Estate Living Digital Publication Issue 7 July 2015 | Page 37

VIsionaries
The Mantis Collection

The Mantis ‘Man’
Born in Zambia, schooled in Zimbabwe and educated
in South Africa, Adrian Gardiner’s wide-ranging
experience and far-reaching vision knows no
boundaries. He started his first business venture at 29
and quickly learnt that success was only possible with
a good team, a clear vision and a focussed passion.

Adrian Gardiner

The award-winning Mantis brand is synonymous
with quality, excellence and distinction. The family
run collection has spread its wings across all seven
continents of the globe, encompassing more than 70
of the world’s finest boutique hotels and privately
owned five-star properties. In South Africa the brand
has been involved with successful developments
such as that at Steenberg and the much anticipated
hotel at Pearl Valley Golf and Lifestyle Resort.

His passion for nature was evident in his choice
of brand name – Man and Nature Together Is
Sustainable - powerful words, that when combined
as an acronym, form the even more powerful brand
of Mantis. The name also derives from the praying
mantis insects significant to native South Africans,
who were said to have seen everything through the
eyes of the insects and learnt to value the little things
in life, underpinning the company’s philosophy of
taking care of the small things, knowing that, if they
get them right, the ‘big things’ will be taken care of
automatically.
Planting permanent roots in Port Elizabeth, Adrian
relished the exciting new business opportunities and
for the next 20 years embarked on a rollercoaster
ride, building companies in a multitude of industries.
His love affair with the city is the reason that his
company r