... Continued
from my mother ’ s first visit in 1969 when the cabana rooms were still the site of the Copacabana nightclub . ‘ Welcome home ’ is the usual arrival greeting for us , but John Aritho and his team go out of their way to make every guest feel special , whether they are a ‘ newbie ’ or a 50-year veteran !
We extended this stopover to ten nights to provide much-needed R & R and sea air after the rigours of the lockdown in mid-year . The extension enabled me to meet Steve Sewell from GolfVistaSA ( DGT ’ s information partner on golf in the region ) and discuss new plans for the website and its developing role as a shop window for vacation packages and products . Any golfer planning a family trip will find this site very useful , as it details the golf courses in each area and things to do , places of interest , etc . near each golf club . I also spent some time with Samantha Croft ( director of KZN region operation ’ s and Tsogo Sun ’ s resorts ’ portfolio ) during which she shared intel on some of the challenges and successes , during the lockdown and in it its aftermath . The good news is that the rationalisation of staff numbers and processes have pared off fat accumulated over years without compromise to the guest experience . This was certainly my experience and watching the teams of Pranesh Sukhdeo ( Drakensberg Sun ) and Wayne Smith ( Elangeni ), ‘ choreograph ’ staff and guests seamlessly through a Covid-safe modified buffet-breakfast , was an education .
Umhlanga is ideally placed for golf at Mount-Edgecombe and northwards to Zimbali and Princes Grant and non-golfers will have little concern about the golfers ’ absence , as the Beverly Hills is one of only a handful of
42 DestinationGolf . travel