South African Airways (SAA) Voyager Partners with the Largest Fuel Retailer in Africa, Total South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa – SAA Voyager is partnering with Total South Africa to offer SAA Voyager Miles at participating Total retail service stations nationwide. SAA Voyager members can now earn Miles every time they fill up at Total.
“With Total being the largest fuel retailer in Africa, and SAA Voyager being Africa's leading airline loyalty programme, there’s a natural synergy between the two partners. We want to give our customers greater value and added benefits, at the same time; we understand their need for quality brands. We therefore have joined forces with SAA Voyager, a premium brand, to give value back to our customers,” explains Qetello Zeka, Total South Africa General Manager: Sales and Marketing.
Voyager is SAA’s loyalty programme which boasts a global membership. SAA Voyager members earn miles when they fly with SAA, other airline partners and non-air partners including amongst many selected hotels, financial institutions, car hire companies, lifestyle-related service providers, and now their first petroleum supplier partner, Total South Africa.
“By teaming up with Total South Africa, we are now able to offer our members yet another opportunity to earn SAA Voyager Miles. This is in line with our efforts to actively extend our range of partners for our valued members beyond airline travel. With 500 participating Total service stations nationwide, we are confident our members will be really pleased with this latest partnership,” says SAA Executive for Customer Loyalty, Suretha Cruse.
SAA Voyager members earn one SAA Voyager Mile for every one litre of fuel purchased at Total, and these Miles can be redeemed for flight tickets, car rental, spa vouchers and lifestyle products or services.
This latest offering offers Total customers a value-added lifestyle experience beyond just the day-to-day necessity of filling up with fuel.
SAA Voyager Miles are only available to SAA Voyager members. Customers who are not SAA Voyager members, who would like to take advantage of this benefit from 1 August 2014, need to register to become a SAA Voyager member at www.flysaa.com.
For more information contact:
Total South Africa
Nonkosi Dyan
Corporate Communications Manager
Cell : +2782 783 0436
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SAA
Tlali Tlali (Mr)
SAA spokesperson
Mob: +27 82 333 3880
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.flysaa.com
Twitter: @flysaa
Facebook: www.facebook.com/flysaa
About South African Airways
South African Airways is a Star Alliance member that offers flights to 38 destinations worldwide. Domestically, SAA operates 544 flights a week between Johannesburg – Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth. Regionally SAA offers 24 destinations across the African continent and its international network creates links to all major continents from South Africa through 10 direct routes. In the regional category, SAA has received the Skytrax ‘Best Airline in Africa’ Award for 11 consecutive years.
About SAA Voyager
SAA Voyager is the largest and most popular “Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) in South Africa and on the African continent with a mature base of well over 2.5 million members with the majority residing in South Africa. Miles are the currency of the SAA Voyager Programme and are available to individuals over the age of 2 years. SAA Voyager’s free enrolment, which comes with a generous account activation bonus of 2, 500 Miles, opens the door to numerous benefits. Members are linked to world-wide destinations through Star Alliance airline partners. Over the years, as with many FFPs, SAA Voyager has evolved from an “airline frequent flyer” programme to a multi-sector travel and retail programme. Companies participating in the programme are from many sectors including air travel, hospitality, property, cruises, car rental, financial services, lifestyle and retail. Today the programme has a total of 62 partners, categorised into airline partners of 35 and non-airlines of 27. SAA Voyager continues to partner with companies offering products and services that are aligned to our industry and that add value to the programme and its members. In addition, SAA Voyager serves as a strong marketing tool that enables partners to generate incremental revenue, enhanced loyalty and aid in customer retention.
About the Total Group
Total is one of the largest integrated oil and gas companies in the world, with activities in more than 130 countries. The Group is also a first rank player in chemicals. Its 97,000 employees put their expertise to work in every part of the industry – exploration and production of oil and natural gas, refining and marketing, new energies, trading, and chemicals. Total is working to help satisfy the global demand for energy, both today and tomorrow. In Africa, besides exploration and production and renewable energies, Total is active across the whole petroleum product supply chain (service station network, general retail, lubricants, aviation fuels, bitumen, LPG) in more than 40 countries, where the Group is a sector leader with an estimated 15% market share. Around 1.4 million customers are served every day at one of TOTAL's 3 500 service stations on the continent.
About Total South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Total South Africa is a subsidiary of Paris-based global energy group Total S.A. It is a leading energy solutions and petroleum company and is 49% locally owned. Total South Africa’s core business focus encompasses the manufacturing, sales and marketing of a range of petroleum products and lubricants for the retail, commercial, agricultural and industrial markets. With a portfolio of over 530 service stations across the country as well as holdings in the NATREF refinery, TOTAL is also a key player in the country’s petrochemical market.
Dwyka Tented Lodge Reopened at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
08 September 2014 - Sanbona Wildlife Reserve near Cape Town, part of the multi-award-winning Shamwari Group, has officially re-opened the new look Dwyka Tented Lodge in preparation for the summer season.
Over several months, construction crews have been busy rebuilding and renovating this iconic tented lodge, which now offers a fresh new look and feel, yet retains what guests have come to love. Wherever possible, the original wood and stone have been reused in the renovations and solar assisted geysers reinstalled, in order to make this luxury nine tented lodge as environmentally green as is feasibly possible.
Interior designers have married earth-friendly fabrics and décor elements with fresh, neutral tones from the paint palette that complement the unique setting in which Dwyka is located – surrounded by awe-inspiring rock formations, which was once the home of ancient Khoisan hunters. Situated on a horseshoe bend of a dry Karoo ravine, the lodge has a Relaxation Retreat, communal lounge with fireplace and TV, wine cellar and an open air boma. These beautifully appointed tents exude an atmosphere of pioneering adventure in a vast and hidden landscape.
The cold water plunge pools have now been replaced by heated spa pools for an extra luxurious touch. A new menu and an enhanced wine cellar have also been given attention and showcase the best wines and culinary favourites from the area.
Comments Shamwari Group General Manager, Joe Cloete, “Dwyka Tented Lodge is a special place to many and we are excited to reopen it to past and future guests as it really has become an iconic luxury tented offering over the years. With the new décor and design, it truly complements the refurbishments that have taken place at Tilney Manor and Gondwana Family Lodge. Adding to this latest news, the seasonal Sanbona Explorer will open in October for guests wishing to experience a truly exceptional walking safari.”
Part of Shamwari Group
– Sanbona Wildlife Reserve - Shamwari Game Reserve – Jock Safari Lodge – Nkomazi Game Reserve - Nyungwe Forest Lodge - Gorilla's Nest Lodge
“Conserving a Vanishing Way of Life“
This press release has been distributed on behalf of our client, Shamwari Group.
For further information please contact:
The P.R Team
Cape Town,
South Africa
T: + 27 (0) 21 419 2390/1
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
South African Airways Adds More Travel Options in Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa – South African Airways (SAA) is adding to its already extensive African flight schedule to offer customers more travel options on the continent. The most recent change is an increase in the flights from Johannesburg–Lagos route, where the airline will offer eight (8) frequencies per week, effective 2 September Johannesburg – Lagos and effective 3 September Lagos – Johannesburg. “All flights will be operated with a long-haul Airbus aircraft offering lie-flat seats in Business Class, which we anticipate will be welcomed by our Business Class travellers, as we have seen a tremendous growth in demand for premium travel in Africa,” says Kendy Phohleli, SAA General Manager Commercial (Acting). The new schedule will provide greater/additional connectivity to the SAA network and accommodate the current passenger and cargo demand that SAA is experiencing on the route. Additionally, it will offer seamless travel for passengers en-route to Perth (Australia), Hong Kong and mainland China.
The new flight on Tuesdays, SA080, will depart Johannesburg at 23h00 to arrive in Lagos at 04h15 the following day. Arrival is 04h25 in summer and 04h15 winter (Northern Season). SA081 returns on Wednesdays from Lagos departing at 08h00, to arrive back in Johannesburg at 14h55. Arrival is 14h45 in summer and 14h55 winter (Northern Season). “The increase on the Lagos route follows on previous increases to the airline’s Africa route network, in keeping with SAA’s Gaining Altitude strategy, where the focus is on strengthening our presence in Africa,” says Phohleli. Africa routes on which frequencies were recently increased include: Johannesburg – Harare (from 18 to19 per week); Johannesburg – Lusaka (from 20 to 21); Johannesburg - Abidjan (from two to three per week); Johannesburg – Blantyre (from two to three per week); Johannesburg - Dar es Salaam (from 13 to 14 per week); Johannesburg - Kinshasa (from four to six per week); Johannesburg - Nairobi (from 10 to 11 per week); Johannesburg - Ndola (from three to four per week); Johannesburg - Windhoek (from 20 to 21 per week). SAA has also made changes to its international route network, where frequencies on the route between Johannesburg and Mumbai have been reduced by one per week to six weekly frequencies, (effective from 1 July 2014). SAA will, however, offer the same number of seats as a bigger aircraft will be used on the Mumbai route. “The Tuesday Mumbai departure will no longer be operated as this flight historically shows low demand, which is a change also aligned with SAA’s Gaining Altitude strategy, where frequencies on low-performing routes are adjusted in line with our key strategic objective to achieve, and maintain, commercial sustainability, while supporting South Africa’s development agenda,” says Phohleli.
For more information contact:
Tlali Tlali (Mr)
SAA spokesperson
Mob: +27 82 333 3880
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CITY LODGE HOTEL GROUP TO BUILD 170-ROOM HOTEL AT NEW TWO RIVERS DEVELOPMENT IN NAIROBI, KENYA
Plans also unveiled for 147-room hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
JOHANNESBURG, August 15, 2014….. In another major step forward in its ongoing African expansion initiative, the City Lodge Hotel Group through its wholly owned Kenyan subsidiary, Fairview Hotel Limited, has reached an agreement to develop a 170-room City Lodge Hotel within the upmarket Two Rivers mixed use development that is currently under construction in Nairobi, Kenya.
The group, which already owns the Fairview Hotel and the Country Lodge (to be rebranded to Town Lodge) in Nairobi, has acquired the land for the new hotel on a 99-year long term lease basis and will design, develop, fund and operate the 170-key City Lodge branded hotel. The total cost is expected to be US$23 million. Construction of the hotel is expected to begin in January 2015 with completion scheduled for October 2016. The Two Rivers Mall is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in October 2015. The Two Rivers Mall, when complete, will be the largest mall in Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa).
Situated in Nairobi’s diplomatic blue zone, the Two Rivers development is the brainchild of Centum, which is East Africa’s largest investment company and is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Spread across 40 hectares of prime land adjacent to the upmarket residential suburbs of Runda and Rosslyn Estate, it is being designed to become East Africa’s premier destination to meet, do business, live and shop within a master planned urban lifestyle environment.
The Two Rivers development will, once fully developed, comprise 850,000 square metres of office, residential, retail, hotel and entertainment facilities. The building of the City Lodge Hotel will create employment during the construction phase and a number of permanent positions for staff members when the hotel opens to the public.
“We are very excited about this new hotel as it signifies the confidence that we have in expanding our presence in Kenya and East Africa to meet the accommodation needs of business and leisure travellers. This will be the first time that we are developing a green-field hotel in the region, also illustrating our optimism about the prospects for the Two Rivers development and the high profile status and draw-card potential it will have in Nairobi and further afield,” said Clifford Ross, chief executive of the City Lodge Hotel Group.
“Our international business development team has been examining growth opportunities in East Africa for the past couple of years and we believe that this investment will act as a catalyst for other hotel developments we are considering in the region.” Commenting on behalf of Centum, CEO James Mworia said: “Centum is proud and excited to welcome the City Lodge Hotel Group to its Two Rivers Development. It is notable that this will be the first City Lodge branded hotel outside Southern Africa, and this marks a great achievement not only for Centum but for Nairobi and Kenya.” Mworia added that the entry of the City Lodge Hotel Group into the Two Rivers Development is further testament to the ability of Centum to attract international investors into the region. He noted that the vision of the Two Rivers development was for it to be a world class destination and attract leading global retail brands. To this end, in addition to City Lodge Hotel Group, Centum had attracted Carrefour, the 4th largest retail chain in the world, to be an anchor tenant in the Two Rivers Mall.
Negotiations are at advanced stages with other international retailers who have expressed an interest in building their presence in this region with the Two Rivers development being their entry point. Centum seeks to be Africa's foremost investment channel providing investors with access to a portfolio of otherwise inaccessible, quality and diversified investments in Financial Services, Real Estate, FMCG, Agriculture, Energy, Healthcare, Education and ICT sectors. As at March 31, 2014, Centum had KES 30 Billion (US$ 340 million) of its own assets under management and KES 120 Billion (US$ 1.36 billion) of third party assets under management.
Meanwhile, the City Lodge Hotel Group has also reached a land-lease agreement in the Ilala Municipal District of Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, on which it plans to develop, at its own cost, a 147-room City Lodge Hotel. This development, which is subject to the issue of regulatory permits and approvals, is expected to cost around $22 million, with ground-breaking anticipated to take place in the first quarter of 2015.
The City Lodge Hotel Group acquired a 50% stake in the Fairview Hotel and the Country Lodge in 2012 and in May this year gained full ownership of the two Nairobi hotels as a springboard for further expansion across the East African region. The group’s other non-South African hotel is Town Lodge Gaborone in Botswana which was developed from scratch and opened in early 2013. With 51 hotels in South Africa across the Courtyard Hotel, City Lodge Hotel, Town Lodge and Road Lodge brands, and three hotels in Kenya and Botswana, the group is expanding its footprint into selected parts of East and Southern Africa. It is currently investigating opportunities in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, Mauritius and South Africa.
Commemorating World War 1
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Commemorating World War 1
From the middle of July the Lindfield Victorian House Museum in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, will be presenting a special exhibition to commemorate the outbreak of the First World War a hundred years ago. Entitled ‘THE HOME FRONT’ it will concentrate on the three great wars of the twentieth centuries as they affected South Africans, both enlisted men and those left behind. The Anglo-Boer War, First and Second World Wars changed the way in which we in this country lived our lives and looked upon the rest of the world. For most of the young men serving overseas it was the first glimpse they had of existence outside their small communities. Those left at home were confronted by loneliness, loss of income, food and clothing restrictions - and a dreadful never-ending sense of uncertainty.The experience of concentration camps, exile, shell shock, rationing, years of separation - all drew a swathe of radical change through the fabric of society. At the same time the ties that bound people together – letters from the front, official care packages, postcards with the words of topical songs printed on them, greetings cards embroidered by young girls thousands of miles away for Tommies to send home to their loved ones – these too served to create a bond that outlasted the terrible years of absence and homesickness.The exhibition will give an impression of what it would have been like to care for a wounded soldier, by recreating the kind of environment found in many homes at the time, as well as to show a fascinating cross-section of ephemeral material dealing with war, its causes and its aftermath. The objects on display will be from the museum’s permanent collection, and are usually kept in storage, so this is an ideal opportunity for enthusiasts and regular visitors to the museum to see something new and interesting. The special exhibition will be available as an addition to the normal general house tour at no extra cost, or may be viewed separately, and will be open for only three months. The museum is open daily by appointment only. To book a tour contact Katharine Love.
Museum contact details:
Lindfield Victorian House Museum
72 Richmond Avenue,
Auckland Park,
Johannesburg,
2092
Phone: (011) 726 2932
Web: http://lindfield.wix.com/museum
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Experience Cape Town like never before with Pozay.com
Cape Town, South Africa June 2, 2014 - Every year many people take a visit to South Africa, or the Rainbow Nation. However, most of them don’t get to experience the true South Africa or to enjoy the authentic South African culture. However, a company called Pozay is about to change all of this.
Pozay.com enables visitors to South Africa to better integrate with its people by allowing them to join up with a host family. This means that rather than going to a restaurant in South Africa, or taking the usual, well-worn tracks, tourists have an opportunity to better explore South Africa and its culture.
Instead of dining at the usual restaurants or tourist venues, Pozay.com allows visitors to Cape Town to dine with a family. This can be a rewarding experience for everyone and provides the opportunity to discuss culture, find out more about each other, or just have fun together.
Pozay.com already has many satisfied customers. One said:“A Brilliant idea! Wish this was available in every city. It’s a fantastic way to explore the culture of a place.”While another said:“This was amazing. Beats another dinner in another anonymous restaurant (that could be anywhere in the world). Was the highlight of my trip!”
Many tourists prefer to use their own vehicles, however, Pozay.com can also arrange the transport, ensuring the tourist gets safely to their destination and back. Integrating with a family will help to give a unique experience and provide a holiday that the tourist will never forget.
Our host families come from a diverse range of cultures, allowing the tourist to choose the culture that they want to experience. Pozay will then arrange an unforgettable event for the tourist.
Bookings for this unique experience can be made via the secure online payment system; for peace of mind, all of the host families have been carefully vetted.
To find out more about Pozay, or to book an experience, visit the website at:http://www.pozay.com/
About:
Pozay.com is based in Cape Town, South Africa and provides tourists with an unforgettable experience by allowing them integrate and mix with local cultures.
The network of host families allows the holiday maker to witness the real South Africa and experience the diverse culture of Cape Town.
The Lakes Boutique Lodge – Where Families and Business People Go
If its style, comfort and opulence you seek, then the Lakes Boutique Lodge is your destination. Located on the Silvers Lakes Golf course, East of Pretoria, this family-owned lodge offers top-class accommodation for holiday makers, relocating families and travelling business people from all over the world. The Lakes Boutique Lodge boasts of fully furnished and equipped apartments that are designed to provide all the convenience of a home for anyone seeking accommodation in silver lakes Pretoria. The family-friendly accommodation allows families to go about their day-to-day activities as if they were in their own home. You can stay for extended periods and get special rates for stays that extend beyond 12 days. The one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments are exclusive and allow for privacy. There is a separate dining and lounge area and private balcony overlooking the golf course, providing children with space to play. If you are coming with children you are advised to make prior arrangements for such provisions as toys, books, games and DVDs to be made available. Other facilities and services that make this lodge a complete package include a concierge/reception desk which is manned between 06h00 to 22h00, a dining area, breakfast packs, a swimming pool and sun-deck, 24/7 security, wireless broadband, and a personal security access card to the golf estate. For an extra charge you can also get daily grocery shopping for your room, shuttle services, laundry services, and you can purchase additional bandwidth. Visitors need not worry about hotels in silver lakes Pretoria because the Lake Boutique lodge is the answer to all your accommodations needs. The fact that it is located within the proximity of the major centres of commerce in Pretoria makes it an ideal base for business people. It has also been strategically located in that it can be accessed easily whether by car or the Gautrain to Johannesburg. This four-star lodge is certainly the pride of Pretoria, offering world class services and upmarket facilities.
