Industry backs penguin pilgrimage

AN eager army of Cape-bound pilgrims from Gauteng had little time for entertainment at the weekend when they flew south on eight free flights sponsored by South African Airways (SAA) to assist with the continued massive clean-up of 14 000 oil-soaked penguins. Southern Sun Hotels also donated more than 600 room nights to a local radio station's Penguin Pilgrimage, which saw hundreds of listeners responding to the unique challenge. "We jumped at the opportunity to become involved and subsequently decided to sponsor the hotel accommodation in full as our contribution to saving one of South Africa's national tourism assets," said Richard Weilers, Southern Sun's group marketing director. "For our part, Southern Sun is extremely proud to play a role in this worthy initiative." On landing at Cape Town International Airport, the pilgrims were directed to Springbok Atlas buses and transported to their allocated hotels for check-in prior to departing by bus for the SANCCOB (South African National Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) penguin sanctuary in Salt River. The three Southern Sun hotels offering accommodation were the Cape Sun Inter-Continental, the Holiday Inn Cape Town Waterfront and the Cullinan Cape Town Waterfront, which all entered into the spirit of the event, with banners, posters and tuxedo-dressed management to welcome the pilgrims on arrival. In addition, a number of rooms at each hotel were emptied of furniture and stocked with towels and soap for pilgrims to clean up before they left for home on Sunday. Two other Southern Sun hotels - the Holiday Inn Garden Court Cape Town St Georges Mall and the Holiday Inn Garden Court Port Elizabeth King's Beach - had already contributed to the clean-up operation by donating guest towels due for replacement. (Elizabeth Sheridan)