Visit Stellenbosch welcomes new CEO
Visit Stellenbosch has appointed Annemie Liebenberg as CEO, effective March 17. She succeeds Jeanneret Momberg who stepped down in October 2024 when Elmarie Rabe was appointed Acting CEO in the interim.
Liebenberg brings over 17 years of experience in strategic tourism marketing, stakeholder engagement and sustainable tourism development. She has held leadership roles at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, Friday Street Club and the City of Cape Town where she led the development of Cape Town’s Sustainable Tourism Strategy.
Michael Ratcliffe, Co-founder and Chairman of Visit Stellenbosch, welcomed the appointment: “We are thrilled to have Annemie lead the next phase of Stellenbosch’s tourism growth. Her vision and expertise will strengthen our destination’s position locally and globally.”
Liebenberg said: “It is an honour to lead Visit Stellenbosch into its next exciting chapter. Stellenbosch’s layered heritage, friendly community and world-renowned wine and tourism offerings present enormous opportunities. I look forward to collaborating closely with partners, businesses and residents to ensure Stellenbosch continues to grow as a leading global destination sustainably and inclusively.”
The Liz McGrath Collection appoints new Group Marketing Manager
Justin Exner has been appointed Group Marketing Manager for The Liz McGrath Collection. He will oversee marketing and branding for The Cellars-Hohenort, The Plettenberg and The Marine.
Exner brings extensive experience in hospitality and tourism, having started his career at Village & Life where he progressed from General Manager to working in tourism project management. His career has taken him from Cape Town to Johannesburg, Nigeria and Kenya with focus on tourism sales, development and marketing.
He holds an MBA and three tourism diplomas and, before joining The Liz McGrath Collection, spent 10 years with the Petousis group where he advanced from Opportunity Manager to Group Marketing Manager.
The Royal Portfolio appoints new Asia Pacific Sales Manager
The Royal Portfolio has appointed Hoon Kim as Sales Manager for the Asia Pacific region, strengthening its presence in key growth markets.
Kim has been with The Royal Portfolio since 2017, holding senior roles at The Silo Hotel and La Residence – most recently as Deputy General Manager of La Residence. He previously worked at the Cape Grace Hotel for seven years, focusing on guest relations and sales strategy.
A South African Registered Tour Guide and a member of Les Clefs d’Or, Kim brings over a decade of experience in luxury hospitality. Fluent in Korean and English, he is expected to play a key role in engaging with travel trade partners across the region.
Simon Mandy, MD of The Royal Portfolio, said: “Hoon’s deep knowledge of our brand and strong industry relationships make him the ideal candidate to expand our presence in the Asia Pacific market.”
Serengeti Balloon Safaris appoints first Sustainability Manager
Serengeti Balloon Safaris has announced the appointment of Roy Mushobozi as Sustainability Manager – a newly created role aimed at enhancing the company’s environmental and social impact.
Mushobozi brings extensive experience, having worked as Programme Manager for Sunrise of Life Canada in Tanzania where he managed multiple community projects. He has also held roles with VSO Tanzania and Raleigh International – overseeing partnerships, innovation and youth entrepreneurship initiatives.
John Corse, MD of Serengeti Balloon Safaris, welcomed the appointment: “We are thrilled to have Roy join us with his broad-ranging experience in the sustainability sector. Our ambition is to create positive change within the ballooning industry and wider tourism.”
