The award comes eighteen months after Southern Sun embarked on a new behavioural change programme referred to as Siyakhanya, meaning "We Shine", aimed at giving the hotel group a polished image amongst others in the hotel industry. Neil Fraser, Director of Sales and Marketing at Southern Sun said, “We needed to ensure that our collective staff behaviour is aligned with our Southern Sun brand promise of true Southern Warmth.
I believe this programme helped us to optimise the potential and capacity of every member of staff to deliver distinctive, consistent and compelling customer experiences. By engaging and involving staff in a purposeful change journey with measurable, achievable deliverables and clear accountabilities, we believe that we truly have a winning team on board.”
Fraser shared his delight after wining the award, thanking the individuals who make the hotel group a gold-medal winner, “Southern Sun deliberately focussed its entire brand strategy to ensure that we become the day-to-day, moment-of-truth, top-of-mind hotel brand in South Africa.
This is a highly competitive category and this prestigious award goes to every single member of staff at Southern Sun. Together, they really made it happen, so this one’s for the team!” Southern Sun is already recognised as the leading hotel group in South Africa offering the widest distribution of hotels in major urban centres and key leisure destinations, and will be the largest provider of accommodation during the FIFA World Cup events. “We are on a winning streak and this award reverberates internally and that we are ready to take on the world in 2010. Southern Warmth must shine through in everything we do and all we have to offer, all the time. If we keep getting this right, then that’s the lasting reward.”
About Southern Sun Southern Sun is the leading hotel group in South Africa, providing world-class accommodation across all markets and offering the widest distribution of hotels in South Africa in major urban centres and key leisure destinations. Southern Sun's hotel portfolio comprises of various brands which have been segmented to meet all guests' needs. The global collection of 81 hotels which sport 13 319 rooms and combine local favourites with some of the world's most respected hotel brands: Southern Sun Hotels and Resorts, SunSquare, Garden Court, StayEasy by Southern Sun, Southern Sun Timeshare resorts, InterContinental Hotels and Formula 1. The award has made Southern Sun the leading Southern African hotel group and the group is ranked amongst the top 36 hotel groups worldwide.
With over 40 years of experience in servicing the local and international business and leisure traveller, Southern Sun is focused on building its portfolio of successful global brands and continues its expansion in Africa, the Indian Ocean Island and the Middle East. Southern Sun is wholly owned by Tsogo Sun Holdings, one of South Africa's most successful entertainment and hospitality groups. Tsogo Sun Holdings comprises Southern Sun Hotels and Tsogo Sun Gaming.
Contact information:Contact person: Priya NaidooTelephone: +27 11 510 7500 Email address: priyan@southernsun.comWebsite: http://www.southernsun.com