Phenyo Marumo has been appointed as Regional Marketing and Communications Manager for Minor Hotels (MH) Africa, effective March 15.
His previous position was with South African National Parks (SANParks) as the Senior Manager: Marketing, for over three years where he looked after Marketing, Sales, Brand and PR activities for 19 national parks and their respective tourism offerings.
Marumo began his marketing career as the first Marketing Manager for the World Class Big Hole Visitor Centre in Kimberley after being part of its development and launch.
During his tenure at SANParks, he and his team produced positive revenue results through creative marketing initiatives as well as managing to forge and maintain positive relationships and collaborations with trade partners and major brands, launching new tourism marketing products for the traditional and non-traditional markets, and producing a first of its kind reality TV Series called “Away for Repair” to market destinations in a creative, educational, and entertaining way.
Mabel Modipa will be appointed to the role of Assistant Regional Marketing and Communications Manager. This being the second promotion within the department in the last 5 years working for the group.
She will continue to support the properties’ media and communications strategies, working closely with Marumo to manage, develop and implement an overall marketing and communications strategy for MH Africa and its hotels.
Speciality chef to elevate Hyatt's cuisine offerings
Hyatt South Africa has appointed Chef, Asif Mughal, to head all restaurant speciality cuisine offerings.
Mughal who was previously based at the Park Hyatt Dubai Creek, will be responsible for re-engineering the menu, creating authentic food experiences as well as training chefs and kitchen staff at Hyatt Regency Cape Town, Hyatt House Johannesburg Sandton and Hyatt House Johannesburg Rosebank.
The 35-year-old Pakistan born Mughal started his chef career at an Islamabad hotel in 2007, and then moved to Dubai where he worked in the restaurant space for five years before being offered a position at the Park Hyatt Dubai Creek, where he enjoyed a four-year stint, leading to him joining the hotel chain’s operations in South Africa.
“I’m living my dream,” said Mughal, shortly after landing in South Africa last week.
“I am so excited for this opportunity as I believe the potential to create mouth-watering and authentic food experiences fits the overall objectives of what the Hyatt in South Africa is trying to achieve in the food and beverage space.”
Mughal’s grandfather was a chef and owned a restaurant in Pakistan. “My father and two of my uncles followed in his footsteps and now I’m doing the same and continuing with their legacy,” said Mughal, who specialises in Indian, Pakistani, Arabian and Thai cuisine.
His move to South Africa has been welcomed by Hyatt South Africa’s cluster General Manager, Asif Raza. “With the Hyatt brand in South Africa growing and more people starting to visit and get used to our properties, it’s important that we maintain excellent standards in our food and beverage offerings.
“Having a chef of the calibre of Asif in our set-up will only enhance what we are already doing and add further value with the training he will provide to our chefs and trainees in the kitchen,” added Raza.