Hotels: business slow, but better

The effect of lockdown on the hospitality industry has been far-reaching. There is a ray of hope that the opening up of leisure travel within provincial borders could bring a bit of business to the George area and some local establishments have reopened in the hope of attracting their share of potential visitors to their doors.

Fancourt Hotel will be reopening on 1 September for intra-provincial leisure and business travel, according to sales and marketing director Peter Dros. "We look forward to the other travel restrictions being lifted as soon as possible. We will also then be opening additional restaurants and facilities for our hotel guests and members." Currently, the golf courses are only open for Fancourt members, and one restaurant, Monet's, is operational.

Dros said the estate has not been immune to the negative financial impact of the lockdown. "We have started restructuring the business by looking at our operational requirements to secure the estate's long-term sustainability. To this end, Fancourt is in the process of consultations with staff and we expect this process to be completed by the end of August. We will do our utmost not only to support our staff during this difficult time, but to ensure the entire consultation process is handled with confidentiality, care, empathy and fairness to all."

Oubaai Hotel manager Brian Ng-YukShing said only 25 of the 100 rooms in the hotel are available for bookings. Of the four restaurants only the Herolds Bistro & Bar is open. "Business is picking up, but it's not wow. It's better than nothing." He said staff layoffs have not been necessary.

The local Hotel Possible group, that owns six hotels in the Southern Cape including Fairy Knowe and Oakhurst, has opened all except the Wilderness Hotel. The hotel's operational manager, Leon de Kock, said so far no layoffs of staff have been necessary, thanks to the UIF Ters benefits that have been extended to 15 August.