HONEY AND HANSIE | My long-hair
dachshunds Honey and Hansie are like
children in a way. I carry their passports,
their coats in the winter and their favourite
treats, too. All our Red Carnation hotels go
the extra mile for our VIPs (Very Important Pets). I know how
much I appreciate it when I stay in hotels that are caring and
accommodating to my dogs, and that’s why we offer a dedicated
pet concierge with activities like doggie high teas and walking and
grooming services, as well as comfortable beds and delicious treats.
CASHMERE BLANKET | I travel regularly to visit
our Red Carnation hotels and our wonderful
teams of people in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland,
South Africa and the USA. It’s important to feel
comfortable when I fly, so that I feel rested when
I arrive. I always travel with a cashmere blanket to
keep me cosy and warm on the plane.
iPHONE 8 | Keeping in touch with the significant
people in my life is very important to me, from my
wonderful family and friends to our talented general
managers and executive chefs. I speak with each of
our hotels at least once a week and remain available
to them at any time, which is why I always travel with
my phone. It’s also a useful tool for connecting with our guests. I
read every single guest comment daily; by listening and responding
to their feedback we are able to tweak and enhance our hotel
experiences to ensure we always deliver the finest service.
REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE | As a passionately
responsible hospitality business, one of the
ways our hotel collection is working to protect
the planet is through our commitment to
completely phasing out unnecessary single-use
plastics across our operations and offices. I take
this sustainability pledge just as seriously in my
personal life; I always travel with one of our stylish, reusable Red
Carnation water bottles and a small, collapsible doggy bowl for
Honey and Hansie to use if they get thirsty on our travels.
CULINARY AND DESIGN MAGAZINE | We like
to innovate, and I’m mindful to keep up with
the latest trends in luxury design, travel and
cuisine. I always have copies of these sorts
of magazines from all over the world with
me. I enjoy flicking through the pages for
inspiration and sharing new ideas with the hotel teams, design
department and chefs.
SUNGLASSES | When my husband travels,
he often handpicks a pair of sunglasses
for me, so I tend to have a pair for every
occasion. This is helpful when visiting our hotels – especially The
Twelve Apostles in Cape Town (which offers the longest hours of
sunshine in the country) or The Oyster Box in Durban, where we
had our first date.