Take a journey through this year’s significant moments as FEDHASA, central to hospitality, summarises the industry’s trends, events, and notable achievements that shaped 2023.
2023
FEDHASA 2.0 COACHING | COMMERCIALISATION | COLLABORATION
LOBBYING
FEDHASA’s lobbying spans various critical issues in the hospitality sector, actively engaging with stakeholders and authorities. Collaborating with South African Tourism and the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa and the Department of Tourism on grading criteria and addressing MultiChoice DSTV subscription costs, FEDHASA tackles a broad spectrum of concerns to shape industry norms.
- SAT TGCSA and National Department of Tourism: Grading criteria and TIP reinstatement
- MultiChoice DSTV: Subscription costs and packages
- SAMRO charges
- NDE&L: Revised Sector Targets of 28 June 2022
- NDT (National Department of Tourism): Inclusion of hospitality in the diesel rebate system | VAT exemption
- Engagement regarding the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, 2022
- Tourism Sector Professionalisation Steering Committee to set protocols
- JAMMS: Wesgro, SATSA, SAACI, FEDHASA and Cape Town Tourism
- National Department of Water and Sanitation: Sanitation, water safety and water usage rights
- NDE&L: Industry compliance
- Safety Committees and SECURA Traveller App
- Bargaining Councils and Extension to non-parties
- University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) collaboration to address leadership skills gaps
- NDHA: Professionalisation Project Steering Committee
- The Restaurant Collective
- NDHA: Digital Nomad, True eVisa system and ease of visas for Chinese and Indian travellers
- NDT Tourism Green Paper Comments
WINS
Reflecting on the past year, FEDHASA proudly celebrates a series of significant wins and achievements that have contributed to the resilience and growth of the hospitality industry.
- DWS proposed Recreational Regulations – usage of Dams legislation
- Extensive Media Coverage
- MOU with Sigma International – incubation fund programme
- NDT – Educators Programme
- Defence of our Minister of Tourism
- Alerting our industry of legislation that impacts us, thanks to legislative advisor Peter Cumberlege
- Launch of a new website
- Reinstatement of the Tourism Incentive Program
WORK IN MOTION
FEDHASA actively shapes the hospitality landscape, from navigating diesel rebate intricacies to collaborating with entities like SAMRO and SAT/TGCSA. Engaging with regulatory bodies like the Department of Labour on matters of Employment Equity Sector Targets and Occupational Health and Safety, FEDHASA stays at the forefront of industry advocacy.
- Diesel rebate
- SAMRO – South African Music Rights Organisation
- SAT – South African Tourism
- TGCSA – Tourism Grading Council of South Africa
- Department of Labour – submitted formal response to Employment Equity Sector Targets
- Department of Labour – submitted formal response to Occupational Health and Safety draft Physical Agents Regulation
- Department of Health – submitted formal response to Proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill 2022
- Forwarded formal comment regarding the Expropriation Bill
- Tourism Sector Professionalisation Steering Committee
- DWS and Rand Water lobbying – reducing sewage pollution
- SECURA Traveller App and Safety Committee
- Bargaining Council – permanently setting aside the extension to non-parties
- Revision of our Visa system; introduction of Digital Nomad Visas
- NDT (National Department of Tourism) Tourism Green Paper – letter to Minister
- Closer relationship with Restaurant Collective
- Government Day Conference Rates
- MultiChoice
- Department of Agriculture – synergies and opportunities
SAVINGS ACHIEVED FOR OUR MEMBERS:
SABC
- SABC Commercial TV licences: With up to 25% discount, nationally we saved our members almost R4 million in 2023.
CCMA
- FEDHASA is the only tourism and hospitality industry trade association that has a registration as an employer body. With the FEDHASA Employers’ Body Registration and with the assistance of expert labour consulting members, who represented some 300 members at the CCMA; 98% of the cases were either settled or won at the CCMA annually, saving members hundreds and thousands of rands. Savings amount to an estimated R1,7 billion over the past 5 years.
MEMBER COMMUNICATION
Press releases: 14
Media mentions: 238
FEDHASA BY REGION
FEDHASA CAPE
Database review and verification of segments to invoice correctly and allocate
Positive growth in membership
Review and renegotiation of service level agreements
Focus on corporate governance and compliance
Implementation of a new accounting system
Introduction of additional special support services
– Secretariat and Compliance
– Events and Project Management
– Tech support
Events:
March: FEDHASA Talks Energy
April: WTM Africa, Cape Town – Shared stand & FEDHASA member networking event
June: Young Professionals Event
August: Women’s Day High Tea
August: FEDHASA CAPE and SACA 3rd Annual Cook-off
September: FEDHASA Talks OTAs and Payment Gateways
October: FEDHASA Cape 25th Annual Golf Day
November: FEDHASA Cape 19th Annual General Meeting
November: JAMMS Event
Special Projects
FEDHASA Cape has established a Skills Development Partnership with Insignis for an internship programme designed to place eleven learners in hospitality businesses across the city while providing them with a paid stipend. The launch of this pilot project, together with the host employers, was held on 24 October, and 9 interns were placed at 8 host sites in the industry from 1 November 2023 to 31 August 2024.
Partnerships:
- Cape Chamber of Commerce – FEDHASA is the only industry body that has two representatives serving on the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Sector Portfolio Committee as the Chair and Vice Chair
- New partnership with Capitec Bank in the Cape region; with special offers for smaller businesses
- Nedbank – revive commercial- and benefit partnerships
- ProfitRoom strategic partnership
- National Department of Tourism (NDT) Educators Program
- IHS and exclusive offers on various programs to FEDHASA members
FEDHASA EAST COAST
- Positive growth in membership
- A team of directors and members strategising to increase growth
- Verification of members’ contact details to ensure that vital information pertaining to the industry is received by members
- Update members on all that FEDHASA does for the industry, including liaising with the Minister of Tourism to intervene; e.g., with the water crisis on KZN’s south coast
- FEDHASA East Coast has reconnected with KZN Liquor Authority. Members to contact the office for assistance
- NDT Educators Program
Events:
May: Africa’s Travel Indaba
May: FEDHASA East Coast Members’ lunch
July: FEDHASA East Coast Energy event
August: FEDHASA East Coast Member ‘Drink ‘n Mingle’ event
November: AGM and Year-end Members’ lunch
FEDHASA INLAND
- Introduced special support services to the regional operations Committees with the support of the Board members
- Member Communication: Database audit, Member Benefits, Skills Development, Marketing and Events
- Commercial partnerships and Revenue initiatives
- Positive growth in membership
Events
January: FEDHASA Inland 2023 Kick-off Event
June: Talking Energy with FEDHASA in partnership with NEDBANK
November: FEDHASA Inlands Annual General Meeting and Golf Day
Special Projects:
- Design 7 – Pilot manual roll-out
- National Department of Tourism Educators Program
Partnerships:
International Hotel School
Agreed on discount to any FEDHASA members and their dependants.
The launch of the YES programme – available to all hospitality establishments nationwide.
CATHSSETA
Through FEDHASA CATHSSETA made various of its funded initiatives available to FEDHASA to extend to members – through a vetting process.
Wanting to get involved and provide infrastructure on the professionalising of the Tavern Industry and SMMEs.
Nedbank
Revive commercial- and benefit partnership
Engagement
- Gauteng Liquor Board stakeholders’ sessions
- Gauteng Tourism Authority Stakeholder feedback session
- 2023 Tourism Grading Council Roundtable Event
- Tourism Sector Human Resource Development Executive Committee (TSHRD ExCo)
- Tourism Sector Professionalisation Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meeting
- Research Performance
- The National Tourism Stakeholder Forum (NTSF)
- Johannesburg Business Forum – Tourism Sub-Committee
- TSHRD and Directorate and Knowledge management Directorate
- SANParks future and strategic planning workshop
2024
PROGRESS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
Looking ahead, FEDHASA members can anticipate some exciting developments in the coming year. We’re gearing up to unveil a revamped website, introducing features that enhance usability and engagement. Our hospitality days, set to take place across all five inland provinces, promise to foster a sense of community and collaboration. Renewing existing partnerships and forging new, relevant connections is also in the cards. Additionally, the Ambassador programme aims to broaden our FEDHASA family by identifying and involving members from diverse regions. These initiatives are geared towards delivering valuable products and services, ensuring that FEDHASA remains a reliable and supportive force in the ever-evolving landscape of the hospitality industry. Here’s to what lies ahead!
