Read about: Pam Nel - grading of accommodation establishments

Read about the charming breakaway - Vloedbos Farm Guesthouse

Rosy's favourites of the month


Whale View Guest House
P O Box 5031 Hermanus 7200 South Africa Tel: +27 (0)82 300 9042
Fax: +27 (0) 28 313 2004
View their page on www.whale_view_guesthouse_hermanus.

Passionately
Accommodating @

www.villablu.co.za


Swallow's Loft - epitome of English country living
with gardens & mountain views to match


Rates:
R 600/couple per night.

Email Rosy for more information

Schulphoek Seafront Guesthouse
Schulphoek Seafront Guesthouse - situated at Schulphoek, a beautiful quiet bay with spectacular sea views, 5km from Hermanus centre. There are 7 double rooms, all en-suite, spacious and uniquely decorated. From large garden bedrooms with private entrances to the newly wed's favourite; a luxurious first floor room with spectacular sea views. Our professionally appointed kitchen is staffed with a talented local chef, who will happily create a menu around your tastes. Join us for a four-course menu du jour, served at our social table, in our seafront dining room. All of this is complemented with a collection of over 7000 bottles of regional South African red and white wines. Unwind with body therapy (arranged by appointment) or soak up the sun at the heated salt pool. 5 star guesthouse (TGCSA).
Email Rosy for more information
Price: RR495 - R700 pp. Single supplement + 50% Cheaper rate for longer stays.
R4500 (low season) R5 800 (high season) for entire guest house per night.
 

Pam Nel - grading of accommodation establishments

Rosy managed to catch up with Pam Nel and sit her down for a quick cuppa Java at Hubbard’s Cupboard. This blonde ball of energy confessed that she is a workaholic – from architectural technician, to qualified chef and now servicing the greater Hermanus as a qualified assessor is all in a days work for Pam.  Pam qualified as an assessor with the Tourism Grading Council – “only a select few are qualified as assessors – and in order to qualify, a background in the hospitality industry is compulsory.”

Because she ran Nelshof as a guesthouse for eight years as and was elected as chairperson of the Greater Hermanus Association of Commerce and Tourism (GHACT) it was a natural progression to become an assessor. Her background in the building industry is a further contributing factor.

The Tourism Grading Council facilitates work/contracts for their assessors and supplies them with the tools to go and do the job. “We have to do a certain amount of assessments per annum in order to maintain our license,” explains Pam.  None of the assessors are restricted to areas - graders from Cape Town are also working in Hermanus.

“The client needs to know at all times that they get to choose their assessor as the client has the freedom of choice.”

Each accommodation establishment has to be re-graded annually and on change of ownership. It is not mandatory to have one’s establishment graded as the grading council is not there to act as a policeman – it is simply aimed at helping owners of accommodation establishments but mostly as a bench-marking system for the tourists..

“I am consulting - earnestly and with dedication – and should people wish to upgrade say from three to four stars – I will assist them.” Pam is passionate about Hermanus and her clients. “Hermanus has the potential to be one of the best tourist destinations in the country.”

It is not just guest houses and b&bs that should be graded, self catering, backpackers, convention centres and more importantly holiday houses all stand to benefit. Pam has assessed and graded several holiday homes. “The graded establishments are definitely busier than the ungraded ones and popular with the international tourist.” 

Benefits of a graded establishment
The tourist of today is more discerning and knows exactly what they want. Without grading, an accommodation establishment can no longer secure brown tourism signage on main streets and MATCH, the purveyors of accommodation for the 2010 soccer world cup, have contracted not to use ungraded establishments.  There is very good customer feedback system in the form Cuedos and Brickbats.  For the cost of the assessment fee the client will be listed in the TGCSA BOOK (Tourism Grading Council of South Africa) the only advertising accommodation guide in hard copy distributed by SATOUR internationally. This guide is distributed to all the major trade shows and international travel agents and included on the TGSA website, www.tourismgrading.co.za.  “We are doing very well in Hermanus - the Western Cape as a whole is way ahead of the rest of the country. I think the accommodation providers in Hrmanus are anxious to provide the best service possible.

Pam recently completed a course on universal accessibility (aimed specifically at being wheelchair friendly and accommodating sight impaired and hearing impaired visitors). “For the first time in S.A. there is a technical manual available that specifies what is needed to accommodate the needs of the impaired and the accessibility information is available to all interested parties .”

Pam believes there is huge potential for accommodation establishments and the universal accessibility market is a very large untapped area. “I am very pleased by the fact that Hermanus is already accessibility aware.”
For further information regarding grading for your establishment - please contact Pam at info@nelshof.co.za or on 082 772 6626.

 Mail us if you would like your accommodation establishment listed here.
 

Camps Bay Accommodation Fullham Lodge offers luxury Camps Bay accommodation, the guest house offers a choice of self catering apartments or bed and breakfast accommodation in Camps Bay for the discerning traveler.

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