Dear TTA member,

On behalf of the TTA Board and TTA office we would like to wish all TTA members,stakeholders, industry colleagues  and friends a joyous and restful holiday season!

The TTA office will be closing on the 15^th of December 2023 and reopening on the 4^th of January 2024.

Thank you for your continuous support and engagement during 2023 and we look forward to sharing a year of further great initiatives together with you in 2024!

If you are travelling over this time, please travel safely.

Kind regards and festive wishes,

The TTA Board and the TTA office

The Department of Tourism developed a framework to guide Gastronomy tourism in South Africa.

Gastronomy tourism is an activity that links the visitor’s experience with food, and culinary related products and activities. It reflects the culture, heritage, traditions of diverse people and communities. It has the potential to promote social cohesion and an understanding among cultures, whilst creating opportunities, including jobs, in remote tourism communities.

Crafted by a team comprising of hoteliers, hospitality professionals, chefs and academics, the Gastronomy Framework is poised to enhance the travel offerings in the domestic tourism market, while ​stimulating job creation,  transformation  and inclusion.

Read more…

Join the board and be a part of shaping the future of the African Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions. If you’re a professional in the attractions and visitor experiences industry, we want you on our Executive Board for 2024/2025.

Submit your 200-word motivation before 4 January 2024 at info@aavea.org.za See qualifying criteria HERE.

This holiday season, Centurion Mall is embracing a fresh approach to festivities with a strong focus on environmental consciousness and community engagement.

Your parking ticket is now more than just a pass; it’s a key contributor to saving the environment and fostering job opportunities within our community. By repurposing parking tickets, Centurion Mall has prevented them from ending up in landfills and has empowered local artisans to transform them into majestic festive decor items.

Wilna Savio, Centurion Mall General Manager, said, “As the heart of our community, Centurion Mall is not only a place for shopping but also a platform for positive change. Our commitment to reimagining the festive season through eco-friendly initiatives and community engagement is a testament to our dedication to creating a brighter and greener future for all. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on the environment while strengthening our community bonds.”

To further reduce paper usage, shoppers are encouraged to sign up with admyt, the ticketless parking system for a hassle-free and paper-free parking experience. Click here to sign up today and assist in reducing unnecessary paper waste in landfill sites: admyt.com.

Advance on Point Solutions serves as the parking managing agent at Centurion Mall; Kate Wolfaardt, the Executive Director, and Chief Executive Officer in Operations, remarked, “As a parking management company, we witness millions of used parking tickets being discarded to landfills every month. We are truly inspired to see Centurion Mall taking significant strides towards sustainability and actively working to reduce their environmental impact. Thank you for setting a positive example of what can be achieved with holiday spirit and a strong commitment to sustainable practices.”

In an innovative twist, discarded plastic bottles have been repurposed into enchanting festive trees, creating a unique and sustainable backdrop for outdoor holiday photos. Additionally, charming garlands made from these bottles offer a delightful touch to the holiday season.

Centurion Mall collaborated with community members, tenants, staff, and sister malls such as Kyalami Corner, Mall of the South, and Centurion Lifestyle Centre, Park Meadows, Ocean Basket at the Mall, as well as local festivals, to collect approximately 8 000 plastic bottles, enabling the creation of these remarkable eco-friendly decorations.

In addition, approximately 500 000 parking tickets were ingeniously crafted into parking ticket trees, showcasing the mall’s commitment to reimagining the festive season by empowering the community and conserving the environment.

To add extra sparkle and a festive atmosphere, LED interchangeable colour codes have been incorporated into the decorations.

In the spirit of giving, Centurion Mall is extending its shopping hours this festive season, offering you ample time to find the perfect gifts:

• Monday – Thursday: 9 am – 7 pm
• Friday & 16 December: 9 am – 8 pm
• Saturday: 8 am – 6 pm
• Sunday & 2nd January: 9 am – 5 pm
• 24 & 31 December: 9 am – 4 pm
• 25 & 26 December & 1 January 2024: Selected stores will be trading.

Centurion Mall will also provide the option to have gifts beautifully wrapped by the nonprofit organisation (NPO), The Educare Foundation. All proceeds from this initiative will be donated to the NPO, supporting their mobile educational programs.

Join Centurion Mall in celebrating a holiday season that reflects our values and aspirations for a sustainable future. Read more….

Friday, 1 December 2023 – Southern Sun received an impressive array of victories at this year’s Inter Hotel Challenge, sponsored by HEINEKEN Beverages. The 2023 winners were announced during a glittering awards ceremony proudly hosted at Southern Sun Cape Sun on Tuesday, 28 November 2023.

54 on Bath’s General Manager, Madeleine Roux, was named General Manager of the Year, while the same hotel’s Sinalo Yanga Ngubo won top honours for Exquisite Service and was listed among the Sommeliers’ Academy Top Performers for 2023. 54 on Bath’s accolades did not end there, as Vusumzi Sithole was ranked number 1 in the Top Three Avanti SA Baristas in Gauteng & North West Provinces. While in the same category Pumla Hanise from Arabella Hotel & Spa took top place in the Western Cape with Nandipha Msindeli of Southern Sun The Cullinan coming in third place for the region. In KwaZulu-Natal, Sfundo Mhlongo of the Beverly Hills took second place.

Expressing her sentiments upon being named General Manager of the Year, Madeleine Roux said, “I hold a strong belief in the capabilities of my team and expressing my pride in their performance is an understatement. Leading up to the competition, it was a privilege to support them and to see their efforts culminate in well-deserved recognition. Receiving this accolade in my professional capacity is an honour for which I am profoundly grateful. Witnessing the exceptional skills, unwavering determination and dedication displayed by our staff throughout the period of the Heineken Inter-Hotel Challenge has been most gratifying. I take immense pride in being associated with such a dedicated group of individuals.”

Employees from across Southern Sun’s participating hotels accounted for an impressive 11 of the top spots in the categories awarded by the Inter Hotel Challenge, including:

• Most Up & Coming Wine Steward and winner of The Wonga Award:

went to Londeka Mkhize of uMhlanga’s iconic Beverly Hills hotel, who received an International Hotel School online bursary worth R30 000 from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).

• Most Promising Wine Steward:

went to Njabulo Prince Zondo of the award-winning InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo hotel.

• Academic Excellence in the Cape Wine Academy Top Performers category:

went to Njabulo Prince Zondo, also of the InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo hotel.

• Lingelihle Tshemese from the luxury Arabella Hotel, Golf & Spa in Hermanus was named Most Promising Pastry Chef.
• In the category Best Food & Wine Pairing, Chef Keelyn Scheepers & Wine Steward Ruaan van Helden of the Southern Sun Cape Sun placed first in the Starter course with their pairing of Fish4Africa WWF-SASSI green list Cape Yellowtail tartare | avocado salsa | charcoal tuille | dill cream cheese | Nederburg Double Barrel gluhwein jelly & herb oil with Nederburg The Winemasters Chardonnay 2022.
• In the Dessert course of the Best Food & Wine Pairing category, Pastry Chef Nokubonga Dladla & Wine Steward Londeka Mkhize of the Beverly Hills emerged victorious with their pairing of Lancewood Coconut mousse | LemonGold curd | Passion fruit compote | Coconut tuile | Caramelised Italian meringue | Lemon Chantilly cream | Pineapple with Pongrácz Demi Sec MCC.

• The award for Concierge Of The Year went to Pleasure Shaku of the InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo hotel.

Other notable Southern Sun employee accolades included:

• Keelyn Scheepers of the Southern Sun Cape Sun took second place in the Chef Of The Year category
• Nokubonga Dladla of the Beverly Hills hotel received third place in the Lancewood Pastry Chef Of The Year category
• Wandile Shange from Southern Sun The Cullinan was one of the three Kitchenaid Africa Bio-Wheat Bakers of the Year
• Pastry Chef Thando Mahlekelele of Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani was recognised for Excellent Kitchen Practice by Scanpan

Commenting on the group’s 2023 performance, Southern Sun’s chief executive, Marcel von Aulock said, “We are proud to have participated in the Inter Hotel Challenge for over a decade as it contributes to much-needed hospitality skills and promotes development through mentorship. We are also exceptionally proud of our people, and we congratulate them on their outstanding achievements this year.”

With over 90 hotels and a workforce of more than 5,000 people, Southern Sun plays an integral role in the development of skills throughout the industry. During the last year, the group provided over 570 formally certificated learning programmes to employees and provided over 480 unemployed students with work-based learning opportunities to enable them to complete their studies and graduate. The results of the 2023 Heineken Inter-Hotel Challenge further highlight Southern Sun’s contribution to skills development and emphasise the dedication of the group’s award-winning team.

The Department of Tourism through the International Market Access Support Programme (IMASP)-Group Support invites eligible small tourism enterprises to apply and participate at the South African Tourism pavilion at Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) 2024 to be held in Berlin, Germany from 05 – 07 March 2024.

For more information: visit https://tinyurl.com/bdeup47

Go See Do South Africa is a national brochure distribution and display company. Started in 1997 in Cape Town as Brochure Management, Go See Do rebranded in 2020 and manages over 2000 display sites around South Africa placed at tourism attractions, fuel stations, restaurants, hotels and much more.

As part of the existing new partnership with Tshwane Tourism Association, Go See Do is offering discounted rates to members for display and distribution. “We are delighted to work with TTA to highlight Tshwane offerings to international and domestic visitors through our extensive network”, says Alison Coughlan, Managing Director, “we look forward to working with THE WILDEST CAPITAL IN THE WORLD”

To be book a listing on the booklet (TSHWANE Guide) click HERE.

For more information about Go See Do South Africa visit www.goseedomeda.com or email sa@goseedo.co.za

Sunrise balloon safaris over the spectacular Magalies Valley – Gift an Experience that takes your breath away. Beautiful gift boxes! Sip coffee as the experienced crew inflates the balloons, then ascend into the sky as our veteran pilots explain the views beneath you. Enjoy a glass of bubbly on landing, followed by a full English breakfast at the launch site. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. For more email reservations@balloon.co.za

Looking for gift ideas for the upcoming festive season? Avoid the shops & conveniently purchase an Acrobranch voucher/s. (Same-day delivery of e-voucher to your inbox) It is the PERFECT GIFT for your loved ones, that will create memories that will last a lifetime! #Purchase Voucher/s Now! 021 201 1121 /086 999 0369 bookings@acrobranch.co.za, www.acrobranch.co.za

*11 Parks across SA (Gauteng, Western Cape & KZN)

A STORY OF SOUTH AFRICAN ART | Ongoing | Albert Werth Hall

 This selection of artworks from the permanent collection of the Pretoria Art Museum briefly reviews South African art. It includes works by early twentieth-century painters, the Resistance artists of the 1980s and artists of the twenty-first century. The exhibition is based on the secondary school syllabus.

CERAMICS FROM THE PRETORIA ART MUSEUM AND COROBRIK COLLECTIONS | Ongoing | Ceramic Gallery

View a selection of ceramic artworks from the Pretoria Art Museum’s collection, as well as ceramics from the Corobrik Ceramic Collection. Part of the Corobrik Collection, usually exhibited in the ceramic gallery, will be on loan to the University of Pretoria. The Corobrik Ceramic Collection came into being in 1977. With continued support, Corobrik has been able to continue keeping the collection relevant for the last 46 years. Read more….

Celebrate Christmas day in the bush with a buffet luncheon at Mongena Private Game Lodge; Adults R580, kids 6-11 yrs R280, kids 2-5 yrs R150 excluding Dinokeng Entrance fees. Only 35 mins from Pretoria!

Click HERE to view their Christmas menu.

Book online HERE.

The Tshwane Tourism Association (TTA) is pleased to advise that the 5th Annual Tshwane Tourism Showcase is planned to take place on Thursday 23 January 2024.

The TTA Showcase is a business-to-business showcase of all that Tshwane has to offer in terms of tourism and the audience invited to view the exhibitions is anyone in the business of selling Tshwane as a destination (international, regional and local inbound tour operators, destination marketing companies, travel agencies, embassies, etc.) as well as key markets such as government procurement departments etc.  We will once again also have a supplier exhibition area where members can interact with relevant suppliers.

The Showcase provides excellent opportunities for TTA members to promote their tourism and related products and services as well as to network with other TTA members and tourism stakeholders in Gauteng and beyond.

As one of the benefits of TTA membership, tabletop exhibitions are offered at the Tshwane Tourism Showcase 2024 at no cost.   All members whose 2023/24 membership fees are paid up are eligible to participate.

Save the date and look out for more information and a chance to register and take advantage of this opportunity.

To visit the TTA showcase register HERE.

Please save the date:  Thursday 23 January 2024

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