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The Saxon Achieves Record Tourism Grading

Hotel Booking By Anna Gouldman

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Travel Agency The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg recently achieved an outstanding 99.34% for its Tourism Grading Assessment for the Counsil of South Africa, setting an exemplorary 5 star standard. This is highest grade that assessor Mark Goveia has ever awarded any hotel. BTN speaks to Richard Johnston, General Manager at The Saxon, to find out just what it takes to maintain this type of impressive standard.

star grading by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa which is considered 'Excellent'.

Cheap Hotel BTN: Richard. Thanks for talking to us. Can you tell me a about yourself and your experience in the hospitality industry?
RJ: I was trained in The UK and France. After leaving hotel school I joined The Savoy Group where I worked in two of their properties, namely, The Connaught in London and Le Lancaster in Paris. Thereafter I went to Monaco where I worked at LHotel de Paris. Since being in South Africa I have managed a number of hotels including Cape Grace, The Vineyard and The Victoria and Alfred. I came to Saxon in December 2002.

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Flight Booking BTN: Can you tell me about the location of The Saxon along with a basic description of the property?
RJ: Saxon has some six acres of very natural African garden situated in Sandhurst in Sandton. Sandton is now the business and shopping centre of Johannesburg where the stock exchange is located and where all the leading designer labels Gucci , Vuitton , Bally to name just three have their boutiques Saxon is five minutes drive from this centre in an area that is known for embassies and consulates.

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Travel Agent BTN: How are occupancy rates at The Saxon and how do those compare to 2004, and 2003? RJ: Our occupancy rates have remained consistent overall although the USA market is steadily growing.

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Hotel Chicago BTN: What nationality are your guests?
RJ: Our leisure guests are mainly from The USA the corporate/business sector is truly international.

Online Booking BTN: What is the average stay at the property for guests?
RJ: The average length of stay is 2-3 days.

Travel Health Insurance BTN: Who is your main competitor and what differentiates The Saxon from other five star properties in the region?
RJ: There is no real competitor Saxon is unique in Johannesburg

Hotel Reservation BTN: Can you tell me about the set up of the staff?
RJ: We have 130 staff servicing 24 suites, restaurant and conferencing. We have a policy of promoting from within which has resulted in a number of our managers coming from the previously disadvantaged community. Our kitchen staff are very well trained and we now make everything ourselves including bread and pastries. In South Africa this is rare as most hotels buy- in products.

London Hotel Booking BTN: Can you tell me a little background of the Tourism Grading of South Africa? When it began? What is its objective? What are the criteria for assessment? Is it compulsory?
RJ: Tourism Grading in South Africa has been in place for many years the objective is to ensure that the guest gets the quality that he is paying for for example a three star hotel will have certain standards and charge a certain price the hotel grading system simply guarantees that the guest will get the correct value for money it is not compulsory.

Discount Travel There are certain set criteria that are laid down and then checked against some are relating to the physical plant - are the carpets in good condition? is the linen in good condition? Other criteria relate to the quality of food and service.

Orlando Hotel BTN: Mark Goveia described the Saxon as a hotel where exemplorary 5 * standards are being maintained and awarded you 99.34%, the highest mark he has ever given for Tourism Grading of South Africa. Congratulations on this fantastic achievement. What does it mean to you?
RJ: It is very good for staff morale and makes them realize how important detail, consistency and friendliness is.

Booking Agency BTN: What differentiates The Saxon from other hotels in the region?
RJ: The design of Saxon is unique the suites are very large and the overall dcor is very pleasing one could describe the d cor as being contemporary African with a hint of the Far East Bali/Indonesia, as some of the artifacts come from that part of the world. The location, the gardens and the general understated feel of the Saxon make us different.

International Travel Medical BTN: What is the most important factor in providing a good overall service?
RJ: Focus and concentration the staff know how to provide great service we as managers just have to ensure that no staff member takes their eye off the ball

New York Hotel BTN: How do you maintain these standards?
RJ: My Managers and Staff need to know what Saxon standards are in the first place we are constantly asking ourselves the question is this what a guest would expect from us? When something does go wrong, it is investigated in depth to find the root cause of the problem then we make sure it does not happen again.

Online Travel Booking BTN: Is the Internet an important distribution channel for The Saxon?
RJ: The internet is becoming increasingly important to us.

Travel Medical Insurance BTN: How important is it to offer guests wireless Internet services?
RJ: We consider it essential in this day and age.

Miami Hotel BTN: What are your goals for 2005? Are there any developments in pipeline that you can comment on?
RJ: This year we are opening (1st October) the most fabulous spa we have done some serious research and study and are confident that we will offer our guests a world class experience.

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