What makes a hotel 2010 compliant?

Protea Hotels' marketing and revenue director, Danny Bryer.

Immaculate attention to detail is needed to ensure that everything is spot on for all the different markets that will be coming to the country - football teams, coaches, sponsors, media, fans and supporters - local and international.

Protea Hotels' marketing and revenue director, Danny Bryer, answers questions posed to him on what the hotel group is doing for its own brand and how 2010 will have adomino effect on the tourism industry as a whole.

In your opinion, do you think South Africans understand the implications that the FIFA World Cup will have on the country?

Bryer: If we're talking about the general public, I believe this process will still “sink in”. As FIFA and the world media start to focus on South Africa in the next couple of months, our exposure world-wide will increase dramatically. This will no doubt translate into the euphoria that I believe every South African should feel towards 2010. Already, government and various local tourism authorities are structuring road shows to the various communities to discuss the impact and value of 2010. South African Tourism has focused on key markets to stimulate tourism to SA world cup 2010 [and] will expose us to many more countries, not previously exposed to SA as a tourist destination.

What thus far has been the key learning for Protea Hotels in terms of meeting international levels of hospitality?

Bryer: We are often asked the question about the level of service in South African hotels and other accommodation providers (both formal and informal). From a physical property perspective, I believe that our three-, four-, and five-star hotels are equal to, if not better than, international standards (specifically room size). Our service culture and standards, again, I believe meet international standards. However, in the true spirit of World Cup 2010, we hope to exceed these service levels, to ensure returning guests to SA (World Cup 2010 is not purely about a six-week period, but about future tourism to SA, both internationally and domestically. This does not only impact on hotels, but our general economic infrastructure and the opportunities 2010 has created.)

We understand the different markets that hotels have to cater for - this must be a logistical nightmare making sure each one gets the exact requirements expected and needed - how has Protea Hotels managed these expectations?

Bryer: The World Cup will bring many different guests to SA; passionate supporters from the various participating countries, the teams themselves, FIFA headquarters and their associates, the media/press and international sponsors of World Cup 2010. Let's also not forget airline crews and, most of all, the South African public, whom we hope to see travelling to matches. Each one of these guests requires different things from our hotels, be they dietary requirements, conferencing and media facilities, size of beds, locations to stadiums and training facilities, connectivity (internet) and, of course, security. These have all been seriously researched and we are confident that we will meet these requirements.

Many new hotels have been built in the build up to 2010. Do you feel that some of these hotels in the smaller cities will become white elephants after the final whistle has been blown?

Bryer: I hope that nobody is building hotels purely for World Cup 2010! We, at Protea Hotels, are looking at developments in outlying areas, like Polokwane, Rustenburg, Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, [and] Kimberley, based on the economic growth in these areas, which has ensured growth in occupancies from a Corporate and Government Travel perspective. World Cup 2010 will enhance the economic and structural environment (ie. roads, transport), which will, in turn stimulate growth to these areas beyond 2010.

The Confederation Cup and the Lions' tour are happening this year. Do you see this as a dress rehearsal for 2010 or are we prepared?

Bryer: This is definitely a dress rehearsal and is seen by FIFA as such. FIFA [is] testing certain stadiums for 2010 during the Confederations Cup and the hotels being used for the Confederations Cup are the same ones being used for 2010. This will give us the opportunity to learn and understand the requirements for teams, sponsors, media and, of course, spectators in the build up to 2010.

As a South African consumer, what benefits do you foresee for the man in the street?

It's difficult to state, based on the present economic climate, but I believe a tourism “injection” by hosting the most watched event worldwide, will stimulate economic growth in South Africa sooner than anticipated by the rest of the world. I believe that we will see the impact post 2010 as the stadiums, infrastructure and transportation will increase employment and economic growth for the future.