The agreement, signed during the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Africa, marks Accor’s market entry into Zimbabwe, leveraging a first-mover advantage in one of Africa’s most iconic destinations and underscoring the Group’s commitment to pioneering development in emerging markets.

Scheduled to open in 2028, the 111-key new-build property will be developed under a management agreement with Eagle Real Estate Investment Trust, a Development REIT focused on high-quality assets across tourism, hospitality, health, retail, and residential sectors.

Located in the Eagle Heights precinct, in a prime location overlooking the Masuwe River, the hotel will blend natural beauty with Novotel’s modern, family-friendly hospitality. Guests will enjoy a thoughtfully designed experience, with facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, kids’ club, all-day dining restaurant, and destination bar – designed to meet the needs of modern travellers seeking comfort, connection, and local discovery.

Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya or “The Smoke That Thunders”, Victoria Falls is not only a dramatic natural wonder but also a world-renowned hub for adventure tourism, offering white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and scenic helicopter flights.

“This signing represents a bold step forward in our development strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Maya Ziade, Chief Development Officer, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division, Middle East, Africa & Türkiye at Accor. “Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations, and we are proud to bring the Novotel brand experience to Zimbabwe for the very first time. As a first mover, we see this project as a gateway to long-term sustainable growth in the country.”

The signing signals a strategic entry for Accor into a destination with growing regional and domestic tourism and a limited presence of global hotel brands.

Bevin Ngara, Managing Director of Eagle Asset Managers, the Eagle REIT Fund Managers, added: “We are delighted to partner with Accor to bring an international standard of hospitality to Victoria Falls. This project reflects our vision of investing in transformative developments that elevate tourism and deliver value to local communities and investors alike.”

Novotel, with over 590 hotels across 68 countries and 180+ more in the pipeline, champions balanced living for both business travellers and families. As the first internationally branded Novotel in Zimbabwe, the hotel will meet the rising demand for high-quality yet accessible accommodation in Victoria Falls supporting the city’s evolution into a year-round destination for families, nature lovers, and adventure seekers.

Pullman Cape Town has appointed Melissa Stevens as its new Executive Chef – a move that reinforces the hotel’s growing reputation as one of the city’s most food-forward hospitality brands.

With years of experience in some of South Africa’s most notable kitchens, including at Morgenster Estate, Stevens will step into her new role leading all culinary operations across the Pullman Cape Town property, from curated events to everyday dining experiences.

“My cooking has always been about comfort and connection,” says Stevens. “This role is an opportunity to bring that philosophy into an iconic space, with menus that evolve with seasonality while staying rooted in both simplicity and bold flavour.”

Her arrival comes at a pivotal moment for Pullman Cape Town’s food & beverage identity, which has continued to evolve since its inception in 2023. For example, the hotel recently opened Konnichiwa (a Japanese-style sushi bar already drawing local regulars) and participated in Restaurant Week South Africa.

Pullman Cape Town currently employs more women than men across its team – including several heads of department – making it well-positioned to support Accor’s Global commitment to gender equity through initiatives like #SheLeads. The programme celebrates inclusive leadership across Africa and the Middle East by spotlighting diverse voices shaping tomorrow’s hospitality landscape.

“As Cape Town grows its reputation on the global stage, we’re evolving with it – not just through design or service, but through who leads our spaces,” added Damons. “Our vision is rooted in inclusion. We believe diverse teams create richer experiences for everyone who walks through our doors.”

With brand-new menus being rolled out under Stevens’ guidance this season, guests won’t have to wait long to get a taste of what she brings to the table.

From elevated all-day dining at Stratus Room to handcrafted cocktails at Ghibli Bar & Rooftop Terrace and sushi-forward plates at Konnichiwa Lounge, Pullman Cape Town continues to strengthen its position as one of the city’s most dynamic hospitality and culinary destinations. The hotel also offers seven fully flexible meeting and event spaces, making it a preferred choice for those looking to balance business with lifestyle in the heart of Cape Town. Reservations for Stratus Room can be made via Dineplan. The restaurant is open from 06h30 – 22h00 daily.

At Pullman Cape Town City Centre, Table Mountain views and world-class hospitality now come with an added layer of assurance – certification as one of the safest hotels in the world. The hotel has achieved Safehotels Premium Certification, placing it among the world’s most secure and well-prepared properties, where exceptional safety protocols meet uncompromising attention to guest wellbeing.

Safehotels conducts independent audits to certify hotels that meet the highest security standards, work with leading international hotel chains and are recognised by corporate travellers and hotel buyers worldwide. Through partnerships with International SOS, a global leader in Health & Security Risk Management, and endorsements from organisations such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the certification is widely trusted as a benchmark for safety and preparedness.

Safehotels operates in 71 countries across 203 cities and is trusted by some of the world’s biggest hotel brands. Their Global Hotel Security Standard evaluates over 230 criteria on-site – including water quality testing, food hygiene protocols, fire prevention systems, emergency response plans, and staff training – to ensure internationally recognised safety standards.

“What sets Safehotels certification apart is its holistic approach. From the moment guests step into Pullman Cape Town, they’re wrapped in an invisible blanket of care that extends far beyond the usual hospitality touchpoints. While they might not see the measures that make their stay safer, they’ll feel the difference – whether they’re here for an adventure-packed holiday, a cruise stopover, or a business trip that needs to run like clockwork,” says Jaco Bekker, Security Manager at Pullman Cape Town City Centre.

“Achieving Safehotels Premium Certification demonstrates our commitment to going the extra mile regarding guest safety and wellbeing,” adds Bekker. “For corporate clients needing to demonstrate they are fulfilling duty-of-care obligations when sending employees abroad, as well as families simply seeking a relaxing holiday, this Safehotels certification provides a globally recognised standard of assurance regarding guest wellbeing.”

Safehotels certification aligns with Accor’s commitment to redefining hospitality across Africa. With ten more Accor properties set to achieve certification by 2025, Pullman Cape Town is helping set new global standards for guest wellbeing.

“As the first Pullman brand in South Africa by the Accor Group, we achieved Premium status within a year of opening. But Safehotels is about more than just compliance – it’s about our passion for hospitality and ensuring that every guest feels secure and comfortable from the moment they arrive,” explains Willie Williams, Area Director of Sales & Marketing at Accor – Pullman Cape Town.

“Our guests are here to enjoy Cape Town at its best. They should be able to focus on making memories rather than worrying about safety or health concerns. This certification reflects our dedication to providing peace of mind so guests can fully enjoy everything this incredible city offers,” he adds.

“When a guest stays with us, they can rest assured that everything – from water quality and hotel dining to the rooftop pool and food hygiene in our four restaurants and bars – meets the highest international standards of fire, life, and safety,” concludes Williams.

While economists have since explained that the country’s economic output has not halved over the course of the last quarter as was originally assumed, there is no escaping the fact that, as expected, COVID-19 and the stringent restrictions placed on individuals and businesses have robbed South Africa of any semblance of economic stability. The good news is that economists have hope that the country will rebound quite significantly in the coming months, with a GDP decline of less than 10% expected in the coming year.

“Despite the light at the end of the tunnel, the majority of local businesses, especially smaller establishments, will be looking at different strategies for tightening the purse strings and being more mindful about budgets,” predicts Oz Desai, GM Flight Centre Business Travel.

Desai explains that in some cases, those in charge might even be questioning if certain components of the company’s approach to business are even still viable. Due to remote working and the rapid advancement of online conferencing technology, one of those components currently on the chopping block is business travel.

Why business travel is still important

“When it comes to business growth, nurturing relationships, and fostering new ones, there simply isn’t any alternative more powerful than standing in front of somebody face-to-face,” says Desai. “In-person conversations lower the risk of miscommunication, make it easier to create a favourable first impression, and boost the chances of closing a deal.”

Corporate travel is also a must for keeping employees motivated and loyal to the company. A huge portion of today’s workforce, predominantly Millennials and the up-and-coming Generation Z, place substantial value on the opportunity to travel for work. As such, embarking on corporate travel plays a sizeable role in solidifying employee job satisfaction and keeping morale and productivity high.

Now that it has been established that business travel is still key to securing business success, here are a few guidelines for effectively managing your company’s cash-flow and making smart savings on your travel programme.

Know when to book

Knowing when to book can significantly help minimise your travel costs. As a rule of thumb: last-minute business trips are generally not the best idea. Not only can scrambling to put plans together leave room for error and put the business traveller’s safety at risk, it is also certain to result in the accumulation of excess costs.

In fact, according to FCBT research, business travellers can expect to fork out up to 200% more for airfares purchased one day out from travel. On the other hand, just by booking flights in advance, companies can save up to 21% of their travel spend.

Partner with a B-BBEE Level 1 TMC

A TMC (travel management company) is a trusted travel partner for businesses both big and small. The sole objective of TMCs is to help save you time and money, and they do this through various partnerships with travel suppliers locally and across the globe. They also support duty of care to provide corporates and travellers with maximum peace of mind that safety is a top priority.

A BBBEE certificate does not only offer economic benefits. It also shows clients and business partners that the company is committed to transformation. 

Don’t try to travel ‘cheap’

This might sound counterproductive to cutting costs, but the reality is that looking for the cheapest deals for all aspects of a trip could end up costing the company more money in the long run. For example, instead of booking a cheap hotel on the outskirts of town and paying stacks of money for transport into the city centre, you could book a conveniently-located, yet budget-friendly guesthouse that also offers value-added extras included in the room rate, such as free parking and Wi-Fi.

Put together a thorough travel risk policy

It pays to be prepared for an emergency, especially in today’s world where uncertainty and health risks are everywhere you look. A number of insurance providers claim that a significant amount of their companies’ costs are related to accident claims. If one of your employees is injured or falls ill while away on a business excursion, the right insurance policy could save your organisation thousands!

Do not shrug off smaller expenses

When planning a business trip, you might not pay too much attention to costs associated with seemingly ‘affordable’ luxuries, such as early check-in and airport lounge access. Re-look at your budget and you will probably come to find that these expenses add up so quickly that they often represent a huge chunk of the cost of corporate travel as a whole. The secret here is to negotiate agreements with hotels and airlines that also focus on covering ancillary fees, as opposed to just the headline rate. Better yet, get a TMC to do this for you!

The bottom line when it comes to nurturing your company’s is bottom line is that forward-thinking, risk management, strategic planning, and a bit of a helping hand in the form of a trustworthy TMC are all crucial to making those all-important ‘smart savings’. It is, after all, these particular savings that will assist with maximising business resilience throughout the times when finances are tight.

David is a former Special Advisor to Tourism Ministers Pallo Jordan and Vali Moosa. Thereafter, he was appointed as Managing Director of Tourvest’s Inbound Division. He subsequently set up his own tourism strategy consulting business, where he developed destination strategies for a number for SADC countries, the most successful of which was with Namibia in the mid-2000s. He has been at the helm of SATSA since September 2013.

David’s appointment has been lauded by leading tourism industry players. His deep understanding of source markets, distribution channels and consumer behaviour, as well as his passion for selling South Africa will provide an industry perspective to bolster SA Tourism’s activities, they say.

The appointment comes at a time when President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly highlighted the role of tourism as a leading job creator, with the expectation that private sector will take the lead in untapping tourism’s potential.

“It is therefore important for industry board positions to be occupied by industry experts. All of us at the TBCSA are proud to have David on the SA Tourism Board. This will enhance our already strong partnership with them,” says Blacky Komani, chairperson of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.

With decades of experience in the tourism industry, David is the most qualified person for the job, says Neil Markovitz, founder and Managing Director of Newmark Hotels, Reserves & Lodges.

“David’s operational background and global industry experience will contribute to a better understanding of our markets. More importantly, he can play a key role in addressing why our country hasn’t been able to grow to the extent that other countries have because of issues such as Open Skies and visa regulations.”

For Martin Wiest, Chief Executive Office Tourvest Destination Management, the fact that David has the ear of the industry means he can provide a strong link between SA Tourism and private sector and vice versa.

“The tourism industry and SA Tourism is not as connected as it should be and so this link would be invaluable.”

This sentiment is echoed by Craig Smith, Managing Director New Frontiers Tours. “David’s wealth of experience gives him a unique window on the workings of each aspect of the industry. His understanding of the industry encompasses how South Africa is perceived and represented in source markets, how to leverage this, and more importantly, what relevant key players require on the ground to support this.

“His appointment to the SA Tourism Board will bring an important communication link between the national directive and how this is represented to public sector, and in turn what the private sector requires to make this directive more effective.”

According to Craig, David is not afraid of frank talk and this is what is required to make local, provincial and national tourism entities more effective and understand the private sector requirements and the reality of doing business on the ground better. “On the other hand, he can also express to the private sector what their obligations are as mandated to SA Tourism as part of a broader picture.”

Mohamed Baba, Ilios Travel Managing Director and current board member of SA Tourism, says with David’s appointment comes an enviable level of private-sector inbound experience and knowledge that will bode well not only for SA Tourism, but for the whole country.” David’s presence on the board of SA Tourism is invaluable and will bring a new dynamic to our tourism sector and its ability to contribute to South Africa’s economy.”

SATSA Chair Tony Romer-Lee believes that David’s intimate understanding of the tourism industry will inform the country’s strategic tourism plans and tactical marketing.

“As a neutral link between SA Tourism and the tourism industry, David can identify the right people in the right markets and inform the country’s destination marketing efforts, in consultation with the travel industry, earlier in the planning cycle. He has this absolute ability to cut through the detail and see opportunities clearly.”

Says Frost on the appointment: “I’m deeply honoured to be appointed by the Minister. I have huge respect for team at SA Tourism and the great work they do. I would seek to foster closer synergies with the private sector around practical growth initiatives, that would amplify and enhance the current organizational strategy.”

A highly regarded travel executive, James joins Contiki from Second Estates, where he was a Marketing, Loyalty and Strategy Consultant for the luxury holiday rental investment company, and from the board of Black Tomato, the award-winning luxury travel agent that he helped to conceive and develop in 2005.

Relocating from London to be based at Contiki’s head office in Geneva, James will have responsibility for the youth travel company’s global network of teams across Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, developing and growing Contiki’s worldwide offering of 300+ epic, #NOREGRETS trips.

With significant travel sector and online marketing experience, James joins Contiki at a very exciting time. The youth travel expert has just launched its 2019 programme with its inaugural Africa product, 21 new itineraries across Europe and the Middle East, as well as a new Iconic Essentials travel style that centres on providing maximum value for Millennial and Gen Z travellers.

“I’m hugely excited to have joined Contiki.” said James. “As a proud member of The Travel Corporation’s family of businesses, Contiki has consistently been at the forefront of delivering incredible travel experiences to 18 to 35 olds, made possible by a very passionate and skilled team who are focussed on delighting our travellers.”

The gender gap in aviation careers is surely closing up, with a large number of women taking up various roles in the once male-dominated industry. In celebration of Women’s Day and shattering the existing gender stereotypes around females in aviation careers, Lufthansa interviewed a South African flight attendant, Carla Naude, Purser 1 (chief flight attendant), to get her thoughts around the role of women in the industry and what it takes to be a flight attendant.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career as a flight attendant?
A: It always was a dream of mine, even as a little girl. I remember watching movies on TV and saying to my mom, “I want to be just like those girls one day”! What is really special is that every day is different; every flight has its own surprises. You cannot compare it to a regular office occupation. Flying is not just a job it’s a lifestyle. I love travelling the world, always meeting new people, experiencing other cultures and, of course, trying new things like food.

Q: Why do you think there are more females than males in your profession?
A: It is interesting because most people don’t know that some of Lufthansa’s first flight attendants were actually men. Our first flight attendants flew in April 90 years ago and more than ten years later in June 1938, Lufthansa had their first female flight attendants. The demographics have obviously changed since then. From a “men only” field, it has become a job more inclined to women. Equality is more important and apparent than ever – even though the majority of flight attendants are still women, we have more and more men becoming flight attendants.

Q: What are some of the challenges that you face as a flight attendant?
A: The most important responsibility of being a flight attendant is to make sure that all passengers are safe and comfortable at all times. Other general challenges can be the time difference when travelling a lot, but I would not say there are separate challenges for men and women.

Q: What do you think encourages women to work in this sector?
A: I think becoming a flight attendant is becoming a more popular job for everyone. Lufthansa had so many applications that we started hosting hiring “castings” across Germany where hundreds of people showed up to apply.

As I have mentioned before, being a flight attendant or working in the airline industry in general is not just a job, it is a lifestyle that you choose. If people think that they won’t be able to spend enough time at home, I don’t know a better company to work for than Lufthansa. The group supports different part time options, is very family friendly and after every flight they provide enough resting time to cover jetlag. This resting time can be up to 5 days, depending on the route.

Q: What advice would you give someone considering a career in aviation?
A: I can only speak from my experience. I changed my school subjects accordingly (Hotel Management, Geography, etc.), got a degree in tourism, lived in a different country and learnt the language (through Au Pairing), worked in a restaurant, etc. – anything that would look good on my CV when applying for a job in the airline industry. It is important to know, however, that it doesn’t always go as planned and sometimes you have minor setbacks, but don’t let that discourage you; keep trying! I did, and now 14 years later I work for one of the best airlines in the world, and manage a whole crew, most importantly I’m doing what I love!

Q: What are key things you think are important to succeed in this industry?
A: You need to be outgoing, enjoy working with people, and open to different cultures. Empathy is a key factor. Another important factor is language skills. You have to be fluent in English and be able to communicate well.

Q: What are the top characteristics of a great flight attendant?
A: Someone who is a multi-tasker, observant, conflict arbitrator, calm under pressure and in stressful situations, and has excellent communication skills.

Q: As a South African, what does Women’s Day mean to you?
A: South Africa was a land of discrimination for a very long time, and part of the reason that changed was that its woman stood up and protested injustices, such as laws from the past. As a South African, this taught me that I should always stand for what I believe in and that nothing is impossible.

“It is clear that aviation provides many career opportunities for women and there are diverse platforms for females to change the world in numerous ways, through the industry,” says Dr. André Schulz, General Manager Lufthansa Group, Southern Africa.

Needless to say, in today’s evolving aviation landscape misconceptions about the industry being male lead are being broken and this is helping fill the gender gap for future flying generations.

“I don’t think I’d have chosen any other profession besides what I’m currently doing and my role as a flight attendant is just as exciting as it was when I first started. I also believe that it does not really matter whether you’re a female or a male in this profession, we’re all destined to achieve,” says Carla Naude. “Even if the road ahead is bumpy, your own perseverance and commitment will always pay off sooner or later. If you can dream it you can achieve it.”