Move to Gqeberha opens doors for GM
New hotel head positive about post-Covid growth in hard-hit industry
No 5 Boutique Hotel by Mantis general manager Dimitri Maritz was born and bred in Bloemfontein but recently moved to Gqeberha.
“I spent the last decade living in Johannesburg making a living in managing hotels. I studied hospitality management and have worked in different properties over the past years as a manager,” he said.
“I had decided to move to Gqeberha and after being interviewed by various parties in the organisation I was eventually hired in the position as general manager for No 5 Boutique Hotel by Mantis.
“The tourism industry was obviously hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic but we are seeing growth again and we are slowly recovering. We are hoping to achieve 2019 levels again very soon.
“So far, I am loving my stay in Gqeberha. It is a beautiful place with tons to offer.”
What is key to running a profitable business?
Having the right people at the right time doing the right thing, consistently.
What is your vision for the hotel?
To be a melting pot for those who have made it and those still busy making it. To be the destination of choice whenever visiting, and also for locals.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Hopefully in the next five years I’ll be making inroads to having my own property.
What is your core service?
We provide luxury accommodation and have a restaurant and bar.
How did Covid-19 impact your business and what did you do to survive the pandemic?
The hospitality sector in general was greatly impacted when tourism came to a complete halt.
To survive we had to learn to lean heavily on the local market and contract differently as everyone was going through a period of adjustment.
How is load-shedding affecting your business?
Increase spend on diesel affects our bottom line and some services not being available during load-shedding affects the end user.
Any tips to help other businesses get through the long bouts of load-shedding?
Alternative energy sources seem to be the only option currently, so invest and investigate different options.
Apart from Covid-19 and loadshedding, what are some of your biggest challenges in dayto-day business operations and your particular industry? Continued local support.
What makes your business unique?
We are committed to conserving the environment. We want to ensure that sustainability and conservation is always a focus.
What is the best advice anyone gave you on success?
Success lies in how you approach failure.
How do you measure or define success in your business?
Guest and staff satisfaction, and
of course our bottom line.
What are some of the best practices that have made your
business successful?
Staff welfare, I feel, serves to inspire the team to take good care of our clients. Be fair in your approach but also be consistent.
What is your company’s
vision?
Mantis is a leading, conservation-focused hotel group with curated hotels, eco-lodges and waterways experiences located all over the world. Sustainable travellers have been enjoying eco-tourism, safaris and adventure travel with Mantis since 2000. Rooted in conservation, Mantis pursues sustainable business practices and develops tourism products that are respectful of the environment and communities in which they operate.
What is your target market?
We believe in conserving tradition. We aim to introduce our guests to authentic destinations.
We highlight and amplify the uniqueness of our lands. Our properties may differ in appearance and offering, but we are all linked through our passion of celebrating locality. This is our golden thread. Our target market is anyone that resonates with our sentiment.
What have some of your highlights been in running your business?
I just recently joined, but learning how well they have managed to maintain the team spirit even after Covid was a highlight.
How important is social media and an online presence for your business?
It is integral for any business
How many people do you employ?
34 staff members.