KwaZulu-Natal based finalists of the 2016 National Lilizela Tourism Awards walked away with six awards this week at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. The National Lilizela Tourism Awards recognise and reward the highest levels of excellence in the tourism value chain.
The six award winning products from KZN are: 171 Marula Drive – Zimbali Coastal Resort & Estate (Self-Catering Exclusive category) won 5 Star Grading, Leopard Mountain (Game Lodge category) won 4 Star Grading, Three Trees at Spioenkop (Lodge category) scooped 4 Star Grading, Garden Court Blackrock (Hotel category) won 3 Star Grading, Beverly Country Cottages (Self-catering Exclusive category) took home 3 Star Grading and iNsingizi Lodge (Lodge category) walked away with 3 Star Grading.
With the Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award (ETEYA), KwaZulu-Natal also did very well with its finalist representative, La Teranga Bed & Breakfast scooping the first runner-up. ETEYA aims to honour Black businesses as defined in the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act who operate small, micro and medium tourism or hospitality-related business that have been in operation for less than 10 years and employ no more than 50 people.
A total of 1122 South African products and services put their names in the hat to be selected as finalists for the various provincial awards which took place across the country in September, during Tourism Month. 589 products made the cut to vie for the title of being the best from nine provinces and KwaZulu-Natal was represented by 38 Provincial winners at this glittering awards ceremony.
All tourism businesses that enter the Lilizela Awards need to be properly registered and graded with the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. For more information on the Lilizela Tourism Awards, visit www.lilizela.co.za and entries for the 2017 Lilizela awards will open on 1 December 2016.