Blog Africa

Reality versus Perception

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:18:00 +0200

Is failure an ingredient for success? Our initial response might be no way, but there is a big difference between perception and reality. When we think about what it takes to be successful, things like dedication, purpose, passion, and action come to mind. Rarely does anyone think of failure as being a key component of success. The reality however is that all successful people have failed...several times. In fact, we've all failed somewhere along the way. What you then find is the paradigm of perception or reality. Managing the right balance of perception and /or reality for your brand means knowing when to communicate and when to take action. But most importantly, it means first understanding the performance issues that matter to the people who matter to you. Getting a handle on the opportunities for improvement in linking performance and brand strategy takes a clear understanding of the gap between what's actually happening and what the public believes is happening. On one side is perception and brand image; on the other, operational reality. In the last 12 months I have come to realize this profound truth. In times of crisis, your reputation is the easiest thing to lose and the hardest thing to replace. And how do you replace those reputations? By bringing reality to the fold through performance."You will always define events in a manner which will validate your agreement with reality." -- Steve Maraboli, (Life, the Truth, and Being Free ). Our event this year is declaring a positive bottom line- declaring our reality to those that matter to us. Best, Shingi

Of dollars and cents&.

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 05:19:00 +0200

As I write this, I am reflecting on the mounting global economic concerns in the recent days. Of note are the United States of America's credit rating being downgraded and the debt crisis being faced by Italy. These occurrences are cyclical and typical of economies and businesses worldwide. Closer to home, I recently communicated our decision to exit out of the South African operations. While it was a tough decision that the board and management had to make, it is a normal turn of events for any hospitality company that hotels will be opened and hotels will be closed, but I am happy to say that the decision was in the best interest for African Sun. As we operate hotels we must look at the hotel's full cycle and its ability to give us our targeted return over the period we are operating it. If we find that the company is funding the operations, particularly in a lease arrangement over a protracted period as in the instance of the two hotels in South Africa then a decision is made to exit out of the arrangement. It is therefore important never to depend on one market for profitability and viability because of the nature of our business which is very fickle to political and economic trends. You will see that this is the case with all major hotel groups in the world and also here in Zimbabwe in that that they have presence in more than one geographical region. In that aspect we continue to seek presence in mega and growth cities in sub-Saharan Africa as our strategy and business model demands and we are set to open another 231 rooms before the end of the year. We have since opened the Best Western Homeville in Benin City in Nigeria. The next opening is Holiday Inn, Gaborone which is due to open by November in Botswana. We also have a 201-room Amber Express Hotel in Accra, Ghana under construction which is scheduled to open in the next 24 months.

Tangible Tourism Growth Over Decades

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:53:00 +0200

Tourism contribution to worldwide GDP continues to soar. An assessment of the industry over the past six decades supports this fact clearly and shows that tourism continues to experience growth in numbers, new destinations, new experiences and new products, effectively making it one of the largest and fastest growing economic sectors globally. This sector may be disrupted by natural disasters, political disturbances, and instead of being depressed, it has remained resilient, in fact it has shown steady growth! According to the UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2011 edition, "international tourist arrivals have shown virtually uninterrupted growth from 25 million in 1950, to 277 million in 1980, to 435 million in 1990, to 675 million in 2000 and the current 940 million". This phenomenon has not been limited to the traditional tourist destinations, but has been particularly fast in the emerging regions as evidenced by the growth of 31% in 1990 to 47% in 2010. This is a pleasing trend and we in Zimbabwe are also benefitting from this trajectory. UNWTO projects growth increase in international arrivals of 4% - 5% in 2011. As we approach our peak season in our resort properties, the numbers demonstrate this trend, and I am confident that they will continue to grow. Our only challenge, especially in our premier destination of Victoria Falls, is to ensure that accessibility and increased air excess can accommodate the ever increasing arrivals.

Of Leaders and Leadership&

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:03:00 +0200

The world is full of leaders, but the mark of good leadership is defined by the capacity of the leader to see beyond their limitations and strengths. This knowledge defines the playing field for those aspiring to such positions and opens the space for others to participate. An ideal scenario for leadership should be one which is balanced without losing the cutting edge. It must have absolute parameters and these must be defined in a gracious way. This type of platform for leadership is needed in our current market from both a business and country perspective and it is imperative that principles be well articulated for this role and must emanate from a shared value system. Problems occur where there is a divergent value proposition with too much focus on the leader's vision and not his/her values. While much emphasis is placed on visions by most existing or aspiring leaders, the best starting point is the values on which the vision is based. This will invariably resonate with the various constituents that one wishes to lead and thus making the task easier. As I travel across Africa and engage in many different transactions, whether it is meeting potential partners, business people, or government leaders and their representatives, I am finding that the value proposition is critical for good leadership. Visions are easy to come up with and yet it is not so easy for most to outline their values. I once conducted an exercise with my executive team where each one of us had to come up with their values in their personal capacity and how it guides their lives. The exercise was met with some groans, but at the end of it was worthwhile. It gave me a better insight into my team and has informed me of their values. It allows me to know my boundaries regarding their values and that guides what I can or cannot ask them to do which would affront them. We then took this a step further and plotted their values against the company's values! This has resulted in a unified team which understands one another better and works cohesively to achieve our vision! I challenge you to do the same. Would certainly be interesting to hear your results! Best, Shingi

Is it time for Africa?

Fri, 27 May 2011 05:50:00 +0200

I have just returned from a whirlwind travel of some of the key 'indabas' on the African calendar, namely World Economic Forum Africa (WEFA) in Cape Town and Indaba Travel Show in Durban. What came out clearly from both events is that Africa's time has truly come! This was the proclamation ringing at this year's World Economic Forum Africa. In that light, it is now up to Africa to showcase its abilities, take advantage of the opportunities available and engage the world on its own terms. To quote Muhta Kent, CEO, Coca Cola, "Africa is the untold story of the next decade, like India and China were in this past decade... The presence and the significance of our business in Africa is far greater than that of India and China even today. The relevance is much bigger". The World Bank supports this by stating that "Africa could be on the brink of an economic takeoff, much like China was 30 years ago and India 20 years ago". It is therefore evident that Africa is the frontier that the world is looking at for future economic growth, and in that regard, the continent has to put its house in order politically. Political discourse has to be more and more predictable with consistent framework such that when investors come knocking, politics should not be the headline on the agenda as it hinders advancement. Failure to resolve this means that Africa will always be dogged by its political environment and will remain lagging behind in its own economic aspirations. Globally, there is now a convergence of ideology and shift of focus with African economies now taking centre stage and the potential for economic progress is more realizable now than ever than before. Key findings according to Ernst & Young's 2011 Africa attractiveness survey show that "new FDI projects into Africa are forecast to reach US$150b by 2015, creating 350 000 jobs per annum. Growth is expected to average 5% through 2015 based on a return to growth in its main investors". From an African perspective, the entrepreneurial spirit of Africa has to emerge and the rise of social entrepreneurs is critical given the opportunities that are abound. The participation of Africans in their own space has become critical for sustainable economic growth. Having said all these wonderful testimonies about the potential in our continent, the antidote to events such as WEFA is that they represent your typical 'talk shop' as it is not an implementation forum, but one which allows key players from the world stage to engage. . However, I hasten to add that this is by no means bad as it gauges the global temperature and provides the basis for those in business to formulate the 'next steps'! After such a charged atmosphere abuzz with positive energy, my next stop was Africa's premier travel show, Indaba, in Durban. To my delight, the good vibe continued to prevail. Interest in Africa as a tourist destination remains high and Zimbabwe exceeded expectations with the overwhelming interest from many quarters. The resurgence of our traditional markets of Europe, Americas and Asia & Pacific regions was evident with a significant amount of series business signed on for the remainder of the year as well as for next year. Pleasing to note was the concrete interest from emerging markets a critical factor in continued and sustainable tourism growth for Zimbabwe with the addition of new players. So, while I returned home, exhausted, after a packed two weeks, I did so on a good note. I conclude by answering my title question, 'Is it time for Africa?' I would definitely say yes indeed! Best, Shingi

VICTORIA FALLS IS BACK!

Fri, 27 May 2011 05:49:00 +0200

It's a few days before Africa's premier Travel show, Indaba is due to take place in Durban, South Africa. This travel trade show is an integral part of the hospitality calendar each year and it showcases the widest variety of Southern Africa's best tourism products, and attracts international visitors and media from across the globe. This event is similar to world travel shows such as ITB in Berlin, WTM in London and CTM in China. This year's Indaba almost marks the anniversary of Fifa World Cup 2010 where Africa was on the world stage. Since then, there has been a heightened global awareness of Southern Africa as a travel destination. Closer to home, this has had a positive impact on Zimbabwe's premier destination, Victoria Falls. From an African Sun perspective, arrivals into our hotels for the period October 2010 to February 2011 grew by 33% with 90% of arrivals going into our Victoria Falls hotels. There was a growth into our hotels from most of our major source markets during this period with arrivals from the Pacific region growing by 96% compared to the same period last year, arrivals from Africa contributed 42% of hotel room nights into Victoria Falls representing a 31% growth when compared to the same period last year, and 87% of those arrivals were from South Africa. Europe contributed 29% of arrivals, marking a 33% growth compared to the same period last year. The outlook for Victoria Falls continues to reflect this positive trend as is reflected by the major upcoming conferences for the next three months. Victoria Falls also remains a popular destination for individual travellers . I am confident, that Victoria Falls will continue to be a tourists' hub with a unique offering.

More hotel Guests in 2011......

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:43:00 +0200

Expecting good tourism growth in 2011 According to the ITB World Travel Trends Report 2010/2011 world tourism is recovering strongly in 2010 from the recession and is firmly back on the growth path. A new record figure for international trips will be set this year, while spending is recovering well from a heavy slump last year. In 2009, the tourism sector was heavily hit by the worldwide economic recession. The total number of outbound trips fell 4%, the number of outbound room nights declined 7% and the sector's outbound turnover dropped 9% as prices and rates tumbled, according to IPK figures. International tourism declined with a 4.2% fall to 880 million arrivals worldwide and a 5.7% drop in spending to $852 billion (�611 billion), World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) statistics show. But the world tourism industry has proven its resilience with an unexpectedly strong comeback last year. The global tourism sector grew about 5% in 2010, according to IPK's World Travel Monitor. International travel spending levels are expected to be reported at slightly faster by 7% to �781 billion while the much larger domestic travel market will also grow well by some 4%, the latest World Travel Monitor trends for January-September 2010 show. Africa is also expected to show good growth rates. The world economy will grow 4.2% in 2011 and 4.7% in 2012, according to Germany's respected IFO Institute and emerging countries are expected to contribute about two thirds of this world economic growth this year. This is great news for African hotel groups as this continent is at the forefront of emerging economies. Prior to the publication of The ITB Travel Trends Report 2010/2011, African Sun was already optimistic about 2011. We have a sound strategy in place, great people on board, realistic growth plans and a solid cash management system. All of which we believe sets us up well to maximize the potential this year, and the report, is promising. More hotel guests in 2011 but rates still under pressure The world's hotels and accommodation industry will see a good recovery this year in volume terms but not quite return to growth yet, the recent World Travel Monitor results showed. The key trend is that people are travelling again but taking shorter trips. Hotel prices are rising again as demand returns strongly but trends are very divergent around the world, according hospitality research company STR Global. Room yields (revenue per available room) are rising in Asia and improving in Europe after a sharp drop over the last two years. In Africa we are seeing an increased demand for business hotel rooms, but this is also being met with an increase in the number of properties being built to service the demand. While in many African cities, hotel guests are still paying premium rates for their rooms, the ability to charge 'top dollar' will come under pressure soon. Take for example the South African hotel industry. In both Johannesburg and Cape Town, many luxury properties have sat with occupancies below 15% giving guests an unprecedented opportunity to negotiate on price. As a business, hotel owners need to understand the balance between standards and operating costs. How to maintain one and manage the other so that the pressure on rates can be mitigated by the satisfaction created through a truly exception guest experience. At African Sun, great service coupled with great properties is key to our success and our 'how may I serve you' mantra the cornerstone of everything we do

Euromonitor Research Highlights African Potential

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 05:11:00 +0200

Recent Euromonitor research has announced an opening for stellar tourism in Africa. By stellar of course, they mean star-gazing. If you've ever stared at the unpolluted African night sky, you'll know it's more than just a bit special. In South Africa in particular, star-gazing is now a niche with lots more potential. The international focus that has resulted from the inception of the SKA telescope bid, the observatory in Sutherland and of course, the country's ease of access make it a winner. The rest of the continent has great potential too especially as the research has also identified a need in modern tourists for experiential vacations, - holidays that offer more memories than just time lying on a beach. Where else in the world can travellers experience the heights of luxury, true wilderness and the most diverse wildlife viewing globally, yet also highly sophisticated urban spaces and people who touch not only your heart, but also your spirit? Where else but in Africa? We know that the opportunity is vast and African Sun is ready to welcome the new vanguard of traveller. We know our continent, we love our people and we can't wait to share it with the world.

New African Asian fusion menu at The Grace in Rosebank

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 02:08:00 +0200

Culinary group executive chef of African Sun, Dr Simon Davey, creates colourful, flavourful menu that combines two popular cuisines The Grace in Rosebank has launched its new African Asian fusion menu, created by group executive chef of African Sun Dr Simon Davey. The dishes are a mix of the vivid colour and strong flavours of Africa with the more delicate and unique flavours of Asian cuisine. Davey, originally from the UK, intends with this new a la carte menu to showcase his signatory style of French classical/modern with Asian fusion. He has extensive international experience in multi-national and -cultural establishments, including five-star hotels and Michelin star restaurants. The menu includes dishes such as sweet chilli Cape gambas with prawn and coriander toast; chestnut soup served with a curried coconut foam; and smoked biltong and avocado salad tossed with sundried tomatoes, pickled cucumber and a ginger dressing for starters. Main course include slowly braised springbok shank with bok choy, oyster sauce and pancetta crisps as well as oven roasted kingklip pierced with lemon grass and served on vanilla and wasabi mash. A new introduction to the hotels restaurant, named The Dining Room, is a pre-dessert option, which includes crispy goats cheese with caramelised apple tian and hazelnut oil as well as a pan fried chicken terrine with three cheeses. Desserts include pan fried bananas flambed with saki, a lychee parfait with Chinese gun powder tea and lemon marmalade, and butter and ginger fritters served with African wildberry chutney.

People are the key to African Suns success

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 02:51:00 +0200

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (2010) more than 235 million people are working in and for our sector at present. It is in fact, one of the world's most important sectors generating 9.2% of the world's GDP in 2009. What is more, Travel and Tourism is expected to increase by 4.4% per annum in real terms between 2010 and 2020 which means that it will grow to represent 9.2% of total global employment or 1 in every 10.9 jobs. A pretty compelling argument for the hospitality sector to invest in human capital now! We at African Sun see this as a clear validation of our strategy of partnering with educational institutions, as well as investing in our own hospitality training schools, to ensure that our people deliver the best service (and thus African Sun experience) possible. Renowned hospitality educator, Dr John Hogan, once said that service is the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life, which means that our employees are and always will be the difference between an excellent or poor guest encounter. Tourism is the fastest growing industry on the planet, and with that rapid growth comes the need for workers at all levels. African Sun believes that it is also a vital enabler for the continent's development. However, in order for it to achieve fruition, sector leaders must invest in skills development so that we can execute on that potential flawlessly. People are the key to African's Sun's success and we are committed to investing in them, just as they invest in us.

African Sun Limited launches the Best Western Lagos in Ikeja

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 01:08:00 +0200

Zimbabwean listed, African Sun Limited (ASL), has re-launched the Best Western Lagos under its management, reaffirming the hotel group as the leading pan African hospitality company with international brand associations and partnerships. 'The re-opening of the Best Western Lagos could not have come at a better time while we celebrate Nigeria's Golden Jubilee. Lagos is the business centre of West Africa, and the Best Western is perfectly located to provide the business community of Lagos with quality accommodation and services service as they work and look forward to the next 50 years of economic growth,' says Farayi Mangwende, Group Corporate Communications Manager for African Sun Limited. Over the past 50 years the Best Western has been a hotel synonymous with providing the best hospitality services across the world, and that legacy will continue under African Sun's management. "Nigeria is a very exciting market for us and The Best Western Lagos was a perfect fit with our strategy of increasing rooms in West Africa's growth cities. The Best Western Brand is well known in the USA, Canada, Asia and Europe and becoming increasingly popular in Nigeria. This investment will also add value to the West African market in terms of international brand associations,' says Cornelius Nyahunda Operations Director for African Sun Hotels, West Africa. The Best Western Lagos is located at the heart of Ikeja, 10 minutes from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport. The four star hotel has 112 medium sized rooms comprising four business express rooms, six business deluxe rooms, six suites and 96 business plus rooms; offering guests a variety of options for their needs. The hotel also features state of the art conferencing facilities for up to 100 delegates seated cinema style and 12 seated boardroom style, with must-have features such as wireless internet and a business centre. The hotel is conveniently located to provide guests with access to local culture and historical sites in Lagos including the Didi and National Museums, the Murtala Muhammad Memorial Botanical Garden, Lekki Conservation Centre and Lagos Zoo to name a few. African Sun is not a new brand in the country; the group manages four other properties including Obudu Mountain Resort, Nike Lake Resort, Amber Tinapa and Utanga Safari Lodge. All ASL hotels in Nigeria employ Nigerian citizens to ensure skills transfer and best practice of pan African hospitality The African Sun Way ensuring growth through partnerships. For more information on The Best Western Lagos you can contact visit www.africansunhotels.com or email to pacro@africansunhotels.com

FORWARDED FROM US EMBASSY PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:13:00 +0200

U.S. Ambassador Charles A. Ray and Fred Mutanda, Chairman of the American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ), today announced the winners of the first annual "Investing in Zimbabwe's Future" Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards: Econet and African Sun Zimbabwe Limited. The "Investing in Zimbabwe's Future" Corporate Social Responsibility Awards are being launched for the first time this year by the U.S. Embassy and the American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ). The awards will be given at the ABAZ Just Business Forum closing reception at the Celebration Centre September 29. Intended to be an annual recognition of outstanding displays of corporate social responsibility, the Investing in Zimbabwe's Future award winners are selected by a group of ABAZ board members and U.S. Embassy officials. Criteria for selection includes demonstrated commitment, including leadership and resources, to improving the lives of the future generation of Zimbabwe and concrete efforts to open education and job opportunities for young Zimbabweans. Econet and African Sun Zimbabwe Limited continued investing in Zimbabwe's youth by supporting young, gifted but economically disadvantaged Zimbabweans as they work to build their educational and professional capacity. This support, for example, enabled nine disadvantaged Zimbabwean students to travel to the United States for tertiary education. The nine students were among the 23 students who were awarded scholarships by American colleges and universities to pursue degree programs after undergoing the United States Student Achievers Program (USAP) in 2009-2010. Their scholarships in the U.S. cover full board and tuition for four-year degree programs. Leading telecommunications service provider Econet Wireless Ltd donated US$20,000 to six USAP students on their way to the U.S. to begin studies this September. The funding covered various urgent needs including university fees shortfalls and personal expenses for Hazel Zengeni MIT; Rudo Mudzi Mt. Holyoke College; Tracy Lukwani Mt. Holyoke College; Desmond Rgwaringesu Reed College; Elvis Rambanapasi Quinnipiac College; and Tinashe Mubvuma Swarthmore College. All six students are previous beneficiaries of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Scholarship fund, a Pan-African scholarship fund to which Econet is the main benefactor. Leading hotel and leisure group African Sun Limited donated U.S.$7,500 worth of airline tickets for three USAP students to travel to the U.S. The students are Tendai Mudyiwa Kalamazoo College; Norman Chamusa -- College of Wooster; and Chido Matara -- Berea College. Ambassador Ray encouraged other corporate interests similarly to contribute to building a better future for Zimbabwe's young people. "It is our hope that through more public-private partnerships like these, Zimbabwe will build a much better future where young people have many education and employment opportunities to choose from. This will take hard work and the private sector must be fully engaged. Through these CSR awards, we are very proud to recognize the dedication of certain companies to create a better future for all the people of Zimbabwe, and especially for young people." The American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ) is the collective voice of U.S. business and investment in Zimbabwe. It serves as both a forum and representative body for U.S. business and Zimbabwean/American business interests to encourage a better understanding of the role of business in a competitive market system. The 2010 Just Business Forum seeks to make a significant contribution to debate on economic policy in Zimbabwe and the development business-friendly economic policies contributing to economic recovery and growth. Comments and queries should be addressed to Sharon Hudson-Dean, Public Affairs Officer. E-mail: hararepas@state.gov Tel. +263 4 758800-1, Fax: 758802.

SECRETARYS DAY IS MORE THAN JUST ONE DAY AT THE GRACE

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 05:36:00 +0200

In celebration of spring and 'Secretary's Day' today, The Grace in Rosebank have decided to celebrate both occasions for a lot longer than just one day this year. So-much-so, they have launched an 'I am a corporate secretary' lunch promotion in their renowned Dining Room for the entire month of September. Patrons of the fairer sex can enjoy an exotic non alcoholic cocktail upon arrival, a 2-course lunch offering comprising either a starter and main or main and dessert, a glass of wine to accompany your lunch and complimentary parking. All for only R99.00 per person. Lunch can be taken either on the 4th floor terrace offering breathtaking views of Rosebank or in the inviting and relaxing atmosphere of the Dining Room. The 'I am a corporate secretary' promotion will run from 12h00 14h00, Monday to Friday until 30 September 2010. To qualify for this promotion, ladies will need to produce their business card upon arrival, advising they would like to participate in this promotional lunch. All business cards will be placed in a competition box and a draw will take place every Friday at 14h00, to win a 3-course dinner for 2 people in the Dining Room. Pre-booking is essential, contact the Grace on Tel: +27 011 280 7200.

The Victoria Falls Hotel Offers "Miles" With Select Airline Loyalty Programmes

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:22:00 +0200

The Leading Hotels of the World have reached an agreement to partner with Lufthansa German Airlines, 'Lufthansa Miles & More', and Thai Airways, 'Royal Orchid Plus', frequent traveller programs. This allows the internationally renowned Victoria Falls Hotel to affiliate itself with both airlines, awarding airline miles upon booking a deluxe room to members of these programmes. "Airline mileage programmes are one of the most powerful ways to build customer loyalty and, with over 7.5 million members, this is an excellent opportunity for The Victoria Falls Hotel to build upon the customer's loyalty while increasing our market share. Guests staying at our hotel will earn 500 miles per stay in a deluxe room", says Karl Snater, General Manager of Victoria Falls Hotel. The Victoria Falls Hotel, jointly operated by African Sun and Meikles Africa Hotels, has a reputation of being one of the most famous and distinguished hotels on the African continent. Although over 100 years old, this elegant hotel is in delightfully pristine and perfect conditions for all to savour and enjoy when visiting the famous Victoria Falls. Guests are able to redeem their miles upon check-in at the Front Office of the hotel when they produce their membership card. For more information, contact The Victoria Falls Hotel on gm@tvfh.africansun.co.zw or pacro@africansunhotels.com Click Here to Visit The Victoria Falls Hotel Page

Taste of Joburg is back!

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:31:00 +0200

And yet again this remarkable festival will be bringing together the city's most acclaimed restaurants and carefully selected exhibitors to attract 15 000 of Joburg's most dedicated and sophisticated foodies. From Thursday 30th September to Sunday 3rd October 2010, the city's top restaurants and chefs will be serving a stunning selection of sample sized signature dishes to Taste of Joburg visitors. Riding high from the hugely successful Taste of Joburg 2009 this amazing food festival promises to be the culinary event of the year. Taste of Joburg brings together the city's finest restaurants, award winning wineries, premium drink brands, niche food exhibitors and fantastic entertainment. If you love eating out this is an opportunity too good to miss! Mouth-watering, lip-smacking, delectable, tantalising and unequivocally delicious just some of the words you'll be using at this year's Taste of Joburg Festival 2010 kicking off at Montecasino Outdoor Event Area from Thursday 30th September to 3rd October 2010. There are a limited amount of tickets available and bookings are essential, these can be purchased through Computicket on 083 915 8000 or www.computicket.com. Standard tickets cost R60 (includes a Taste wine glass), premium tickets cost R150 (includes a Taste wine glass and R100 worth of Crowns) and VIP tickets, for the ultimate Taste experience in the Taste Club House, cost R570. For more information go to www.tasteofjoburg.com.