November 12 2014 I No. 2326 SOUTHERN AFRICA’S Travel NEWS Weekly TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY TNW6793SD NEWS NEWS FEATURE TRavel COUNSELLORS INTERNET ACCESS SELL MORE... VICTORIA FALLS New equity partner for the company Botswana properties face new rules New airport will boost tourism INSIDE Page 2 Page 8 Page 9 Another LCC take-off planned for 2015 DORINE REINSTEIN which has been struggling to 1time Holdings, which it is still which routes were being whether the original Skywise launch flights since mid-2012. in the process of purchasing, considered but added that management team, consisting ONG-AWAITED new LCC, The airline was dealt a heavy would be the JSE-listed regional operations were also of ex-1time founders, Rodney Skywise, plans to launch blow when the Department of holding company but the LCC on the cards for the end of James, Glenn Orsmond, Ldomestic flights as early Transport cancelled its ASL would operate under the name 2015. Tabassum added that Michael Kaminski, and as the beginning of next year, in April this year because the of Skywise. the airline would be a true Johan Borstlap, would stay in but under new ownership. airline failed to operate before Tabassum said Skywise low-fare carrier but she could place, remained to be seen. Pak Africa Aviation the licence expiry date. An would begin operating not disclose yet what prices to Wayne Duvenage, who also announced at the end of extension of the licence was domestic routes in the expect on the new routes. forms part of the current October it was in the process eventually obtained. beginning of 2015, deploying She said Skywise would both management team, told TNW: of purchasing the Air Service Pak Africa Aviation ceo, one B737-300 and two retain its name and its original “The original management Licence (ASL) of Skywise, Tabassum Qadir, told TNW A320s. She would not divulge management team. However, To page 2 Cathsseta put under administration DORINE REINSTEIN of unofficial payments for school trips to Italy and THE Department for Higher university fees for Cathsseta Education and Training has board members’ children. appointed an administrator An unspecified Africa Cup of to take charge of the Culture, Nations project that Cathsseta Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, was involved in allegedly led to Sport Sector Education and the disappearance of R10m, Training Authority (Cathsseta) the report claims. administration for the next 12 A Government Gazette last months and has suspended month said the administrator’s the original Cathsseta role would be, among others, accounting authority. to review the terms and The decision comes after conditions of employment of the Department of Education the Cathsseta ceo, cfo and allegedly commissioned an other employees and establish internal audit draft report by a joint working committee with Grant Thornton. The report sector specialist for the good Get online this summer allegedly contains damning governance of Cathsseta. accusations of power abuse A further statement will African Hotels and Adventures (AHA) has unveiled its new website just in time for and nepotism against be released shortly by the summer. Not only does the new site now provide agents with far more detailed content Cathsseta ceo, Mike Tsotetsi. administrator to update – each property is featured on its own page – but it also showcases the group’s funky City Press and South African valuable stakeholders with the new brand. Visit the site to find out more about the various facilities and services on Labour News reported on the way forward. offer and to take advantage of a range of specials now featured on the site’s home Grant Thornton investigation Cathsseta authorities page. Showing off their brand new look and feel are Ruzandri Stoltz, (marketing earlier this year, saying the could not be reached for manager) and Graeme Edmond (national sales manager). Photo: Shannon Van Zyl report contained evidence comment. TNW6796SD NEWS Investment to take Travel Counsellors to ‘another level’ NATASHA SCHMIDT power and potential for it,” says gm for South Africa, further overseas expansion. Mladen Lukic. “There will RAVEL Counsellors Founded in 1994 by be no significant changes in the UK has sold a David Speakman, Travel to operations; current Tstake of the global Counsellors has seen 60% management will stay in company to Equistone growth over the past five place, but fresh blood will Partners Europe, a mid- years with forecast global be introduced into the market private equity firm, sales for the financial year company.” TNW6002SD which is expected “to take end October 31, 2014 of As part of the deal, the company to another level £424m (R7,5bn). Equistone partner, Steve and accelerate [its] growth”. The business will maintain O’Hare, will join the board Rubes® By Leigh Rubin Travel Counsellors said in a its existing management of the company as a non- statement that it envisaged team, including md, Steve executive director. “The the investment from Byrne. David will remain in additional funding will be Equistone to facilitate the his role as chairman. used to develop its support management buyout of the “This is recognition from to [Travel Counsellors] business, which will enable a superior investment agents and market-leading the company to further company that it has software, which is crucial to boost the support it offers confidence in the Travel ensure high levels of service to its global family of agents Counsellors business model, to its growing customer and bolster its global buying what we do and how we do base,” said Steve. Wilderness sells Malawi stake WILDERNESS Safaris has work jointly with the Badgers Botswana in 1986. After sold its stake in Wilderness in implementing Children in several years running Safaris Malawi to long-time the Wilderness programmes expeditions across the partners Chris and Pam across the country. Okavango and Chobe Badger, who are now the Likewise, the Wilderness ecosystems, they expanded sole owners. Wildlife Trust remains a the Wilderness model further The new company has committed supporter of to Malawi. In the last 20 been rebranded Central rhino conservation and other years they have created African Wilderness Safaris. work being done under the a collection of lodges in Other than the shareholding, umbrella of CAWS and we Malawi’s most magnificent no other changes are wish the Badgers every areas, from the Shire River foreseen. success in their next Malawi lowlands of Liwonde National “Why you waste time inventing writing “Wilderness Safaris chapter,” says Keith Vincent, Park to the shores of Lake when what we really need is paper?!” remains a major supporter Wilderness Safaris ceo. Malawi and the Nyika and supplier of this new The Badgers joined Plateau in the north of the company and continues to Wilderness Safaris in country. Founding Editors: John H Marsh (1914-1996) Leona Marsh (1923-2003) EDITORIAL To the point TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY Editor: Natasha Schmidt [email protected] Features Editor: Michelle Colman [email protected] www.etnw.co.za Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines have confirmed the launch date for their alliance, with codeshare Published by Contributors: Travel & Trade Publishing (Pty) Ltd Debbie Badham Max Marx flights going on sale on both airlines’ services between New Zealand and Singapore from September 25 Printed by Juka Printing (Pty) Ltd Hilka Birns Caro Malherbe next year. The alliance will see the Star Alliance carriers operating one return service each per day on the Dorine Reinstein Phone: (011) 327-4062 Auckland-Singapore route and Singapore Airlines operating a daily return service between Christchurch Photographer: Shannon Van Zyl Fax: (011) 327-4094 and Singapore. E-mail: [email protected] Production Editor: Ann Braun Web: www.nowmedia.co.za PUBLISHER Address: Now Media Centre, Kate Nathan [email protected] 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, Illovo, Johannesburg. GROUP PUBLISHER Another LCC take-off planned PO Box 55251, Northlands, David Marsh [email protected] 2116, South Africa. From page 1 brand as well as the IT of final ownership of the ADVERTISING developments. He added, Skywise brand. Sales: [email protected] team will not participate Advertising Co-ordinator: in the operation of however, that the full Wayne said the original Courtney Canham [email protected] Skywise with Pak Africa. ownership transfer from Skywise model and Pak will appoint its own the original shareholders to business plan were right for PRODUCTION Design Head: management team.” Pak Africa was only partly the South African market Dirk Voorneveld According to Wayne, the concluded, and until the but that the airline had purchase of Skywise from conditions from both parties failed to take to the skies SUBSCRIPTIONS Circulation [email protected] the original shareholders were met, he was unable as a result of an about-turn includes the ASL and to comment on the extent by one of the funders. TNW6797SD 2 n Wednesday November 12 2014 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS TNW6447SD NEWS Cape Town tackles seasonality INTER tourism and international arrivals a 14,1% growth. average occupancy rate is 2014 to 2017, identified figures reveal by 6,6% for the five-month The monthly up 7,5% and the average South Africa, Namibia, Wthat Cape Town period. Accommodation room rate is up 11,5%. Angola, Nigeria, Turkey and is becoming a popular Total arrivals at Cape Performance Review and The best performing the United Arab Emirates year-round destination. Town International Airport Forecast Reports issued accommodation types over as key tactical markets Although visitor numbers for April 2014 increased by by Horwath HTL showed the winter season in terms to address the issue of were somewhat down for 8,5%. The airport reported that the highest occupancy of occupancy figures were seasonality. May, the overall average is its highest number of level achieved was in backpackers and self- The top-five tourist growing.