FINANCE: New bosses of hotels upbeat
Seasoned executives appointed at two leading city beachfront venues
NELSON Mandela Bay has continued to attract the country’s top hospitality industry professionals, with two widely experienced hoteliers having been appointed to head two of Port Elizabeth’s premier hotels and the region’s leading tourist and leisure attraction.
Sun International’s Mike van Vuuren, 54, who recently over-tel saw the R1-billion upgrade of the company’s iconic Sun City resort, has been appointed general manager of the Sun Boardwalk Hotel, Casino and Entertainment Complex on the city’s beachfront.
Meanwhile, Yashvir Jithoo, 39, has been appointed to the same role for the nearby Radisson Blu Hotel, which falls within the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
In addition to his responsibilities at the sprawling, five-star ho- complex, Van Vuuren will also lead the management of the Fish River Sun, near Port Alfred.
Neither Jithoo nor Van Vuuren, who took up their respective new positions last month, are strangers to the province, with Jithoo’s wife hailing from Port Elizabeth and Van Vuuren – who is originally from the province – owning property in Kenton.
Van Vuuren replaces Brett Hoppe who has been posted to Pretoria where Sun International is developing its new Times Square Hotel and entertainment offering. Jithoo has taken over from Desmond O’Connor, who was posted to Cape Town ahead of a new 318-bed Radisson Blu hotel development which is expected to become operational in March.
Boasting 29 years with Sun international, Van Vuuren started at the company as a financial manager in South Africa, before going on to serve in the same position in Swaziland and then Botswana, and then appointed to a regional financial management role. After several other promotions, he was appointed Sun City managing executive in 2013.
Jithoo, who cut his teeth on the restaurant side of the hospitality industry before joining a Sun International hotel in Zambia, went on to serve at a number of leading accommodation establishments.
These included the Conrad Pezula resort in Knysna.
Prior to moving to the Bay, Jithoo was general manager of Tsogo Sun’s Riverside Sun on the Vaal River near Johannesburg.
Looking at the year ahead, Van Vuuren said plans at the Boardwalk included giving attention to the retail side of the business.
Jithoo said while he was still familiarising himself with the hotel, meaning it was too soon to announce any major plans, among his first tasks would be to continue working on reinforcing the Radisson brand, focus on growing the various arms of the business and also reinforcing the hotel’s market positioning as a food and drinks leader.
“Working towards better returns for our shareholders is naturally also a main priority.
“What I have learnt here so far is that there is certainly potential for growth in the industry in Port Elizabeth.
“The waterfront project I have heard about could also prove to be a significant catalyst for growth. It could help turn PE into another Cape Town.”
Jithoo said the Radisson had enjoyed a buoyant December trading month.
It could help turn PE into another Cape Town