Between dazzling in photographs beside the likes of Elvis and Frank Sinatra, Liz McGrath, the lady affectionately known as Mrs M, was the indomitable proprietor of The Collection by Liz McGrath. Not the fictional mentor of James Bond, but not wholly unlike the elegant Judi Dench, much warmer than but equally gifted a character as Fleming’s M. She was a personality too exceptional for ordinary life.
After her husband passed in 1985, Liz dedicated her life to crafting the finest experiences South Africa’s hospitality industry had to offer. Read more about her accomplishments here.
Today we join her family, friends and members of the travel industry in saying goodbye to this inspirational pioneer and visionary, mother, grandmother and businesswoman who passed away over the weekend. Our hearts go out to her loved ones, as we pay tribute to her extraordinary spirit and her contributions to South Africa’s travel industry, the staff who worked alongside her and the guests who experienced her unique Collection… whether The Cellars-Hohenort on the slopes of Table Mountain in Constantia, Cape Town…
The Marine in Hermanus…
or The Plettenberg in Plettenberg Bay, the first of all Liz’s hotels, which opened in 1998 and only two and a half years later was invited to become a member of the Relais & Châteaux, “an achievement beyond my wildest dreams,” said Liz.
Liz was one of tourism’s Grande Dames. Woman to Watch in 1997, so named by The National Foundation for Woman Business Owners and Fortune Magazine in Paris. Relais & Châteaux Woman of the Year in 2007. Winner of the Relais & Châteaux Garden Award in 2010, for The Cellars-Hohenort’s nine acres of beautiful gardens. And one of very few women in the world to own three exceptionally successful hotels, each displaying the bronze Relais & Châteaux plaque at their entrance, that mark of something greater, uniting the finest hotels and lodges in all the world.
“Whatever success I may have had, I attribute to all the wonderful people who work for me.” – Liz McGrath
Liz taught us an invaluable amount about tourism and hospitality in South Africa, but more importantly, she taught us about grace, dedication and investing in people - in never underestimating the power of individuals. She was, herself, the finest example of what one individual can accomplish, with a little bit of passion…
“I get tremendous satisfaction from seeing my guests enjoying our wonderful South African hospitality and gaining insight into what makes our country so special. As a hotelier, I am only as good as my team, and I know that my best attribute is my ability to pick staff with the right attitude. You can train anyone to do anything if they have that ability. To see my young people from all backgrounds grow and achieve is the reward for all my hard work. … I feel that I have an important role to play in tourism in South Africa. I’m a passionate South African and happy that although most of my guests come from all over the world, it is good to see that the hotels are catering more and more for our local population. South Africans now realise that they have it all here on their doorstep. The industry has come a long way. … I don’t talk about age, only about maturity. I’m thrilled to be in a position to pass on my experience to younger people, and in my turn to learn from their youth and energy.” - Liz McGrath
“What a great loss. I have known Liz McGrath for 30 years, when she started developing The Plettenberg and then The Cellars. Liz had incredible energy and enthusiasm, and in the early days she and her wonderful driver, Johannes, always used to build their own stand at Indaba…! Liz was always the perfect lady, no matter what the circumstances or dramas, and there were plenty of those over the years. And of course creating those great gardens were her real pleasure, and today they are a blossoming legacy to her passion.” – Liz Westby-Nunn, Challenge4ACause
Find out more about Liz McGrath and her properties on the Relais & Châteaux Africa and The Collection website.
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