Selected from over 1200 entries, the national winners of the second annual Lilizela awards were revealed at a ceremony on Thursday night at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City, Johannesburg.
Addressing the finalists, Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, said that while some of the people in attendance would be leaving with an award, everyone in the industry was a winner.
Hanekom cited the tourism industry’s contribution to GDP, which is 9% and outweighs the contribution made by traditional core sectors such as gold mining. Moreover, the Minister said, the industry created one in every 11 jobs in the country. “You are all co-creators of our success story.”
One Port Elizabeth based tourism product won a national award in the Marine Adventures category – Lloyd Edwards’ Raggy Charters.
Raggy Charters also won a Provincial award along with two other accommodation providers and Craig Duffield from Mosaic Tours.
It is probably safe to say that if you book with any of PE’s four provincial winners below you will be well taken care of.
Port Elizabeth’s Top four:
- Raggy Charters: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury and National winner in the Marine Adventures category.
- Town Lodge Port Elizabeth: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel – Accommodation
- Cape Flame Guest House: Provincial Winner, Eastern Cape – Universal Accesibility
- Craig Ronald Duffield: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Culture Guide
The entire list of Eastern Cape finalists in the various categories is below.
Accommodation:
- Tsitsikamma Backpackers: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Backpacking and Hosteling
- Hill Street Manor: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Bed and Breakfast
- Siphokazi Hospitality and Travel Services CC: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Bed and Breakfast
- A White House Guest House: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Bed and Breakfast
- Le Fishermans B and B: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Bed and Breakfast
- Khol Newman Bed and Breakfast: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Bed and Breakfast
- Guineafowl Bed and Breakfast: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Bed and Breakfast
- Madiba Bay Resorts: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Caravan and Camping
- Tenahead Mountain Lodge and Reserve: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Country House
- Dune Ridge Country House: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Country House
- 26 On Chamberlain Guest House: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Guest House
- Forest Hall Guest House: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Guest House
- Me Casa Guest House: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Guest House
- Lilitha Guesthouse: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Guest House
- St Francis Golf Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Guest House
- Rose Petals Guest House: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Guest House
- Karoopark Guest House: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Guest House
- River Road Guest House: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Guest House
- Belles Guest House: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Guest House
- Apple @ J-Bay: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Self-catering Exclusive
- Areena Riverside Resort: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Self-catering Shared Vacation
- Duiwekloof Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Self-catering Shared Vacation
- Cape St Francis Resort – Club Break: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Self-catering Shared Vacation
- Sarili Lodge: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Lodge
- Eagles Crag Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lodge
- Shamwari Bayethe Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lodge
- Hopewell Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lodge
- Longlee Manor: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lodge
- Riverdene Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lodge
- Koffylaagte Game Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lodge
- Sibuya Game Reserve-River Camp: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lodge
- Prana Lodge: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- The Kelway Hotel (Luxury): Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- Courtyard Port Elizabeth: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- MyPond Hotel: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- FunkyTown: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- City Lodge Port Elizabeth: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- Premier Hotel Regent: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- Town Lodge Port Elizabeth: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- Road Lodge East London: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- Road Lodge Port Elizabeth: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
- Road Lodge Port Elizabeth Airport: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Hotel
Universal Accessibility Awards
- Cape Flame Guest House: Provincial Winner, Eastern Cape
ETEYA Awards
- Park Place Boutique Hotel: Provincial Winner, Eastern Cape
- Xhobani Projects: Finalist, Eastern Cape
- Bhotani BandB: Finalist, Eastern Cape
Imvelo Awards
- Bulungula Lodge: National Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Economic Impact
- Bulangula Lodge: National Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Investing In People
- Bulungula Lodge: National Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Best Social Involvement Programme
Minister’s Awards
Visitor Experience
- Untouched Adventures: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Tsitsikamma Segway Tours: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Stormsriver Adventures: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Chokka Trail: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Beach Experience
- Amapondo Backpacker Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Beach Experience
- Oyster Bay Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Beach Experience
- Amapondo Backpacker Lodge: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Imonti Tours: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Liquid Lines: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Prana Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Raggy Charters: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- St Francis: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Imonti Tours: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Amapondo Backpacker Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Mdumbi Backpackers: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Koffylaagte Game Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Tsitsikamma Segway Tours: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Scenic Beauty
- Raggy Charters: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Scenic Beauty
- Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Scenic Beauty
- Amapondo Backpacker Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Scenic Beauty
- Oyster Bay Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Scenic Beauty
- Koffylaagte Game Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Scenic Beauty
- HillsNek Safari Camp, Amakhala Game Reserve: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
- Koffylaagte Game Lodge: Finalist, (Eastern Cape) – Lap of Luxury
Tourist Guide
- Craig Ronald Duffield: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Culture Guide
B-BBEE
- Apple @ J-Bay: Provincial Winner, (Eastern Cape) – Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) 0 – R2.5 Mill
Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom says despite the global financial crisis and all other challenges, the tourism industry has continued to grow.
Minister Hanekom said South Africa, like any other leisure destination, has its own challenges.
Speaking at the 2014 Lilizela Awards, Minister Hanekom called on the tourism industry not allow temporary disruptions to derail its plans.
“Through innovation and leadership, we will collectively spur this industry on to even greater growth. We have demonstrated that we have an extremely resilient and counter-cyclical industry,” he said.
Minister Hanekom said the industry has grown through the worst times of the 2008 global financial crisis, the Icelandic volcano that brought global air travel to a standstill and the spread of the H1N1 virus.
“Let us just keep our eye on the ball, ride out the storm and sharpen our communication to get this message out to each and every travel consumer.
“Let’s raise our sights to the future, build on the successes we have already achieved, and consolidate our efforts to realize our goals and aspirations,” he said.
The Lilizela Tourism Awards is an initiative of the National Department of Tourism and it is managed and delivered by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA).
The awards, launched last year, identify and reward tourism businesses that work passionately and with pride to help enhance South Africa’s global destination competitiveness.
According to Minister Hanekom, last year nearly 10 million international tourists visited our shores.
“Tourism directly and indirectly contributes 9% to our GDP and supports one in every 11 jobs in our economy,” he said.
Minister Hanekom said in the first six months of last year, gold exports brought R32 billion into the economy and that in the same period, tourism contributed R35 billion.
“Many of you have demonstrated that it makes business sense to conduct your operations responsibly, in a way that supports social, ethical, cultural and environmental principles,” the Minister said.
He congratulated all the nominees for the role they have played in the industry.
Award categories
The 2014 Lilizela Awards recognises industry players within four focus areas reflecting eight categories, with the ninth category being the Minister’s Award.
The Minister’s Award recognises outstanding people and organisations that have performed in a manner that pushes the industry closer to tourism’s 2020 vision to grow arrivals to 15 million and create 225 000 new jobs by 2020, with a total direct and indirect GDP contribution target from R189.4 billion (2009) to R499 billion (2020).
Mavuso Msimang scooped the Minister’s Award. Msimang is the current Chair of Tourism Business Council.
“Tourism is one of many sectors that have benefitted immensely from Mr Msimang’s vast experience and wisdom, his dedication to transformation and his unshakeable passion to create a South Africa that works for all of us,” the Minister said when presenting the award to Msimang.
“Through his leadership, SA Tourism, South African National Parks, the State Information Technology Agency and the Department of Home Affairs became the organisations that they are today,” he said.
An overjoyed Msimang said: “It’s quite a privilege to be associated with the industry. It’s nice to be in the industry.”
In the Lilizela Emerging Entrepreneurship category, Limpopo Guesthouse was the overall winner.
In the B-BBEE Sustainable Development category, Ubuhle be Naga in Mpumalanga and City Lodge in Gauteng were the winners.
The national finalists were selected from more than 1 200 entries.
Alan Straton
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