When the Tollman family and Red Carnation Hotels officially opened the new spa at the Twelve Apostles Hotel in Cape Town this week, the group’s South African executive chefs combined their skills to feed and entertain the stream of guests invited to tour the revamped facility.
In the picture above are, from left, Henrico Grobbelaar from Twelve Apostles, Kevin Joseph from The Oyster Box and Floris Smith from Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat.
Guests were welcomed by Toni Tollman, who announced the introduction of a new range of South African spa and body care products named in honour of her mother Bea Tollman, the founder and president of Red Carnation.
The B Africa range will be used in the spas at the group’s three South African properties and some of the products will be part of the in-room amenities in the guest rooms.
Rene Baatjes is manager of the new spa built into the mountainside next to the hotel, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean between Cape Town and Llandudno.
Hotel manager Brett Davidge told Hotel & Restaurant that the arrival of spring had seen a sudden surge in occupancy to around 85% at the hotel and confirmed that the best suites were occupied by wealthy foreign visitors.
Kevin Joseph, executive chef at the Oyster Box in Umhlanga, said business at the KZN hotel was also booming. “Being right on the coast at Umhlanga and having such a great product has made us the place to be in KZN. And hosting the royal couple from Monaco for their honeymoon has helped to spread the word.”
Joseph, who has been at the hotel for about eight years, says being part of the Red Carnation team has made it possible for him to travel the world and expand his skills and knowledge.
Also on hand to chat to guests were Vicki Tollman and Jill Wagner, Red Carnation’s marketing manager for its South African properties.
In addition to its South African properties, Red Carnation owns and operates small luxury hotels in London, Dorset on the English south coast, Geneva and Palm Beach, Florida.
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