Meet our 2022 Board Nominees

Chairperson

Lee-Anne Singer

Marketing Director – Singer Group

What motivated you to stand for the FEDHASA board?

As a business owner in tourism in the midst of our hardest lockdown, I wanted to add my voice and weight behind the force that was fighting to save our industry. Two years later, serving on the board has been a career highlight, knowing that I played a small but significant role in where our industry is today.

What do you feel are the two most important qualities that a FEDHASA board member should have and how do you meet them?

1. Passion for our people and our places: I am a self-appointed ambassador who connects our industry, our stakeholders and our businesses.

2. A good listener and an even better doer: To serve our members, I’ve made listening to members’ needs a priority. This allows the board to formulate and execute impactful and meaningful programmes that allow our members to thrive.

In the medium term, what do you believe is the biggest opportunity available to the hospitality industry?

The convergence and adoption of prop-, fin- and travel-tech holds promise for new ways of running our businesses, alongside greater efficiencies and new product and revenue streams.

You’re in a lift with our President and Tourism Minister; you have their attention for the next five minutes. Tell us about the three most important points you’ll raise with them.

Mr President, we need:

1. Job-creation programmes to fight mass unemployment

2. Easing of red tape and bureaucracy for businesses

3. A basic income grant to stimulate local micro economies

Tourism Minister, we need:

1. Lobbying for less-restrictive visa requirements for inbound and outbound travel

2. Tax incentives to encourage entrepreneurship in the tourism industry

3. Incentives to stimulate and improve airlift for the domestic tourism industry

When I am not at work, I can be found…

Staring longingly at the Kentridge video installation at the Zeitz MOCAA, or jumping off the highest rock at Saunders Beach.

Tell us something about you that someone who knows you well would be surprised to learn about you.

My biggest love is public speaking. My biggest fear is public singing!

What keeps you up at night?

My plans to complete ten of the most famous half-marathons around the world and whether my knees will cooperate.

Small Accommodation Segment

Johan van Schalkwyk

Group Marketing and Trade Manager

Aquila Collection

What motivated you to stand for the FEDHASA board?

Organisations such as FEDHASA are of utmost importance as they allow the industry to rally and stand together to achieve great things. I’d like to join the minds that sit around the table and guide this organisation.

What do you feel are the most important qualities that a FEDHASA board member should have and how do you meet them?

In-depth industry understanding and a valuable network

In the medium term, what do you believe is the biggest opportunity available to the hospitality industry?

Real ground-level transformation that will allow for a transformed industry, i.e., giving the foot soldiers a proper opportunity to learn, connect, network and evolve into hospitality practitioners.

You’re in a lift with our President and Tourism Minister; you have their attention for the next five minutes. Tell us about the three most important points you’ll raise with them.

I would like to propose that we align the private-sector marketing funding and strategy with that of the local and regional bodies and into a national strategy for growth. Not, as is the case now, have silo strategies within each sector and level.

When I am not at work, I can be found…

Exploring my city, that is finding unique stays, restaurants and cafés that are the heartbeat of a city.

Tell us something about you that someone who knows you well would be surprised to learn about you.

I have composed and recorded a music score for a film and I enjoy making music!

What keeps you up at night?

The ever-changing world that impacts all of our planning at all times. It might be on paper, but we do not have a three- or five-year plan. It keeps me awake to always be at the ready and one step ahead.

Lee Dicks

MD/Head of Sales and Marketing

Nova Constantia Boutique Residence

What motivated you to stand for the FEDHASA board?

Being able to be a key decision maker on a board with so much traction for the future and growth of the industry.

What do you feel are the most important qualities that a FEDHASA board member should have and how do you meet them?

Commitment to what the board requires in terms of acting on behalf of the industry (leading to growth in the economy).

In the medium term, what do you believe is the biggest opportunity available to the hospitality industry?

Focusing on the youth who are the future leaders/employers/employees of our industry.

You’re in a lift with our President and Tourism Minister; you have their attention for the next five minutes. Tell us about the three most important points you’ll raise with them.

1. The vital importance of tourism to our economy and our people.

2. How passionate our people are about our country with myself at the forefront.

3. We have the most diverse nation (people, fauna and flora) so let’s make change happen through every action/word. Let’s build on what we have as it’s all at our fingertips.

4. Focus on the youth as they are the leaders of our nation and we are failing them in turn our nation.

When I am not at work, I can be found…

With family experiencing what our industry has to offer as it’s truly wonderful!

Tell us something about you that someone who knows you well would be surprised to learn about you.

I am about to get my first and only tattoo

What keeps you up at night?

My industry which I am so passionate about and to be of service to all the new/old faces. Meeting and facing the challenges of a new day and ensuring as much networking/linking people together as possible to ensure we all move forward together.

Neil Hughes

Managing Director

Providence Hospitality & Quivertree Digital Hospitality Solutions

What motivated you to stand for the FEDHASA board?

I want to see our hospitality industry recover from the pandemic quickly, and be a stronger, more collaborative industry going forward of which people want to be a part and speak highly about in South Africa.

What do you feel are the most important qualities that a FEDHASA board member should have and how do you meet them?

· Integrity: Without integrity the world is doomed to mediocrity. I hold integrity very highly and deal with everyone in a fair and respectful manner. What I promise I will deliver.

· Drive for Change: Change and adaptation is something that our industry is struggling with right now. I am a change agent and will always evolve and adapt to be the best version of my personal and professional self that I can be.

In the medium term, what do you believe is the biggest opportunity available to the hospitality industry?

Repositioning/Rebirth – We have, as an industry, the opportunity to redefine who we are to our guests, staff and stakeholders. We have never been in this “reset” position and I feel that FEDHASA has the opportunity to be driving this evolution of our industry and its people’s mindsets to make the industry an attractive one to work in and be affiliated with. We have a lot to do in building investor and consumer confidence back into our industry and it starts with national mouthpieces like FEDHASA.

You’re in a lift with our President and Tourism Minister; you have their attention for the next five minutes. Tell us about the three most important points you’ll raise with them.

Mr President:

· What are we doing to improve global investor confidence within the hospitality space?

· How will government assist in driving hotel and resort specific developments across the country in order to create the jobs and incomes so many households need so desperately?

Tourism Minister:

· Tourism contributes massively to the country’s GDP. What reliable and unbiased incentives/initiatives are available for the sector, as a whole, that will assist grow the sector (across all races in SA) for the benefit of the country?

· Why is it so difficult to get anything out of the current SETAs? They are there to assist in the development of the various sectors they are involved in but red tape makes it so hard to deal with them efficiently.

· The tourism and hospitality sector needs government to drive a more positive narrative with the message of: “Working within the hospitality industry can open international doors and experiences for everyone across all ages and race groups.” We need our people to be less entitled and understand that it is hard work BUT there are also many benefits…

When I am not at work, I can be found…

With my family and spending time either in the kitchen or out and about (and occasionally on the golf course).

Tell us something about you that someone who knows you well would be surprised to learn about you.

I was in the same Southern Cape interprovincial golf team with Louis Oosthuizen… I chose hospitality and service and he chose golf and fame.

What keeps you up at night?

We have a major issue within the hospitality industry right now with an unwillingness to serve and work in the industry. Staff and people development keeps me awake at night because we, as the current leaders of the industry in SA right now, need to be doing more about training and development in our hotels than we currently are. I feel we have 24 months to act and rectify the attitudes of our future hospitality leaders otherwise we will be sitting with a bad service attitude legacy issue for an entire generation in our sector. I know this is dramatic BUT we must act now!

Restaurants & Catering Segment

Carl van Rooyen

Executive Chef

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

What motivated you to stand for the FEDHASA board?

Past experience, having served before, wanting to give back to the industry that has provided a good career and has potential to employ even more people.

What do you feel are the most important qualities that a FEDHASA board member should have and how do you meet them?

A high level and holistic view of the industry, all of the drivers and detractors, as well as open mindedness, humility and empathy.

In the medium term, what do you believe is the biggest opportunity available to the hospitality industry?

Education, training and development.

You’re in a lift with our President and Tourism Minister; you have their attention for the next five minutes. Tell us about the three most important points you’ll raise with them.

1. Offering hospitality subjects in high schools as a fast-track entry into the industry, including trade testing.

2. Tax breaks for new start-ups in the hospitality industry for a set period of time.

3. Businesses incubation, including funding and mentorship programmes.

When I am not at work, I can be found…

Playing sports, playing with my son, and reading and writing.

Tell us something about you that someone who knows you well would be surprised to learn about you.

I’m a chef with a Master’s degree from the University of Cape Town. I’ll also be perusing my PhD in the next year.

What keeps you up at night?

People not fulfilling their potential due to the circumstances that they find themselves in, i.e., school leavers not being prepared for work or tertiary education.

Dawn Smith

General Manager

Simon’s Restaurant at Groot Constantia

What motivated you to stand for the FEDHASA board?

I have immense conviction in the work that the organisation does on behalf of the hospitality industry.

What do you feel are the most important qualities that a FEDHASA board member should have and how do you meet them?

1. Active and immersed in the industry is a must to understand what the members require from an association like FEDHASA. I have been in Hospitality on various levels and in many roles for the best part of my career.

2. Open mindedness and the ability to envisage and embrace change for any organisation / association to have longevity and continual succession.

In the medium term, what do you believe is the biggest opportunity available to the hospitality industry?

Re-evaluating, re-inventing and being able to adapt quickly.

You’re in a lift with our President and Tourism Minister; you have their attention for the next five minutes. Tell us about the three most important points you’ll raise with them.

1. Changing the narrative around Tourism in our country that is not fear based.

2. Economic support in terms of better fiscal policies so all SMEs can afford to increase minimum wage.

3. How are we going to curb crime statistics?

When I am not at work, I can be found…

… at work!

Tell us something about you that someone who knows you well would be surprised to learn about you.

I am going to take drum lessons next year and start a rock band.

Monwabisi Thethe

CEO

Brand Contact Consultant PTY Ltd

What motivated you to stand for the FEDHASA board?

To represent an industry I am passionate about while also creating a space where new or independent restauranteurs can feel supported and gain awareness of industry standards.

What do you feel are the most important qualities that a FEDHASA board member should have and how do you meet them?

Make better change and be a good representative of industry. I meet these qualities through my passion for this industry. I adore hospitality and feel it embraces the spirit of Ubuntu. I also aim to lift up the people around me, in all aspects of my life.

In the medium term, what do you believe is the biggest opportunity available to the hospitality industry?

Stability and giving the industry a voice.

You’re in a lift with our President and Tourism Minister; you have their attention for the next five minutes. Tell us about the three most important points you’ll raise with them.

1. We would want their financial support in an industry that creates thousands of jobs yearly and consistently and is also the bedrock of the tourism industry.

2. Create an environment that is safe for patrons as well as employers.

3. Put competent people, people who understand tourism and hospitality, in places to enable growth within the industry.

When I am not at work, I can be found…

Travelling and discovering the hidden gems in our beautiful country

Tell us something about you that someone who knows you well would be surprised to learn about you.

I love vintage cars and own a few vintage Mercedes Benz that I am researching how to restore.

What keeps you up at night?

Running multiple restaurants in various provinces as well as an advertising agency through Covid and beyond.

Wayne Jefhta

Banqueting and Back of House Manager

Cape Town International Convention Centre

What motivated you to stand for the FEDHASA board?

After many years of networking with organisation and industry professionals in diverse professional and hospitality settings, I’d like to use and share my experience in a strategic and customer-service driven environment within the industry which is a platform that FEDHASA provides. This external prospect will help me growth and allow me to share my experience as a Banqueting, F&B and Back of House Manager.

What do you feel are the most important qualities that a FEDHASA board member should have and how do you meet them?

1. Pre-existing passion for the purpose of the organisation: Hospitality was not my chosen career however after my first post as a sculler a little while ago, my passion for the industry grew with every passing year.

2. Willingness to participate at meetings towards a successful outcomes: During my growth in the industry I taught myself to always be a productive contributor which is why I aspire to provide input during all interactions and meetings towards a successful outcome or a plan towards it with set goals

In the medium term, what do you believe is the biggest opportunity available to the hospitality industry?

When a banker looks at his business, money is the driver and people are the outcome. As hoteliers we need to look at people, customers and clients as our drivers and money as the outcome. Hence I believe that a medium-term goal for the industry is to groom and mentor our teams into high-quality, multifaceted, knowledgeable and passionate individuals who will inspire our guests to return. The outcome of that is happy associates, which leads to happy guests, happy management and phenomenally high turnovers. We also need to stay abreast of all hospitality trends and technology to simplify processes.

You’re in a lift with our President and Tourism Minister; you have their attention for the next five minutes. Tell us about the three most important points you’ll raise with them.

1. What is national government doing to expedite the tourism and hospitality industry recovering post the Covid pandemic, as the supply chain has been severed which leaves many wanting?

2. The population is aware that fuel price increases are impacted by international trade which impacts the cost of living, local businesses, tourism and travel. Is the government developing any plans to soften the blow through subsidising some of the price hikes to provide relief to industry and households?

3. What are the plans if any to repair/reinstate the rail services and cheapest form of public transport in the Western Cape as this further hampers the livelihood of low- to middle-class families working in the hospitality industry?

When I am not at work, I can be found…

Spending time with my family and finding ways to grow myself and others. Or, in preparation for most of the major marathons to keep healthy and achieve or better my personal best. I love the open road.

Tell us something about you that someone who knows you well would be surprised to learn about you.

That dropping out of school was the best decision I ever made, as the people who know me look at me as a role-model. I went to work for a year returned to school and became a model student with drive.

What keeps you up at night?

How can I enrich someone’s day tomorrow. I feel a day is wasted if you haven’t learned something new or helped and taught someone something new.

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We look forward to celebrating with you

The FEDHASA Hospitality Awards are designed to formally recognise and celebrate the exceptional contributions of companies and individuals in South Africa’s dynamic hospitality industry.