McCall joins Signature Life Hotels

Signature Life Hotels, one of South Africa’s fastest-growing hotel management and marketing businesses, has appointed of Lerina McCall as group sales and marketing manager.

With almost 22 years’ experience in the travel industry – 12 with Protea Hotels and seven with Southern Sun as regional sales manager KZN – McCall brings significant experience to Signature Life.

Headed by Alan Vels and Glyn Taylor, Signature Life has secured over 40 hotels including the Signature and Life branded hotels as well as the boutique Quarters brand. Hotel & Restaurant understands that negotiations are well advanced for a deal that could add a number of hotels in the Western Cape to the Signature Life portfolio.

McCall says of her new position: “Once you’re in the hotel industry you can never leave! What’s exciting today though are the new ideas coming into the industry, so instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, hoteliers are starting to think out of the box and listen to the guest’s needs.

“At Signature Life, for instance, you have a great choice across three- to five-star properties, from young and funky to stylish and traditional. I still believe in the time-honoured values of cleanliness, friendly staff, efficiency and decent food, but innovation and location is the name of the game.”

With over 40 properties signed, Signature aims at the mid- to upper end and business market with a dedicated approach to service, while Life hotels are directed at both the young, modern traveller and business market. Quarters is a boutique brand with stylish interiors and locations as well as all-female management teams.

Along with developments in KZN, Gauteng, Western Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, Signature Life is also exploring opportunities in the other four provinces and in other parts of Africa, including beach hotels and bush lodges in Mocambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.