Cape Town - Zwinoni Lodge owner Emmah Makatu has won the Tsogo Sun Book a Guesthouse – Guesthouse of the Year 2013. The programme is the only one of its kind in South Africa, with 92 percent of the programme’s members being black South African women.
Through its Book a Guesthouse programme, Tsogo Sun has contributed directly to the creation of 258 jobs and indirectly to the creation of more than 2 000.
Located next to the Rietvlei Nature Reserve on Milnerton Ridge in Cape Town, Zwinoni – which means “birds” in Venda – is a favourite for bird-watchers and guests seeking beauty, luxury and tranquillity.
Zwinoni Lodge was built by Makatu on a 1 200m2 property with the idea of living and running her business there.
Zwinoni has 10 elegant en-suite bedrooms equipped with satellite TV, a mini-bar and tea and coffee facilities, and they overlook the gardens. There is also a conference room for about 25 people.
Makatu is impressed by Tsogo Sun’s offering to entrepreneurs.
“Most of my time with Book a Guesthouse has featured highlights of one sort or another – the excellent training, the annual conferences, interacting with other female entrepreneurs, as well as with directors of Tsogo Sun, the internet services and more,” she says. - Saturday Star