Gawie Marx has joined Taj Cape Town as Executive Assistant Manager, effective November 1.

Marx has wealth of hotel management experience, having worked at various properties and estates such as the Lake Pleasant Hotel & Spa, Fancourt Hotel & Country Club, and the Vineyard Hotel & Spa. Most recently, Marx was GM of Pearl Valley Golf Estate in Paarl for six years.

"I am excited to have been appointed to such an important role at this highly sought-after property,” says Marx. "With the job comes great responsibility, but I love challenges and I am sure that the team we have in place will continue to ensure that our guests have a world-class experience.”

Taj Cape Town has appointed Francisco Caceres Garcia as the new Manager of Jiva Grande Spa, effective November 1.

He has over 10 years of experience managing properties and spa groups, including Amani Spas as COO and Group Spa Operations Director; Arabella Hotel & Spa as Spa Director; Mount Grace Country House and Spa as Spa Manager; and Rooms Division Manager at Aquila Private Game Reserve.

Over the last six years, Garcia has become an influential and well-respected professional within the South African industry, regularly contributing articles for the industry magazines and being a regular speaker at annual international industry conventions.

‘’I have come to realise that none of the success achieved thus far in my career and the accolades won would actually exist without the support of the teams I’ve worked with,” says Garcia. “I look forward to working together with the team at Jiva Grande Spa at Taj Cape Town to help the spa assume its rightful place at the forefront of the industry.” 

Taj Cape Town’s Jiva Grande Spa brings together the ancient heritage of the Indian philosophy of wellness and well-being. It derives inspiration from the holistic concept of living and offers a complete range of signature treatments and holistic therapies.

Steve Balderston recently joined South African Tourism as Trade Training Specialist in the UK, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role after working in the travel industry for a number of years.

Balderston, originally from Australia, worked for Tourism Northern Territory in the UK for the last two and a half years, and has experience in running roadshows, training travel agents and trade marketing campaigns. He also has previous experience as a tour guide in the Outback.

He will be developing a training strategy, utilising SA Tourism’s research and insights, whilst ensuring agents are provided with the necessary tools and support to sell South Africa.

In his new role, Balderston will build on the use of SA Tourism’s trade Facebook platform, manage an agent programme at Africa’s Travel Indaba, host familiarisation trips in SA and implement incentives.

Sandra Katushabe has been appointed Uganda’s Tourism Ambassador to Belgium, having lived in the country for 13 years, she is fluent in Dutch, English and French.

She will be using her expertise to draw more tourists to Uganda.

Sospeter Muraga Mobe has been appointed to South African Airways Kenya sales team as Sales Executive.