Liz Biden: Creating places others can enjoy

BB: As someone with a famously wealthy husband, what motivates you to work as hard as you do to market The Royal Portfolio Properties rather than doing what most other people of your age and in your position would do?

"The Royal Portfolio was a business that I began in 2000. It is a standalone business and although I could never have developed it without my husband's financial support and advice, I am proud to say that we have created a very viable, sustainable business that continues to grow and prosper. So much so that Phil spends more and more time in the business as the years go by!

I love to create places that others can enjoy."

BB: Has the celebrity patronage of people like Elton John contributed to increased business? If so, how?

"Besides Elton John sending us many of his friends, his patronage has definitely contributed to an increase in our business.

BB: Now with a Cape Town property in the form of The One Above at The One&Only, are you looking for a Johannesburg-city property too for people to stay at en route to Royal Malewane or do most guests fly to the lodge directly from OR Tambo?

"The One Above is a new addition to The Royal Portfolio. It is not owned by us but we market and run it in our new division of Private Residences. It is an amazing piece of real estate in Cape Town, on top of the One & Only Hotel.

We are not currently looking for a property in Johannesburg."

BB: Do your clients typically book more than one of your properties per visit?

"Our clients are definitely trying more and more to visit a number of our properties. They are so different and offer totally different experiences. We offer a bush, sea and gourmet experience.

BB: Would you recommend that other operators also charge an all-inclusive rate? Do you find many guests taking advantage of the largess?

"Our guests love the fact that everything is included. When they leave they have nothing to pay unless they have had a treatment or visited our shop.

It changes the feeling of the property if you start counting how many drinks they have had."

BB: I know that you personally attend the travel trade shows and also know they are gruelling and typically exhausting experiences. Do you think you get more business as an owner-represented property compared with people who send GMs or Revenue Directors?

"The tour operators and agents do love to see our GMs but nothing can replace owner representation."

BB: Where did you spend your last holiday?

"I went to the Gorongosa with my son and husband. We were amazed at the beauty and diversity of the 400,000 hectares! There were thousands of breeding birds nesting in the trees and we hardly saw a human in our special time there."

BB: With the new villas at La Residence in Franschhoek are you finding an increase in guests travelling as a family or with friends?

"There is definitely an increase of family travel. That is why we developed the villas at La Residence. We now have Africa House at Royal Malewane, the villas at La Residence and the villa at Birkenhead House to cater for our family travel enquiries."

For more information go to www.TheRoyalPortfolio.com.