Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts Corporate profile
Southern Sun has been involved in the Timeshare Industry for over 30 years, originally as a Developer of Timeshare as an exciting new holiday option, while nowadays it is actively involved in the management and administration of the individual Share Block companies that own these Timeshare Resorts. The first Share Block company was Umhlanga Sands which started operating as a Share Block company in the early 1980s, followed thereafter by Cabana Beach, Beacon Island, Drakensberg Sun, Sabi River Sun and Pine Lake Resorts. All Southern Sun managed Resorts and Timeshare businesses are grouped under the Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts brand.
There are in excess of 43,000 Weeks at the Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts managed Share Blocks, owned by 33,000 individual Timeshare Shareholders. Certain of the Shareholders are Points Clubs and the accommodation owned by these Clubs is available to their members. All Share Block companies are public companies and their owners, the Shareholders in the companies, enjoy the right to occupy a specific Week at the particular Resort.
Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts manages the collection of levies which are the most important part of the financial wellbeing of the companies, provides a full accounting service to the companies, prepares Quarterly and Annual Reports for Directors and arranges the Annual General Meetings of the companies. In addition, Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts manages the Resort operation on behalf of the Shareholders to the equivalent of a four-star standard and all Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts. Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts have received many awards and accolades for quality and service and are all highly regarded.
Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts manages the staffing of each Resort, ensuring that outsourced operators such as Housekeeping, Cleaning and Security are performing and oversees the Food and Beverage Operations, where these services are offered. General Managers of the Resorts are well experienced, having been trained at Southern Sun in a number of different fields and lead by example. Staff training and motivation is extremely important and the Southern Sun Group has embarked on a programme called Siyakhanya (We Shine), embracing all staff members and instilling the Southern Sun values, being People Centred, Integrity, Reliability, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork. Staff has accepted the programme with enthusiasm and the benefits are visible at the Resorts and noticed by our guests who are always impressed and complimentary at the service level received from the staff members.
Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts also provides a Sales and Rental service for and on behalf of owners who either wish to sell their Weeks, purchase other Weeks or let out their Weeks when not used. These services are only provided to Share Block companies managed by Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts. Sales/Rental Agents are all registered with the Estate Agency Affairs Board, accredited by Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts and are based at the Resort.
In addition, Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts offers a Share Transfer service which records the changes in ownership from sales and purchases of the shares of the various Share Block companies.
During 2008, after many months of negotiation, the decision was made to again manage and control SunSwop, the exclusive exchange service for Timeshare Owners in the Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts portfolio. Interval International has been contracted to provide the servicing of members of SunSwop, which includes a call centre, depositing and exchanges of accommodation and international exchanges. All Shareholders who were previously automatically members of RCI are now automatically members of SunSwop with the added choice that if they wish to retain their RCI membership, they may do so in a private capacity.
Over the last several years, the Resorts managed by Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts have been refurbished to a very high standard resulting in an increased demand for accommodation. SunSwop will give preference to Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts Timeshare owners who are extremely loyal to the Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts brand and their Resorts. SunSwop has been well received by Timeshare owners who can swap into not only Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts, but into more than 40 prestigious Resorts in Southern Africa as well as being able to swap internationally into the Interval International Resorts.
At present, Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts is investigating the development of further Timeshare properties in and around South Africa. Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts offers the full spectrum of services to Timeshare owners from the development of a Resort through to the administration, management, sale and purchase of shares, letting of accommodation and providing an exchange service.
For more information, please call Deon Viljoen, Director of Operations, Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts on +27 (0)31 561 2204.
Q & A with Deon Viljoen
Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts
Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts
Please tell us how Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts fits in to the Southern Sun group of companies?
[Deon] The Southern Sun Group has 5 unique brands. Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts is the Resorts brand for the Southern Sun Group in South Africa. Herewith a list of the Resorts in the brand.
Umhlanga Sands Lifestyle Resort “identity - Kid is King” and Cabana Beach Lifestyle Resort “identity – a Timeless Classic” in Umhlanga. Both these two Resorts are fixed week timeshare Resorts and operate a successful rental pool and re sales service.
Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort “identity – the Place to Be Seen” in Plettenberg Bay is quoted as being the most photographed Resort in SA. Beacon Island Lifestyle Resort is a fixed week timeshare property and also has a rental pool and re sales service.
Sabi River Sun Lifestyle Resort adjacent to Hazyview, “identity – The Heart of the Lowveld” has a Southern Sun hotel as well as fixed week timeshare Chalets, a magnificent golf course and wildlife.
The Drakensberg Sun Lifestyle Resort “identity – The Pearl of the Mountains”, central Berg area, has a Southern Sun hotel, fixed week timeshare Apartments and fixed week timeshare Chalets. When you think of the Drakensberg Sun Lifestyle Resort think National Geographic – one of a handful Platinum environmentally operated Resorts in Africa.
Pine Lake Lifestyle Resort just outside White River “identity – Gateway to the Country”, has fixed week timeshare Chalets and a true gem.
Riverside Hotel and Conference Centre is an icon on the Vaal River ideal for conferences, family holidays and water sports.
The Caledon Casino, Hotel and Spa has the legendary and historical hot mineral baths and renown for conferences and family holidays.
Our newest addition is the Newcastle Casino, Hotel and Spa and is perfect for a gaming or conference getaway in the country.
All Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts offers extensive entertainment for the whole family and are operated as 4 star Resorts.
Which is your flagship vacation ownership resort?
[Deon] Each Resort is unique in its destination, in fact in most cases, defines the destination. Its not possible to choose a flagship as they all are. Which is why I always holiday at work!
How are you involved with VOASA (Vacation Ownership Association of Southern Africa)?
[Deon] All of our timeshare Resorts and business units are members of VOASA, I serve on the board and I am the current chairman of VOASA.
You are working hard at getting the industry to collaborate and work together, how do you foresee key players within our vacation ownership industry working together in order to educate and support consumers?
[Deon] VOASA has truly come of age over the last few years and now represents all sectors of the vacation ownership industry in SA. Relationships between all the industry sectors has never been better and with its new and updated strategy, VOASA is set to engage all communities in the vacation ownership industry in Southern Africa.
You mentioned at the recent VOASA 2009 conference that you are very environmentally conscious as a company, and looking for ways to become greener. How are you implementing eco-friendly services within your organisation?
[Deon] The Southern Sun Group has a stated environmental management strategy and all of our Hotels and Resorts has implemented a range of best practice standards. Its not only the right thing to do, it makes economic sense and pleases our staff and guests.
Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts recently affiliated with Interval International for global exchanges – how does benefit your owners?
[Deon] Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts has created its own exchange company, SunSwop, which has been affiliated with Interval International. By doing this, Southern Sun Lifestyle Resorts has been able to ring fence Southern Sun timeshare weeks, specifically for the benefit of Southern Sun timeshare owners’ exchanges.
By contracting Interval International a competitive exchange environment has been established in South Africa for the benefit of all.
What changes within the vacation ownership industry do you envisage for 2010?
[Deon] VOASA will be playing a critical role and in many legislative and regulatory issues in 2010 and we will see an expanded engagement from VOASA with all of the communities in the vacation ownership industry in SA.
Harley or Ducati?
[Deon] If you actually want to experience riding a motorbike, Harley Davidson. If you want to wonder what happened or where you have been, I’d say Ducati!
Contact Details
| Location: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Contact person: Shirley Earle Office Phone: +27 (0)31 561 2204 Cell Phone: Not Available Email: Email agent Website: Visit website |
Featured Article
An environmental success story at Drakensberg Sun Lifestyle Resort
Being situated on the boundaries of uKhahlamba-Drakensberg UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Africa, it stands to reason the Drakensberg Sun Lifestyle Resort would be compelled to be environmentally conscious, and they have done an excellent job, being led not by legislation, but by complete passion. Spend an hour or two with Erno, Warren and the ‘Green Team’ and you’ll be tossing your obnoxious chemicals, and planning your own wormery and recycling centre with just as much enthusiasm and understand why they recently achieved a Platinum rating through the Heritage Environmental Management Company.
We started our morning with a hearty buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant overlooking the resort’s private lake – the country-style buffet is a wonderful way to interact with the staff, who are always happy to share a story or two with their guests. ‘Cheffie’ (a.k.a. Warren Bell – the executive chef with a passion for the environment) took us through the inner workings of the hotel, and it became very evident that great care is taken to educate staff on environmental issues. The on-site registered Environmental Trainer ensures all staff are trained on environmental issues & policies, for example: the S.O.S (switch off something) Programme, a communication program aimed at raising awareness to the importance of energy conservation, and how it impacts our environment; and the Environmental Awareness programme, a visual awareness program aimed to raise awareness of the environment and our impact, and to re-emphasise the waste policy.
To ensure that environmental policies are upheld and practiced, a ‘Green Team’ has been formulated, consisting of the majority of the HOD’s, who meets on a monthly basis. “We are trying to educate our current suppliers and affiliate ourselves with eco friendly suppliers and contractors, in a bid to make our property more green. In the process, we are trying to raise awareness of environmental challenges,” says Warren, Chairman of the ‘Green Team’. The kitchen and in-house laundry switched over to eco friendly chemicals resulting in less consumption, and less harmful elements reaching the environment. On arrival all guests are given an in-house welcome newspaper (printed on recycled paper) that includes relevant information on Drakensberg Sun’s environmental practices, as well as relevant information on the hotel’s general operations.
Roland Luke, a Green Team member, has been appointed as Honorary Officer for Parks Board, and is also involved in conservancy of rock arts in the area as well as the establishment of the Raptor Restaurant. Endemic birds of prey are encouraged back into the area by placing carcasses in a dedicated area where the Cape vultures feed 3 – 4 times per week. There may be between 60 – 150 vultures at any feeding time, which includes a breeding pair of Bearded vultures. In 1991/1992 an epidemic obliterated the dassie population in the Cathkin Valley area. Roland recently started the Dassie rehabilitation programme to re-introduce dassies back into the property in an area which used to be their natural habitat. This will result in the return of the Black Eagle, as dassies form part of their staple diet. As a registered conservancy the feasibility of erecting game fencing, and the possible introduction of certain game (bulk grazers, which will reduce the fire break burning requirements) on the property is under consideration.
Walking through the extensive grounds it is evident that great care and commitment is taken to eradicate alien vegetation and replant with indigenous trees and shrubs. A small indigenous nursery has been established to replace the felled alien trees and eradicated plants, and although in its early stages, has more then 1800 trees, including Dias Cotinifolio (pom-pom trees), ...
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