Estelle is the new General Manager at
Kedar Heritage Lodge, Conference Centre & Spa. She started her career at
Southern Sun at the age of 17 and has been in the industry for over 30 years.
She worked herself up from reception through most departments and in 1990 was
the first female Food and Beverage Manager in the Sun International Hotel group.
She
has since worked in most of the big groups like the old Holiday Inn, Southern
Sun and Sun International. Her first General Manager position was with Legacy
Hotels & Resorts and she grew within this Group. The great rapport she
enjoyed was evident in the fact that she remained with the organisation for
over 15 years. This is a rapport she is striving to maintain with Kedar
Heritage Lodge, Conference Centre & Spa, and we must say, so far, so good!
Estelle’s
love for the hospitality industry goes beyond the “workplace” and into her
personal life. She is an absolutely avid traveller who has been to over 37
countries (including Russia, USA, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium,
Holland, UK, Tanzania, Turkey, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Malaysia, Seychelles, Mauritius, the Maldives and China). She says, “The best education anyone can get is seeing
other countries and cultures”.
A
big passion for Estelle is her love for animals. She is involved with animal
rescue and she helps various groups including Pigs n Paws, Thabazimbi Animal
Rescue and the Rustenburg SPCA. She is also involved with Ban Animal Trading
South Africa and passionate about saving our endangered wildlife like the
rhino. She is, “very happy to go and toyi-toyi” for these causes if need be.
Estelle
is excited about joining the Recreation Africa Group family and has big plans,
to take a really good establishment and make it great!
She
believes that with anything you do, do it to the best of your ability. Set
goals and when you achieve them set new ones. “It’s the small things that count” Estelle says and on a personal
level she believes when your hand is open to give it is also open to receive.
Estelle’s
plans for the future are many but one she would like to implement as soon as
possible is to facilitate historical tours (including school tours) at Kedar
Heritage Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa. These tours would include periodic
lectures from experts (both local and international) to promote South African
history and tourism and to improve young people’s knowledge and understanding.
