Out of the many entrants, only five finalists were chosen to go head to head in the intensive five-day competition, which took place from 8-12 July 2013.
Eighteen-year-old Newton is about to complete her Matric finals at a local high school in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal. She has a passion for the hospitality industry and felt that Boot Camp would be the perfect opportunity to realise her dreams. "Winning this competition gives me a chance to prove myself, the experience I have had so far has already taught me so much and opened my eyes to the hotel business. It has also helped me see that through hard work and determination, you can achieve your goals."
The final scores were very close, and The Peninsula Hotel and the International Hotel School awarded two additional bursaries. Runner-up, Helena Lategan from Eerste River won a 50% discount on the bursary for The International Hotel School or a 100% sponsorship on a 3-year in-service traineeship. The second runner-up prize goes to Yolanda Willie from Nyanga, who receives a 25% discount at the International Hotel School, or a 100% sponsorship on a 2-year in-service traineeship.
The gruelling five-day competition saw the contestants completing challenges in a range of hospitality departments at the Peninsula. The contestants worked 9-hour days and faced challenges such as working in reception, the food and beverage department and spontaneously being called to restock the bar and unexpectedly having to clean rooms for new arrivals late at night. Each of the tasks was designed to prepare the students for life in the industry and required them to be able to work individually, and as part of a team.
Each task marked according to criteria and judged by a panel, which included the GM of Bantry Bay Luxury Suites Hotel, Eben Lassen, Des O'Connor GM of Mandela Rhodes Place, International Hotel School Cape Town's Campus Principal, Alan Lester and GM of The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel, Chris Godenir.
"It is always great to see young, talented people giving their best. This year's finalists were very eager and showed a lot of team work and passion with all of the tasks and challenges that they faced," says Godenir.
