Business destination takes on tourism in a big way!

Whenever we think of Johannesburg, we think of a bustling business hub, the economic heartbeat of South Africa, not a holiday destination of choice except perhaps if you have family there.

Nevertheless, Johannesburg does have a great deal of interesting cultural, historical and sportinh attractions and a wealth of accommodation options (whether you long to wake up in the "veld" with natural wildlife sounds or in the lap of luxury in a 5-star hotel!), and the city is inviting you to explore its tourism potential. 

Part of the mydestinationinfo.com network, http://johannesburg.mydestinationinfo.com is a great resource for information on things to do in and around Johannesburg, tours of major attractions such as Soweto, museums and heritage sites, the Magaliesberg and the Cradle of Humankind. It also includes comprehensive maps, suggestions and highlights in every conceivable category of activity (from eco-walks to a night at the theatre). The site is currently being expanded to include particular destination routes - trips to entrall and delight whether you are staying for a day, a weekend or a week. It also covers a wealth of lesser known destinations in Johannesburg and surrounds.

With the upcoming long-weekends, perhaps it is time you do something unexpected and take the family to discover a new side of Johannesburg.

Get the edge over your competitors

There was a time when everyone thought that to start a guesthouse or lodge is an excellent property investment and an easy way to make money and live a care-free life working for yourself. This was true especially in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, when it seemed the accommodation industry would not be able to cope with the influx of visitors. Once the high season is over though, our accommodation industry is one where there is an over-supply of properties, many of which have extremely low occupancy over the winter months or if they are located further afield of major business centres. 

In this industry (as in any other), you need a competitive edge to make your business work and prevent yourself from being left out in the cold, and we have developed a solution to ensure higher occupancy rates with little or no effort on your part - and more importantly, it won't cost you an arm and a leg either!

Read more here

Up close and personal with the Minister of Tourism

Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk oriented 30 tourism and hospitality students from Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges in Cape Town today.

The students and the minister went on a walkabout through the prestigious One&Only Hotel in Cape Town to be shown the various practical aspects of tourism and hospitality management.

Through this initiative, van Schalkwyk hoped to inspire those working in the tourism and hospitality industry to continue expanding their skills base, as well as emphasise the key role of both industry and training providers to equip the tourism workforce with relevant skills to give South African tourism the edge over its competitors.

Tourism is a people-centred service industry, where staff form an integral part of the consumer experience. Tourism must look to the people working in the industry to serve as a principal source of competitive advantage, the minister said.

"In short, the skills, know-how and conduct of those working in the industry must have the so-called 'x factor' - something unique that will set the South African tourism product apart from the offering of competitor countries," said departmental spokesperson Natasha Rockman.

"To develop the required skills among its workforce, tourism relies heavily on providers of further and higher education. However, the education sector itself could be a somewhat congested space, with quite a number of overlapping courses and service providers," she said.

In 2007, a significant number of students received tourism-related education awards. Some of these awards were made to those students following courses through FET colleges, while others went to graduates from universities and technikons.

Co-operation is improving between the tourism industry and higher education institutions to ensure that tourism training is addressed and receives the relevant attention so that it lives up to its potential.

Tourism workers are encouraged to get further education and training. A 2006 skills audit report showed that the essential expertise required to ensure the competitiveness of the sector include culinary, language and managerial skills, and a good measure of passion and enthusiasm. - BuaNews

Madame Zingara's in 2011

Perhaps you've heard of that famous chocolate-chili steak? Or the spectacular dinner and circus show combination that people can't stop talking about? Madame Zingara's is a unique creature on the South African entertainment calendar and was recently awarded Best Service, Service Excellence and Restaurant of the Year for 2010 by the Restaurant Association of South Africa.

Madame Zingara's Theatre of Dreams tour dates for 2011 have been announced and given the popularity of this particular dining and entertainment experience, tickets should be booked we advise you book your tickets well in advance and make sure you clear your schedule... 

Housed in one of the world's last remaining Mirror Tents, Madame Zingara's Theatre of Dreams will be transporting South African audiences to a by-gone era of magic and magnificent artistry accompanied by a delectable menu, as follows:

Johannesburg: January - April (note that seats are only available for March/April)
Durban: June - August
Cape Town: September - December

Visit www.madamezingara.com for more information and details on how to book.