HILTON IN THE LIMELIGHT

Some residents were pleasantly surprised and excited while watching TV when familiar shots of their quaint village flashed across the screen.

Hilton was showcased in a segment on Kyknet’s lifestyle programme ‘Ontbytsake’ last month.

Natasha Zietsman was overjoyed to see her village highlighted on national TV.

“We watch [Ontbytsake] quite often, so it was fantastic to watch our village getting featured,” she said.

The lifestyle focussed programme aims to highlight towns and businesses and special aspects of South Africa, and Zietsman was impressed with how nicely and accurately they captured the heart of the Hilton village.

Incidentally, she also featured in the segment as she was gyming at Andy’s Gym, at Mount Verde, on the day the producers shot scenes there.

For Zietsman, what makes Hilton so special is the way the small village has expanded and grown, without taking away the “artisan feel” that makes Hilton so special and unique, and the strong community-centredness and support for small local business that gives Hilton its special flavour.

The Ontbytsake episode that featured Hilton was aired on Saturday, May 29, and showcased a variety of Hilton’s restaurants, guesthouses, estates, health centres and schools.

Businesses that featured included Hilton Bush Lodge, Mount Verde Estate, Hilton Health and Wellness Centre, Life Hilton Hospital and Local Choice Hilton Pharmacy, as well as many shots of local businesses along Hilton Avenue, including Station Stop Coffee Shop and The Upper Millstone.

The episode praised Hilton for having a few of the best schools and health facilities, as well as “excellent” restaurants and guesthouses.

The Hilton Bush Lodge was also featured prominently alongside Mount Verde. Hilton Bush Lodge general manager Kate Olivier said they hoped the segment would help get their name out further than KwaZulu-Natal and help them gain even more exposure and access to a different demographic, especially in light of the impact Covid-19 has had on the hospitality industry.

She said the programme highlighted Hilton beautifully.

Speaking of Hilton’s charm that attracts this kind of national exposure, Olivier said it’s definitely the diversity Hilton has to offer for a small village.

“We’re a bush lodge with indigenous game within a stone’s throw of a growing town, and the doorstep to the Midlands Meander. Hilton’s diversity is definitely a draw card.”