PRESS RELEASE
BON HOTEL BLOEMFONTEIN CENTRAL CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Focussed on diversity, equity and inclusion, not only has this Free State favourite stood the test of time, but it’s also leading the way in responsible tourism
CAPE TOWN, 2 AUGUST 2022 – BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central holds a special place in BON Hotel’s portfolio. The hotel, which is situated in the heart of Bloemfontein’s business district, celebrates its 50th birthday in August 2022.
The hotel, under the leadership of GM Pieter Van Rooyen, is renowned for its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), borne out by their recent Gold Award in the 2022 World Responsible Tourism Awards – Africa region.
“Fifty years on and BON Hotel Bloemfontein is still rated as one of the best hotels in South Africa,” says BON Hotels CEO Guy Stehlik. “And while it has a long history and strong roots in the Bloemfontein community, it’s ahead of the curve when it comes to issues of empowerment, sustainability and responsible tourism.”
This year at WTM Africa, BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central was shortlisted in the Increasing Diversity in Tourism category, eventually scooping gold for their shareholding structure, training and development programme, and partnership with Towers of Hope, an NGO located across the street from the hotel which works to improve the lives of marginalised citizens in the inner-city of Bloemfontein.
BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central is owned by three shareholders and the staff. In 2007 the hotel appointed previously-disadvantaged staff members to the board of directors and went on to create a staff share trust. Fifty-one per cent of the shares in the business is allocated to staff, with the initiative self-funded from the hotel’s profits.
“It’s a real point of difference – and point of pride – for the BON Hotel team,” says GM Pieter Van Rooyen. “We are committed to investing in our people and in our community, and are building an inclusive workplace where everyone in the hotel from cleaners to managers has a share in the success of the hotel. The staff have ownership which facilitates staff retention through development and promotion – and enhances service delivery. Most of our management team have progressed through the ranks.”
BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central has also cemented a strong relationship with Towers of Hope in order to upskill and empower previously-disadvantaged members of the community.
“It’s an exciting time for the BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central team,” says Stehlik. “Not only can they look back and celebrate 50 years, which is a massive milestone, but they can also look forward to an incredibly bright future as a hotel committed to demonstrable change – and showing others in the industry how it can be done.”
- BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central (Free State)
- Royal Palm Hotel and Apartments by BON Hotels (KwaZulu-Natal)
- BON Hotel Empangeni (KwaZulu-Natal)
- BON Hotel Waterfront Richards Bay (KwaZulu-Natal)
- BON Hotel Rustenburg (North West)
- Buckler’s Africa Lodge by BON Hotels (Mpumalanga)
- Shishangeni by BON Hotels (Mpumalanga)
- Mountain View by BON Hotels (Mbabane)
- Protea Hotel Durbanville (Cape Town, Western Cape)
- Cape Diamond Boutique Hotel by BON Hotels
ENDS
BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central are hosting a cocktail party from 18h00 on Saturday, 13 August to mark the occasion.
For more information on the event, comment, or a gallery of images please contact:
Marelise Stehlik – marelise@bonhotels.com
Teresa Richardson – teresa@bigambitions.co.za
For radio interviews with Guy Stehlik and Pieter Van Rooyen to discuss:
- BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central’s 50th milestone;
- Why the hotel has stood the test of time;
- How the hospitality industry can ‘build back better’; and
- Diversity, equity and inclusion in the hospitality industry
Please contact Claire Lathe – claire@bigambitions.co.za
About BON Hotels
Founded in 2013 by hotelier and businessman, Guy Stehlik and his management team with a collective 127 years in hospitality, BON Hotels is a South African based hotel company that manages, markets, administrates and owns hotels, lodges and resorts throughout Southern Africa, as well as West and East Africa –a fast-growing, exciting and leading African hotel group.
BON Hotels has been providing hotels, resorts and lodges with their renowned management, marketing and administration systems, their acclaimed blueprints and business plans to ensure their full potential in South Africa, DRC, Namibia, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia. While hotel, lodge or resort owners may indeed have a vision for their properties, the BON Group has the foresight and experience in operating under tricky African conditions, whilst managing expectations for the owner in terms of budgets, marketing and other planning that goes into the running of a hospitality business.
Driven by the ethos of “Good people. Good thinking. Good feeling”, BON Hotels believes in creating loyalty among their guests, suppliers, hotel owners and stakeholders, by bringing a relevant and owner-focused approach to every aspect of hotel administration, management and marketing.
Media Contact:
Big Ambitions
Contact: Claire Lathe
Tel: +27 84 245 2189
Email: Claire@bigambitions.co.za
