Sixty-eight hospitality managers graduated from the Private Hotel School with a Higher Certificate in Hospitality Management yesterday (March 7), as part of a programme introduced by South African National Parks (SANParks).

Through the programme, SANParks aims to develop its current hospitality staff and enable them to learn and perfect the art of hospitality.

This is the first hospitality programme of its kind for SANParks and is part of its efforts to reinforce certain good practices, change behaviours, increase productivity, and heighten customer excellence and experience.

SANParks Acting CEO Property Mokoena said: “With COVID-19 the tourism industry was completely shut down and as it has revived itself, SANParks wants to make sure that our hospitality staff are up to date and relevant in this new world we find ourselves in. We want to build a team that will be able to adapt to the changing outlook of the globally competitive environment.”

“Moreover, the success of SANParks lies in its employees and if we do not invest in them, then we will cease to be relevant,” Mokoena said.

Mokoena said the graduates would play a crucial role in enhancing the experiences of ever more discerning visitors looking to enjoy South Africa’s rich natural and cultural heritage.  

“We all know how important both our natural and cultural heritage is and people the world over are looking to travel but are now more discerning, that is where our hospitality staff come in. With a passionate and educated human capital at SANParks we can continue to conserve and leave future generations with the natural beauty and heritage of South Africa,” Mokoena concluded.