BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The combined experience and expertise of over 250 years has positioned aha Hotels & Lodges suitably to offer distinct management and marketing support to hotel owners resulting in expansion of revenue.

We identify and understand current market trends and demands.
Our strongest and unique aspect is our ability to direct business into our hotels and lodges; it’s one of our KEY STRENGTHS.

2008       All properties owned and/or managed by Tourvest were consolidated under African Hotels & Adventures
2010        Incorporated Relais Hotels and adds 10 properties to the portfolio
2012        Restructured and centralized the core of the company
2013        Additional 6 properties added to the portfolio
2014        Acquires Three Cities Management Group and adds 21 properties to the portfolio
2015        Added Value contracted for brand research; aha acquires Urban Hotels Management and adds a further 3 properties
2016        Brand Launch, all aha properties rebranded all and aha signs 4 new build developments

aha Hotels & Lodges is the tourism property management company of Tourvest’s Accommodation and Activities division.
The portfolio of properties that we represent and manage extends across 8 of our provinces.

South Africa:

• Gauteng
• Western Cape,
• Northern Cape,
• Free State,
• North West Province
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Mpumalanga
• Limpopo

Southern Africa:

• Botswana
• Zimbabwe
• Zambia

We employ (directly and indirectly) over 2 500 people. We accommodate over 250 000 bed nights per year. Revenue under management amounts to R1.5 billion.

We are established in the hospitality and lodges business; offering specialist hospitality management with a team of professionals in the industry dedicated to focus on the quality standards of small, medium and large luxury and mid-scale hotels; lodges and resorts.

We ensure that your unique needs as an owner are met because we engage with you on all aspects of your business. It’s through this tailored partnership with you as an owner that we deliver returns that exceed the market, improve sustainability, and afford an excellent management infrastructure and an ethical, transparent business relationship.

In addition aha offers vast benefits to each independent hotel owner;

• Proficient central reservation infrastructure, with strong market penetration derived from no less than 22 online channels which include leading global travel distribution systems such as Galileo, Amadeus, Sabre.
• Focused Sales & Marketing infrastructure aimed at the key sectors of the supply chain in both the domestic and international business & leisure sectors.
• An efficient Revenue Management system with ability to predict customer expectations, a more effective and competitive pricing strategy and an expansion of available markets.
• Strong partnership with Tourvest Inbound Operations and Tourvest Travel Services network which are both linked on-line to the Central Reservations Infrastructure.

aha has a powerful goal to re-imagine the world of hospitality and is committed to the excellent and extraordinary management of property assets amidst a rapidly evolving world of travel and hospitality. Our goal is to live and embrace all our values in each of the properties in which we operate, building a trusted and secure relationship with each of our owners. Our dedicated and experienced team offers support from project conceptualisation, implementation and completion.

1. Business Plan

• Market analysis
• Competition review
• SWOT analysis
• Pricing Positioning
• Revenue Segmentation
• Food & Beverage conceptualization
• Auxiliary revenues
• Benchmark study
• HR staffing matrix/benefits
• Cash flow projections
• Capital requirements
• Pre-opening costs

1. Sales & Marketing Plan

• Market analysis
• Sales opportunities: International
  National
  Regional
• Marketing collateral
• Website design, implementation, management
• PR campaign, message
• Social Media
• Workshops, Tradeshows, Networking
• Tender opportunities
• Revenue Management
• Rates/Inventory Management

1. Quality Plan

• Operations – Regional
• Financial Management – Regional
• Revenue Management – Central

OPERATIONS

• Regional teams
• Strategic planning / overview
• Owner interaction / meetings – monthly/quarterly
• Business planning
• Facilities management:
  Risk management assessment
  Risk planning
  Presentative maintenance programs
  Sustainability / environmental management programs
• Capital investment planning
• Legal support
• Business review
  STR
  Quarterly forecasts

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Regional teams
• Monthly owners interaction meetings – management accounts
• Debtors/creditors – weekly oversight role
• Payroll processing oversight
• Information technology
  POPI Act
  ECT Act
  Data warehouse (MIS)
  System Review oversight
  Business continuity
• Procurement
  Supplier agreement
  BEE compliance Benchmarking
• Food & Beverage Direction
• Menu conceptualization
• Menu planning & pricing
• Procurement
• Quality management program

REVENUE MANAGEMENT

• Sales & Marketing teams Regional, National & International
• Global representation in 5 key feeder markets to Africa
• Hotel/Lodge based teams and regional sales structures
• Central revenue management structure
• Dedicate central reservations office- growing revenues
• Rates & system blueprint
• Management & Inventory allocation of contract negotiations
• Dynamic pricing structures
• Online channel management & benefits flow through to properties
• Marketing department centrally located to support in :
  Web creation
  Digital production
  PR campaigns
  Brand messaging
  Social media
• Loyalty program is aligned with competition programs offering Real Rewards to guests

HUMAN RESOURCES

• Recruitment tools
• Benchmark salary surveys
• BEE plans
• Wage negotiations
• Performance management programs
• Training
  Skills
  Workplace
  Statutory
  Advancement programs
  IR support
  Legal overview

FIGUEST SATISFACTION & REPUTATIONAL MANAGEMENT

• eGuest management
• eGuest survey
• Mystery guest visit
• Annual quality audits

LOYALTY REWARDS PROGRAM

• Tiers
• Benefits
• Members
• Corporate cards

PROJECTS, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENTS

• Advising on hotel design facilities to ensure hotel/lodge aligned with market demands
• Brand standards advising on physical and technical requirements
• Spatial planning and design to ensure optimisation of hotel efficiencies
• Food & Beverage conceptualisation and design of areas to optimise efficiencies
• Environmental awareness and adoption of global best practices alighned with local authority requirements
• Ensure optimal use of back of house areas to increase efficiencies
• Strive to achieve optimal flow throughout properties

FACILITIES EXPERTISE

• Technical services oversight role to ensure technical compliance to local regulations
• Focus on sustainability issues to drive utility savings and reduction in costs
• Reduction in environmental impact
• Reduction in capital investments by adopting a flexible approach to installations
• Advising on major maintenance and capital works program

FIRE LIFE AND SAFETY

• Review of FL&S standards against the local authority requirements
• Safety & Security is of paramount importance at all our properties
• Risk management assessment
• Risk management programs / plans
• Business continuity plans and programs in place

Our MISSION is to craft experiences that are unique, exciting and give our guest something out of the ordinary to look forward to

Our VISION is to become the most trusted, simple, inspirational & fun brand.

Our VALUES:

• Trust
• People
• Uniqueness
• Passion
• Generosity

aha Hotels & Lodges is a Level 4 contributor

• Business Traveller Africa Award
• TripAdvisor
• Lilizela Awards