News Room

THERE’s nothing quite like feeling the rush of breeze in your face as you ride through untamed Africa. Mountain-biking & wildlife enthusiasts alike can now consider the Eastern Cape’s Mpongo Private Game Reserve for their next wild ride as the reserve introduces mountain bike trails which will take cyclists on their bikes deep into the heart of the legendary reserve.

Set on rolling hills and deep valleys along the historic Umpongo River, the malaria-free 3200 ha Mpongo Game Reserve is the closest true wildlife experience to East London (only 35km away) and presents the opportunity for cyclists to ride in relatively close proximity to three of the big five, hippo as well as amongst giraffe, monkeys, zebra, brown hyena and numerous grassland species of antelope.

A complete eco-system

Mpongo is also a birder’s paradise and in association with the Endangered Wildlife Trust has re-introduced the endangered Red-Billed Ox-Pecker, a bird species regionally extinct in this part of the Eastern Cape since the early 1900s.

“We are attempting to create as complete an eco-system as possible at Mpongo and the mountain bike trails present an exhilarating opportunity for riders to encounter wild Africa at close quarters,” says Premier Hotels & Resorts Eastern Cape Regional Manager Jerod Flaum.

Along with a restaurant and three luxury lodges, Mpongo also provides conference facilities making for a tranquil environment for meetings and bush conferences.

• The trails will start soon and bookings can be made at: 043-742-9000/043-742-9002.

• Notes to Editors:

-Mpongo Private Game Reserve is owned & managed by the Premier Hotels & Resorts group who have a collection of hotels in the Western Cape, KZN, Gauteng and Eastern Cape (including the new East London International Convention Centre), offering affordably luxurious accommodation along with state-of-the-art convention facilities.www.premierhotels.co.za

PREMIER HOTEL CAPE MANOR

PREMIER HOTEL CAPE MANOR hosts Mozambique Minister of Mineral Resources during the annual African Mining Indaba held at Cape Town ICC.  Premier Hotel Cape Manor, General Manager Chris Snyman, has made good inroads into the corporate and conferencing arena by accommodating delegates at his Hotel.  The Mining Indaba has shown tremendous growth and it is wonderful for the Premier Hotel Cape Manor to be able to accommodate and interest international attendees.

Premier Hotel Cape Manor is ideally located in the tree-lined Marais Road in Sea Point.  With 120 rooms all with spectacular ocean or mountain views, the Premier Hotel Cape Manor is the perfect choice for the business traveler.  Offering three beautifully appointed conference venues with air conditioning, this hotel is able to host 16 – 180 delegates and offers tailor made packages to suit your conferencing needs.
Along with 10 hotels and conference venues in the mainstream of regional business and travel destinations in South Africa, Premier also manages the state-of-the-art East London International Convention Centre.

If you’re aiming for a career in the hospitality industry, you can’t afford to miss the Academic College Open Day on 28 January 2012, from 08:30 to 11:30.

At the Open Day, the College Manager will be available to answer any questions regarding the Academia College’s many courses, all of which are accredited through Cathsseta.
Located in East London, the Academic College SA is fast one of South Africa’s top hospitality institutes offering students from the Eastern Cape in particular training and careers in the hospitality industry, from hotel management to learning how to become a top chef.

The college is managed by one of South Africa’s fastest growing hospitality groups, East London-based Premier Hotels & Resorts, which regularly offers employment in one of its hotels & resorts nationwide after students have achieved their diploma in hospitality.

“The hospitality industry in South Africa is growing, with a number of career opportunities both locally and abroad and the Academic College SA presents a unique platform for students from the Eastern Cape to enter this exciting, people-orientated world,” says Samuel Nassimov, MD of Premier Hotels & Resorts.

Amongst others, Premier Hotels & Resorts manages the East London International Convention Centre and adjacent Premier Hotel Cascades, Mpongo Private Game Reserve outside East London, the new Premier Hotel OR Tambo International in Johannesburg and hotels in Pretoria, KZN, the Garden Route and Cape Town.

Students interested in entering the hospitality industry can make a date with their dream job by calling the Academic College SA on 043 743 8401.

Where guests become friends …

PREMIER HOTELS will be exhibiting at Meetings Africa in Sandton City from 28 February- 1 March,  presenting its nation-wide base of affordably luxury hotels and conference centers to local and international buyers.  Meetings Africa is a must-visit expo for everyone who travels for business or who books business travel as well as organisers of events, conferences, meetings, team incentive trips or teambuilding activities.

With the opening in 2010 of the contemporary, award-winning East London International Convention Centre and adjacent four star Premier Hotel EL ICC as well as the Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo in Johannesburg, the Premier Hotels Group has positioned itself as a key player in the Southern African MICE, Corporate, Leisure and inbound market.

Current properties include Premier Hotel Cape Manor on Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard, Premier Hotel Knysna on the Garden Route, Premier Hotel EL ICC, Premier Hotel Regent and Premier Hotel King David in East London, Premier Hotel Pinetown and Premier Hotel Edwardian in KZN, Premier Hotel Pretoria and Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo in Gauteng and Mpongo Private Game Reserve 35km outside East London.

To date the group has made large-scale conference and business facilities a key offering to the South African travel industry with all of its hotels positioned as destination conference venues which provide seamless on-site accommodation along with impeccable hotel facilities and is now looking inside South Africa and internationally to expand its existing leisure and corporate portfolios.

“Our size as a group determines flexibility along with an ability to be very customer-orientated and is something, I believe, which makes Premier Hotels a force to be reckoned with,” says PHG MD Samuel Nassimov. Befitting luxury four star and three star plus status, all Premier Hotel facilities offer business & conference centers, laundry, room service, internet access, 24 hour reception, swimming pools, restaurants and bars (along with spas in two of its locations).

Along with a national foot-print in South Africa, PHG has significantly added to the MICE industry in the country by the opening of the state-of-the-art East London Convention Centre and 272-room four star deluxe Premier Hotel ELICC.

Managed by PHG, the state-of-the-art ELICC includes a 650-seater auditorium, an exhibition floor (taking up to 90 stands) and several large venues catering for seating capacities of  up to 2100 people, as well as board-rooms, restaurants and wonderful views of the Indian Ocean.

The ELICC was recently awarded Best Congress & Convention Centre, Africa in the coveted Business Travel Awards 2011, awarded annually by the prestigious international publication Business Destinations.

“Our approach at the Premier group is to not only ensure that conference facilities are beyond expectation but that the properties allow for delegates to do their business and then relax in comfort along with flawless service,” adds Mr Nassimov.

“Our vision now is to grow in a sustainable manner with partners throughout Africa. Allied to this is a corporate mission statement that presents PHG as a personal, yet dynamic hospitality group, that being:  where guests become friends.”