Tsogo Sun’s far-reaching enterprise and supplier development programme has taken a significant step forward with the formation of a partnership with the City of Joburg – Department of Economic Development and the incorporation of a new supplier development cluster situated within the successful Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs programme.
Vusi Dlamini (Group HR Director, Tsogo Sun) Candy Tothill (GM: Corporate affairs, Tsogo Sun) Ravi Naidoo (Executive Director, Department of Economic Development, City of Joburg) and (Ed Manolas, Group Procurement Manager, Tsogo Sun). Picture taken at the Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs competitive Supplier-Buyer Matchmaking session held at Gold Reef City Theme Park Hotel.
The Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs programme was extended earlier this year to support a range of small, medium and micro enterprises within various clusters connected to the value chain of Tsogo Sun and those that serve the broader South African tourism industry. The clusters comprise 100 guesthouse owners, 23 independent operators of Sun1 hotels, and 10 individual housekeeping businesses.
The programme’s new supplier development cluster was launched last week, when a cross-section of 126 promising suppliers were invited to attend the Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs Competitive Supplier-Buyer Matchmaking session held at Gold Reef City Theme Park Hotel. The session was hosted by Tsogo Sun in partnership with the City of Joburg – Department of Economic Development, and sought to provide market and development access to these businesses.
“Our entrepreneurial support and development system has evolved strategically over 10 years, having started in Soweto, developing, mentoring and coaching accommodation establishments that displayed the potential to become sustainable enterprises,” says Candy Tothill, Tsogo Sun’s General Manager: Corporate Affairs. “The Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs is now a comprehensive programme that can be adapted for different business types, providing an over-arching and practical range of offerings that have proven to contribute to growth within emerging businesses.”
Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs incorporates a one-year training course, after which the entrepreneurs are assessed and go on to become alumni, or are given further individualised training according to their level of achievement. Alumni continue to receive benefits and support on the basis of continued adherence to excellence.
“Our success in entrepreneur development as well as the ever-present need for job creation in South Africa were drivers in this decision to expand our programme to include more beneficiaries and offer a higher level of support, benefits, and services to them,” explains Tothill, adding that enterprise and supplier development needs to be undertaken in a manner that really makes a change to the economic landscape in South Africa. “It is through partnerships such as the one that we have had the pleasure of forming with the City of Johannesburg – Department of Economic Development that will ultimately enable meaningful, permanent results.”
Tsogo Sun’s portfolio includes over 90 hotels and 14 casino and entertainment destinations throughout South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi. For further information, visit tsogosun.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @TsogoSun or like on Facebook /TsogoSun.
About Tsogo Sun
Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences. Combining an established heritage with a professional and energised approach, the group proudly encompasses 14 casinos and over 90 hotels in South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi.
The company’s hospitality interests offer a wide distribution of hotels in Africa, providing world-class accommodation across all markets, including elegant, individually branded luxury hotels and well-known trusted market leaders in the premier through budget segments, including Southern Sun Hotels, Garden Court, SunSquare, StayEasy and SUN1 hotels.
The exciting urban and resort casino portfolio includes the most popular entertainment destinations, strategically located throughout South Africa. In the Gauteng province, Tsogo Sun owns the group’s flagship property, Montecasino in Fourways, which features, amongst other attractions, the award-winning Teatro; Gold Reef City Casino and Theme Park in Southern Johannesburg; and Silverstar Casino to the West in Krugersdorp. Additional properties are owned and operated in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, including the jewel on Durban’s Golden Mile, Suncoast Casino, Hotels and Entertainment.
Tsogo Sun Citizenship is the group’s corporate citizenship strategy which encompasses three areas of focus. This includes Corporate Social Investment, whereby the group promotes the development of learners through three academies which offer holistic, full-year programmes centred around sport, art and education; Entrepreneur Development which focuses on skills-based entrepreneurial development through its Tsogo Sun Book a Guesthouse and Supplier Development programmes; and Environmental Education, committed to initiatives that reduce the impact the business has on the environment.
Tsogo Sun (“TSH”) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The key shareholders of Tsogo Sun are Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (“HCI”), a JSE listed investment holding company.
Tsogo Sun Gaming supports the National Responsible Gambling Programme. Winners know when to stop. Only persons over the age of 18 are permitted to gamble. National Problem Gambling counselling toll-free helpline: 0800 006 008.
For more information go to tsogosun.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TsogoSun or like us on Facebook /TsogoSun.