Red Carnation staff off to see London

Twenty-five members of staff from two hotels in the Western Cape will be joining colleagues from other Red Carnation hotels around the world when they gather for the group’s annual staff appreciation awards event in London next month.
Five staff from Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat in Cederberg and 20 from The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in Cape Town will spend two days working in their positions at other luxury boutique hotels operated by Red Carnation in the UK.
They will also have time to explore London and will be issued with an Oyster card providing easy use of the city’s red buses and underground railway system.
Among those who will make the trip are a mother and her daughter who work at Bushmans Kloof. Employee of the Year Dalene Swart is the butler at Koro Lodge, the private villa in the reserve. Her mother Katrina is a laundry attendant.
For Dalene Swart it will be the first time she travels in an aircraft and she is planning to see Buckingham Palace. It will also be the first trip overseas for her mother.
“Dalene takes great pride in her work and always goes the extra mile by giving 110% when looking after our guests, who love her attention to the smallest detail,” says Bushmans Kloof GM Graham Kennedy, who will accompany the winners to London.
Thabang Rapotu (pictured above), guest relations manager at The Twelve Apostles, will also be making her first trip to London. She is looking forward to seeing how staff at other Red Carnation properties do things.
“I am excited about visiting a city with so much history and hope to see another perspective of life while there. And I eagerly anticipate witnessing the amazing fashion in London as well.”
Twelve Apostles GM Horst Frehse described Rapotu as “a dedicated, inspiring individual whose warmth and professionalism never fails to delight our guests.”
Twelve Apostles front office manager Abraham Mouton, one of the managers who nominated her for the trip, added: “She is a huge asset to Twelve Apostles Hotel. Her positive attitude and absolute commitment to her job, and the guests that she looks after, is exemplary”.
An informal welcome function will be held in the BBar near Buckingham Palace for all South African staff. To conclude the week, a staff appreciation gala dinner and awards ceremony will be attended by the Tollman family, including its founder Bea Tollman.