adminfgx, Author at City Lodge Hotel Group - Blog

TRAVELLING TO SOME OF THE WORLD’S BUSIEST AIRPORTS AND HOW YOU CAN SURVIVE THEM

February 14, 2014 No Comments

A long airport layover doesn’t have to be a total drag. Don’t think of it as a hindrance on your journey toward your holiday destination – rather think of it as an opportunity to do and see some things that you might not ordinarily get to experience, were you to breeze through the airport briefly between flights. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your layover and survive some of the world’s busiest airports, while actually enjoying yourself: IF YOU HAVE A LONG-ISH LAYOVER: Find out what it has in terms of restaurants and other activities. Some airports (usually those in large cities) have amenities like cinemas, museums, gyms and kids play areas. Scope out the airport’s website to get the lay of the land. If there’s a map of the airport, print it and keep it with you. Highlight where you want to go and…

15 WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELLING

February 7, 2014 No Comments

There’s nothing more annoying than returning home from a business trip abroad, or a holiday, and spending the next few days in bed feeling unbelievably ill. We’ve got some tips to help you avoid bringing unpleasant souvenirs home with you after travelling – good advice for staying healthy while travelling. First things first, boost your immune system before you leave! This will help your body fight off any contagious nasties you might pick up on your travels… Ever returned home from holiday with a cold? Kick your Vitamin C intake up a level or two and make sure you’re getting your five-a-day of fruit and vegetables. Also stay active as much as possible. This might seem difficult as travel generally involves a lot of sitting (on a plane, in a car), but because exercise helps fuel your immune system, releases endorphins, and keeps you alert, it’s important that you don’t let your exercise routine…

CITY LODGE HOTEL GROUP EXTENDS FOOTPRINT INTO EAST AFRICA

February 3, 2014 No Comments

It has been confirmed that the City Lodge Hotel Group has reached an agreement with Nairobi-based Fairview Hotel Limited to obtain full ownership of both Fairview Hotel and Country Lodge. This deal was completed after Fairview Hotel agreed to sell its 50% of the joint venture between the two companies. FIRST EXPANSION OUTSIDE SOUTH AFRICA City Lodge acquired the first 50% of the two hotels in May 2012 and established a joint venture with the hotels’ previous owners in order to investigate other expansion opportunities in Kenya and elsewhere in East Africa. The agreement regarding City Lodge’s acquisition of the remaining 50% of the joint venture came into effect on 31 January 2014, and the two hotels will be rebranded as Town Lodge hotels. It demonstrates the group’s confidence in Kenya and East Africa and provides a strong platform for further growth in the region. We have been very pleased…

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS: HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR OUT-OF-TOWN CLIENTS

January 21, 2014 No Comments

Taking excellent care of your out-of-town clients when they’re on your turf is vitally important to the business relationship. While we could sum up the entire philosophy of how to host them with the age-old adage of ‘treat others as you would like to be treated’, it can be helpful to have a few concrete ideas, which is what we’re serving up below. So here are eight simple but important guidelines on how to ensure your out-of-town clients enjoy their trip and return home with a good report of both you and your company… ASK ABOUT PREFERENCES AND REQUIREMENTS Once the visit has been confirmed, straight up ask the client if they have any accommodation and dietary preferences, and if there is anything in particular they would like to do while in your neighbourhood. If putting them up near the beachfront will add to their overall enjoyment of the visit,…

CITY LODGE HOTEL GROUP INCREASES COMPLIMENTARY WI-FI FOR GUESTS

January 14, 2014 No Comments

The City Lodge Hotel Group is forever striving to improve the service it offers its guests, wanting to give them a ‘home away from home’ experience. It is with this in mind that the group has greatly increased the complimentary wireless internet (Wi-Fi) availability at its hotels! As of 1 January 2014 guests staying at any Courtyard Hotel, City Lodge Hotel or Town Lodge Hotel will receive an hour of complimentary Wi-Fi access per day, and those staying at a Road Lodge Hotel will enjoy 30 minutes complimentary Wi-Fi access. CITY LODGE HOTEL GROUP’S INDUSTRY FOOTPRINT The City Lodge Hotel Group operates 52 hotels throughout South Africa, with 6,440 rooms on offer. It also has a hotel in Gaborone, Botswana, and a 50% stake in two hotels in Nairobi, Kenya. As a leading provider of accommodation to business and leisure travellers, City Lodge Hotel Group appreciates that the market in…

ROAD TRIP TRAVEL TIPS

December 13, 2013 No Comments

Everyone loves a good road trip. Whether you’re heading to Ouma’s with the kids, taking a trip to the coast, or embarking on a cross-country jaunt, don’t leave home without these tried and tested road trip tips. We’ve got some solid, practical advice about avoiding traffic, saving money, keeping the kids entertained, and staying safe (and awake!) on your next road trip. MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS READY FOR THE TRIP Image by home.bt.com Check oil, water, tyre pressure and tread, brakes and windscreen wipers before you set off, and make sure your car has been recently serviced so that you know it’s safe to be driving long distances in it. Do the same for your caravan and trailer if you’re taking them on the road with you. Don’t forget to check your break-down kit and spare tyre – it would stink to break down in the middle of nowhere…

7 WAYS TO GET BUMPED UP TO BUSINESS CLASS

November 27, 2013 No Comments

Getting to fly on a plane is a privilege many will never have, and we acknowledge that, but still … flying cattle class, especially on long-haul trips, is just never fun. Your butt gets numb, your legs ache for stretching room, your personal bubble chafes at the enforced compression, and at 4am, when you still can NOT sleep, you can start to feel ill and generally down on life. Life in business class is different. There is room. There is dignity. There are soft hallelujah choruses when you recline your seat way back and pop up your foot rest. There are glowing complexions when you arrive at LAX more than a day later. So if you can get an upgrade, is it not worth the effort? Here are seven plausible (as well as outlandish) ways of getting an upgrade, all of them with a history of success: 1. DRESS SMARTLY There are occasions when…

TOP 10 RESTAURANTS FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS

November 5, 2013 No Comments

What are the top ten restaurants for business meetings? Well, it’s quite simple – the country’s top ranked restaurants are the best for business, because if you’re wanting to impress a client, you want to take them somewhere great, right? Put them in a good mood with excellent service, super tasty food, and world-class wines? We knew you’d agree! This month the South African restaurant and food guide Eat Out announced their Top 10 restaurants for 2013. Here are the top 10 winners, and we suggest treating clients (and yourself!) if you’re in the vicinity of any. 1. THE TEST KITCHEN The Test Kitchen at the Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town once again won Restaurant of the Year, so this is clearly a toasty-hot hotspot of culinary excellence! Image via © thetestkitchen.co.za Restaurant owner, Luke Dale-Roberts, is one wildly experienced chap. He trained in Switzerland and England, then went and worked…

PLANNING YOUR SAFARI TRIP IN SOUTH AFRICA

October 24, 2013 No Comments

Whether you’re a South African or an international traveller, planning the perfect safari trip is just as exciting. The possibility of spotting The Big Five and all manner of other wild beasts, birds, and reptiles in their natural habitat, up close, is a thrilling one. The kind of safari you plan depends on a number of things: your budget, whether you’re willing to rough it or you want all the comforts of home, and how many people you’re planning on including in your trip. South Africa has many, many options when it comes to safari destinations, itineraries, and accommodation, so here are some tips to help you plan your South African safari holiday… KNOW WHEN TO GO ON SAFARI Image by www.smiletoafricaadventure.com For wildlife watching, it’s best to plan your safari trip for the winter season, which lasts from May to September. This is advisable as it’s when most trees…

10 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT NELSPRUIT

September 30, 2013 No Comments

Nelspruit is considered to be the gateway to Mpumalanga as well as the gateway to the Kruger National Park – so think Big 5, safari adventures, bushveld and the big outdoors. Officially renamed Mbombela two years ago, it’s still fondly (stubbornly) referred to as Nelspruit. Mbombela means “many people in a small space” and, fittingly, it’s also fully packed with places to see and lots of history. PLACES TO VISIT AND THINGS TO DO Image by www.trekearth.com 1. THE SUDWALA CAVES Not for the claustrophobic, these are the oldest caves on earth. You’ll also find the oldest dolomite chamber in the world. Thought to be over 3,000 million years old, these caves have a ceiling made of fossilised, potentially 2,000-million-year-old algae colonies known as stramatolites – one of the earliest forms of life discovered in Southern Africa. Arrange a private tour of the Crystal Chamber – you won’t regret it!…