Q & A DE HOOP COLLECTION structures were completely derelict, but we carefully preserved their original look and feel, from the architecture to the interior decor.
What have been some of the most defining moments in your journey as a business owner and conservation advocate?
The most defining moment was the Covid-19 lockdown and how we navigated it with limited resources while also ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our staff and their families. Clear communication about the realities we faced, alongside our commitment not to retrench any staff, helped us muddle through the crisis, for which there was no previous reference for guidance.
One of our proudest moments came at the graduation ceremony of our Field Guide( FGASA) training courses, where three of the graduates were from a squatter camp and had been unemployed students. The training was intense, and these individuals had considered dropping out but were persuaded to finish. At the ceremony, they shared their journey from desperate unemployment in a squatter community to becoming highly respected figures in their own communities, with a soughtafter skill in tourism. Seeing them challenge life and succeed was incredibly rewarding; it’ s those small steps that help turn unemployment into hope.
Our annual Christmas party at the De Hoop Collection has become a reminder of how we’ ve become mentors and role models to our staff, many of whom have come from difficult and dysfunctional backgrounds. The joy of happy staff creates a happier, more fulfilling environment for all. ensure it creates long-term value?
Unemployment in communities is a scourge we all need to help resolve through ongoing skills transfer and training for the staff. At De Hoop, our businesses prioritise employing locals, and with a 10x multiplier on our purchases, salaries and expenditure, we currently contribute approximately R500 million annually to local communities and businesses. Once all developments in De Hoop are complete, this multiplier effect will increase to nearly R1billion per year, significantly boosting the local economy.
Several businesses in Bredasdorp recognise us as the cornerstone of their growth and success. Lower unemployment leads to less crime and results in happier, more successful communities.
We’ re also introducing a staff empowerment scheme, where employees will become shareholders and active participants in the company. This fully funded initiative highlights the importance of our staff, who are key to delivering a top-tier guest experience. A happy staff leads to happy guests.
What is your long-term vision for De Hoop Collection and for your own legacy in the tourism and conservation space?
The long-term vision for the De Hoop Collection is to complete all investment opportunities within the Reserve on a sustainable basis, optimising returns for our investors and PPP partners, and ensuring a positive impact on the local community and our staff. Skills upliftment and training are key priorities, alongside empowering our team, investing in their futures and mentoring them to inspire their growth.
How do you see the role of eco-tourism evolving in South Africa?
Eco-tourism offers one of the quickest ways to address South Africa’ s most pressing issue – high unemployment. It requires the development of skills across all areas, from management and guiding, to housekeeping and cooking.
At De Hoop, we focus on equipping and training our staff to rise above their current circumstances, helping them progress into roles they might have thought were out of reach; for example, a gate guard becoming a general manager. We believe that if a business is successful, it supports its people. Passionate, competent individuals are essential to building a strong, effective team.
What role does community development play in your business model, and how do you
Our legacy within De Hoop will be the restoration and preservation of its heritage for future generations, standing as the flagship of CapeNature ' s reserves.
We aim to establish a solid foundation for sustainability by developing and investing in all available opportunities. The asset value of these developments will transfer to CapeNature at the end of the concessions, valued at over R300 million. In addition, we will create a sustainable annuity through concession fees, enabling CapeNature to further its environmental and conservation goals on a long-term basis.
Ultimately, we will have transformed the lives of unemployed locals through employment, skills development and training. These individuals will become role models in their communities, achieving successful careers that are highly valued within the industry and eventually becoming partners in our business. ■
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