Celebrating 10 Years of SACT & Drostdy Hotel
Please join us in raising a toast to 10 years of collaboration between the SA College for Tourism (SACT) and the Drostdy Hotel, one of South Africa’s most beloved heritage hotels in the heart of Graaff-Reinet. It has been a decade since the Rupert Family Foundation donated the hotel to the college, and together they have become an inspiring model of five-star service, sustainable tourism, and warm Karoo hospitality. A Partnership Is Born “As we celebrate the past decade of the Drostdy Hotel,” says John Loftie-Eaton, director of the Drostdy Hotel, “we reflect on the remarkable history of this property spanning more than 200 years. In the last ten years, it has undergone a transformative journey, blending historic architecture with modern amenities while preserving the charm and character that made it legendary. We are honoured to collaborate with the SA College for Tourism to provide a platform where trainees can gain valuable practical experience, and we look forward to the fulfilling future of our partnership.” The SACT is a registered non-profit organisation founded in 2001 by Dr Anton Rupert with the mission to provide capacity building and economic empowerment for marginalised, unemployed, rural, and peri-urban youth (with a focus on women) in the hospitality industry. In 2012 the Rupert Family Foundation bought the Drostdy Hotel and reopened it two years later, after extensive and sensitive renovations. The hotel was donated to SACT, which provides hospitality training for young women from impoverished rural backgrounds. Reaping The Rewards “We give them wings,” says Mariette Ferreira, executive director of SACT. “Our programme focuses on recruiting women from local communities in or adjacent to the Peace Parks, also known as trans-frontier conservation areas (TFCAs) of southern Africa. By offering them a year of professional training at the college, we empower them with the skills needed to secure jobs in the tourism industry. This approach not only enhances economic development in these communities, but also encourages greater support for conservation initiatives.” “Unlike many skills training programmes based in urban centres, ours bridges the gap by reaching rural communities and helping to address the imbalance in access to opportunities. With a success rate of over 70%, we proudly place these women in jobs within their home regions. Each year, we train 85 youth, and to date, more than 1600 have successfully completed the programme. It’s incredibly rewarding to visit them in their homes or workplaces and witness the positive impact this initiative has had on their lives and communities.” Global Experience, Local Roots “We are empowering future professionals,” says Tebello Polisane, general manager of the Drostdy Hotel. “We are incredibly proud of the college and particularly since our young women graduates qualify with hands-on experience at a high-end hotel.” As a role model, Tebello says she hopes to inspire other women to realise their potential. “It is so inspiring to see how young women learn and succeed. Tourism is a live environment, and they are dealing with people as it happens. At the hotel, the team is everything and we don’t exist without our guests.” Ensuring guests enjoy the ultimate hospitality experience is one of the goals of Valor Hospitality, who run management and operations of the Drostdy Hotel. “We believe success comes from applying our global experience while honouring local roots”, says Tony Romer-Lee, Co-Founder and Managing Partner AMEA. “We come armed with proven tools acquired from decades of success transforming properties around the world. And we splash local colour by embedding ourselves in the communities in which we are working.” “We are developing talent who get hands-on training in a high-end hotel. By nurturing local talent we’re ensuring a thriving future for the tourism industry.” Beyond Hospitality In addition to hospitality training, SACT also offers tracker training through its Tracker Academy. Graduates can return to their communities as entrepreneurs with small tourism businesses, or work within or around conservation areas. “We are also thankful for the opportunity to contribute to the local economy,” says Romer-Lee, “and to witness the positive impact that the hotel’s revival has had on local tourism, job creation and skills development.” Through its art gallery, wine shop and restaurant, as well as weddings, functions and sporting events, the Drostdy Hotel has become a vital cultural and social hub of Graaff-Reinet. South Africa’s fourth oldest town has a rich history and architecture, with more than 200 heritage sites and monuments, and has become a proud destination for both local and international travellers. Arrive By Air (With Your Pet!) The Drostdy Hotel has also partnered with Air du Cap to offer travellers the hassle-free option of flying to Graaff-Reinet from the Cape in two hours. Based at Cape Winelands Airport in Durbanville, Air du Cap specialises in providing accessible charter and scenic flights to smaller groups across the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape in their flagship Beechcraft Baron 58. Both Air du Cap and the Drostdy Hotel are pet-friendly, ensuring that guests don’t have to leave their beloved companions behind. Small and medium dogs are welcome in specific pet-friendly rooms, and on arrival, will receive their own water bowl, food bowl and a comfortable dog bed. “We are delighted to collaborate with Air du Cap to offer our guests an exceptional and seamless travel experience,” says Tarryn Farrell, Sales and Marketing Director for Africa at Valor Hospitality. “The convenience of a charter flight, combined with our pet-friendly accommodations, ensures that every traveller – human or fur baby – can enjoy a truly memorable stay.” Drostdy Hotel: Honouring Heritage The Drostdy Hotel has a long and lively history. It was first built in 1805, during the Dutch occupation of the Cape, by architect Louis Thibault, as a residence and office for the landdrost (a Boer magistrate before the establishment of British administration). Over the years, it played host to many important historical figures, such as Lord Charles Somerset, then-governor of the Cape Colony. In 1847 the land was auctioned, and having been divided and subdivided several times, the building was bought by