus
is the fact that the city is
equidistant to all major South
African centres.
More airlift please!
THE local aviation industry
has paid close attention
to the rise in demand for
travel to the Eastern Cape,
with an increasing number
of daily flights connecting
the region with Durban,
OR Tambo and Cape Town
international airports,
says Mandlakazi Skefile
of Nelson Mandela Bay
Tourism.
The Garden Route has
become one of Mango
Airlines’ top performing
routes, with capacity
between Johannesburg and
Port Elizabeth growing by
up to 200% in 2013/14.
Spokesperson Hein Kaiser
says that, during the first
calendar quarter of 2015,
Mango enjoyed a load factor
in the upper 80% range
between Johannesburg and
Port Elizabeth, while the
Johannesburg-George route
– which is heavily affected
by seasonality – also
registered an average of
above 80% for the period.
Hein adds that Mango’s
market share between
Johannesburg and Port
Elizabeth has grown from
just over 6% to 19,5%
over the last 12 months.
The airline’s market share
between Cape Town and
Port Elizabeth grew by
more than 20% from 2% to
22,8% for the same period.
Johannesburg-George saw
growth of just more than
3%, from 6,4% to 9,5%.
Shaun Pozyn, head
of marketing for kulula.
com and Comair, says the
airline has also observed
an increase in demand for
flights to the Eastern Cape
– and the airline expects
this to keep growing.
“The Garden Route and
surrounding areas are
very popular with both local
and international travellers,”
he says.
Driven by demand
for flights, kulula.com
recently added a double
daily service operating
Sunday to Friday between
Johannesburg and East
London. “We have also
been able to increase
overall capacity by deploying
larger aircraft.”
Giving back
Premier Hotel & Resort’s
Mpongo Private Game
Reserve recently opened
an education centre
which assists local
schools in educating
learners on a range
of subjects, from local
plant life to animal care.
Curricula include both
practical and theoretical
components.
