Brian Rode and Chantelle Venter (pictured here) have recently joined Cheetah Plains Lodge as the General Managers. Both Rode and Venter have been running lodges, guiding and training lodge staff in South Africa and Botswana for the past fifteen years. They have worked in numerous well-known lodges in areas such as the Timbavati Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, Welgevonden Game Reserve, Linyanti and Savuti, The Central Kalahari and the Okavango Delta. Rode has a National Diploma in Nature Conservation, is registered as a professional guide and has a FGASA Level 3 SKS-DA, DG and Ornithology. He is also currently registered as an assessor with for FGASA, and THETA, and worked as a guide-trainer for a large safari company in Botswana. Rode has a keen interest in wildlife photography and a great passion for birdlife. Venter is registered as a professional guide and has a FGASA Level 3 SKS-DA & DG. She is also registered as an assessor with FGASA and THETA. She was Head of Management training for a large safari company and headed up the Localisation Management Training Programme.
John Lee has been appointed as Resorts Director with effect from August 1, 2010 for the Sun International Group. Lee joined Sun International in 1986 as a Divisional Finance Executive and was promoted to Group Financial Manager of Sun International South Africa Limited in 1990, taking up residence at Sun City. During 1993, he also assumed the role of Deputy Chief Operating Officer: Sun City Resort. In July 1995, he was appointed to the Sun International Management Limited board as Director: New Business Development, in which role he played an integral part in the Group being awarded a number of new urban casino licenses in terms of South Africa’s new casino legislation. In 2001 he was appointed as Chief Information Officer for the group and was voted CIO of the year by the Computer Society of South Africa in 2003. In his new role, Lee will be responsible for all Resort properties within the Group and will work closely with the Director of Gaming Operations in managing the Group’s operational portfolio and shared sales and distribution and marketing functions.
Following on his success as General Manager at Premier Hotel Moorings in Knysna, Chris Snyman has also been appointed as GM at the group’s Premier Hotel Cape Manor in Sea Point, Cape Town. Snyman began his professional career by working in some of the finest hotels in and around South Africa including Blaauwklippen Wine Estate, Western Cape Hotel & Spa, Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel, the Table Bay Hotel, Spier Wine Estate, Jumeirah International Hotel (Dubai), Hotel Le Vendome and Pearl Valley Golf Estate in various managerial positions, including Food and Beverage, Operations, Banqueting, and Events Management.
Mmabatho Palms Hotel Casino and Convention Resort has announced the appointment of David Tete as executive chef. His favourite dishes include mushroom risotto served with wrapped supreme chicken, and the local flavours of snoek, pap, venison and potjiekos made with ostrich neck or oxtail.
Josephine Gutentoft, has been appointed as the new Head sommelier at the Grande Roche Hotel and Bosman’s restaurant in Paarl.
