Pullman Hotels and Resorts has recently appointed Willie Williams as the Director of Sales and Marketing at Pullman Cape Town, the first property in South Africa under Accor’s Pullman brand.
With more than 25 years of service to the hotel and resort industry, Williams brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team at the Mother City’s newest hospitality destination.
Williams’ career spans various renowned international brands, including IHG Hotels and Resorts, voco, Hilton and Starwood Worldwide. He was part of the team that successfully launched the first voco brand hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg from IHG Hotels and Resorts, and has held key positions at, among others, Valor Hospitality, Starwood Hotels and Resort Worldwide and the Taj Cape Town.
At Pullman Cape Town, Williams will be responsible for driving business growth, focusing on expanding awareness of the hotel’s meeting facilities, stylish rooms and exceptional service, while leveraging its prime location and stunning views of Table Mountain, the Atlantic Ocean, and the cityscape. His aim is to establish Pullman Cape Town as the hotel of choice in the Mother City.
AirZim appoints new CEO
The Air Zimbabwe Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Edmund Makona as new CEO of the airline, effective from November 1.
Makona was previously Acting CEO of Air Zimbabwe. He is a regional and international aviation expert and consultant and is also an ambassador for the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).
SAATM aims to create a single market for air transport by lifting restrictions on market access, ownership, flight frequency and capacity, and air traffic rights, allowing for more freedom for intra-Africa travel.
New GM at Umhlanga hotel
Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga has appointed Themba Mpofu as the new GM.
With nearly two decades of experience in the hotel industry, Mpofu brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role. Mpofu has been with the Group since 2019 when he started his journey at the company as Food and Beverage Manager. Most recently, he was the Director of Operations at the Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton where he gained wider exposure to the Group’s executive leadership operations.
Mpofu has led teams within the Group across South Africa at Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, Johannesburg, OR Tambo; Radisson Blu Hotel, Port Elizabeth; Radisson RED Johannesburg Rosebank; and Park Inn by Radisson Cape Town Foreshore. Additionally, he has worked within other notable hotel groups and in Botswana at a luxury camp.
“I was drawn to the beauty, exceptional location and unrivalled sea views of Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga. There is a constant, vibrant energy in Durban, that I relate to and therefore feel at home within. The hotel also offers guests and visitors various attractions that drive great footfall, such as the newly built FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar which boasts various cuisines such as North American open-flame style dishes.
“As I embark on this new role, I aim to establish the hotel as the number-one destination for anyone in Durban The satisfaction of our guests and my team is vitally important to me,” said Mpofu.
New appointments at Cape Town hotel
Taj Cape Town has recently appointed staff in two key management positions.
Reinhard Gerber will be taking on the position of Director Food and Beverage. He is to ensure that Taj’s service culture lives up to the exquisite food on offer at its various venues: Mint, which celebrates local flavours as well as global tastes with its new sushi bar and wood-fired grill, and Bombay Brasserie, known for its authentic Indian cuisine.
Cost management is another integral aspect of his responsibilities in the luxury hotel and MICE industry, where maintaining quality, reducing waste, motivating the team, and cultivating a positive relationship with the cost controller are essential.
New Head Concierge Dale Scholtz joins the hotel having amassed significant international exposure, first during his studies at a Relais & Chateaux property in the UK, and then in various positions at prestigious establishments.
He has worked his way from junior guest relations to assistant head concierge, guest experience manager, guest relations manager, global elite lifestyle manager and personal concierge to private clients, with each role preparing him for his current position at Taj Cape Town.
