South African inbound tourism body, SATSA, has announced that Tony Romer-Lee has resigned as Co-Chair of the Board following his decision to retire after nine years of service.
Oupa Pilane will now serve as the sole SATSA Chairperson.
In other director changes, Belinda McIntyre resigned following a career shift, while SATSA welcomed Rachel Nxele, Director: People and Sustainability at Sabi, as the new chair of the SATSA Responsible Tourism Committee and a member of SATSA's Social & Ethics Committee.
During the 2023 Annual General Meeting, scheduled tentatively for July 26, SATSA will appoint four new Directors, including a Treasurer.
Chef promotions at The Liz McGrath Collection
The Liz McGrath Collection, which comprises three hotels in South Africa, has announced the promotion of Tronette Dippenaar as Group Executive Chef; as well as Daniel Blignaut as Head Chef at The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa, its flagship five-star hotel in Constantia, Cape Town.
Dippenaar’s career has spread over 14 years within the Collection, having come up through the ranks and gaining experience working at each of the three sister hotels.
Duties of her new role include supporting the Head Chefs across the three hotels – The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa, The Marine Hotel, and The Plettenberg.
Blignaut trained at the Chef Training Innovation Academy Culinary School (CTIA) and has enjoyed a career in the hospitality industry for more than a decade.
Before he was appointed Executive Sous Chef at The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa in 2021, he was employed as Sous Chef at Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve.
His other career highlights include experience gained as Sous Chef at The Saxon Hotel and Shambala Private Game Reserve.
As an entrepreneur, he worked as a private chef for six years and established a food technology company specialising in developing vegan products.
Blignaut will be taking charge of The Conservatory restaurant, and the kitchens catering for the hotel’s high teas and picnics, as well as the wedding, private events and conferencing venues at The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa.
