Alan Lester currently holds the title of Managing Principal of The International Hotel School’s Cape Town campus, a position that he filled in June 2011…
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For the love of wine: the secret life of sommeliers
Wine is a huge industry in South Africa and a good wine list can have a huge impact on a restaurantʼs clientele. Weʼve been reading a lot about sommeliers of late, and thought weʼd share some interesting tidbits about life as a sommelier from some big names in the global hospitality industry. To start with, [...]
Becoming a butler is back in style
Admit it – when you think of a butler, you think of Alfred from Batman – an old English guy dressed to the nines, serving the créme de la créme of society…
Steve’s life on a Cruise Ship: Panama Canal
We are slowly getting back to normal. The guests are finally complaining that it is too cold on the ship – music to our ears! For those of you who don’t know, our six star vessel has sailed for over a month …
Advice for local restauranteurs to survive and thrive in 2012
2011 has been an especially trying time for the South African hospitality and restaurant industry, given the difficult local and global economic situation. There’s hope for 2012 though, according to Larry Hodes…
Caledon Casino, Hotel & Spa welcomes passionate “foodie” as new Executive Chef
Published in the Whale Coast Monitor, December 2011 There’s a new Executive Chef at the helm of Caledon Casino, Hotel & Spa’s kitchens, Shaun Bruce. With a wealth of experience in his field and a flair for food, he is already breathing new life into the resort’s back-of-house. Although a man of simple tastes – [...]
Trevor Burgess: IHS Alumnus working his way up at The Oyster Box
We chatted to 28-year old Trevor Burgess to get the 411 on how he went from studying at The International Hotel Schoolʼs Durban campus, to Hotel Concierge and now Guest Relations Butler at The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga…
What does COP17 mean for Durban, South Africa, and the world?
COP17, or the Climate Change Conference 2011, runs from 28 November until 9 December 2011, at the ICC in Durban. Itʼs an important global issue, as well as a huge event for South Africa, and especially for Durban, but how many of us actually know what it is, or what itʼs about?
Steve’s life on a Cruise Ship: Bequia
Well we have reached the other side of the world. Our last cruise was not full but the guests were very demanding and it felt like having a full ship. For the last four days of the cruise, it was also excruciatingly hot. The air-conditioning system broke down and was not working at all – [...]