Polana Serena Hotel - Mozambique

Built in 1922 along sweepingly splendid lines, the magnificent Polana Serena Hotel has long been considered one of Africa’s finest hotels. Located on the leafy boulevards of one of Maputo’s most exclusive residential districts, the Polana Serena Hotel belongs to an elite class of world-famous hotels, which includes such timeless legends as; Raffles Hotel, Singapore; The Dorchester, London and The Ritz in Paris.
 
As part of the Serena Group’s commitment towards showcasing the best of local architecture, culture and heritage, the Polana has recently emerged from an extensive renovation programme, which has resulted in the presentation of a landmark historic building whose classic charm has been fused with the ultimate in world-class amenities.
 
Offering 142 rooms, many of which are spacious suites, the ‘Grande Dame’ of Maputo now also offers a choice of three restaurants: the all-day dining Varanda Restaurant, the Delagoa fine-dining experience in the French style; the Aquarius Restaurant and Bar, and the Polana Bar. The hotel also offers the ‘Maisha’ Mind Body and Spirit Health Club and Spa, a stunning swimming pool, extensive gardens, an exclusive residents’ lounge, a business centre, a beauty salon and three gift shops.

 
Meetings:
The hotel has four business executive conference rooms for small meetings, set in various shapes to accommodate 14 to 50 people. Recently refurbished, these venues are well equipped with WIFI connection and state-of-the-art audio visual equipment. A sideboard for coffee breaks has been incorporated in all rooms and a small coffee machine is part of the setup for guest convenience. 

The hotel has an exceptional venue in its restored Grand Ballroom. This room, with its neo-classical design and style, high ceiling, columns, crystal chandeliers, two beautiful galleries and state-of-the-art sound system, coupled with perfect acoustics, is unique in Africa. With a maximum capacity of 350 people the room was designed to easily adapt to your needs. Its veranda faces the pool and it is the perfect place for a quick refreshing break.
 
The Pool Bar with a unique location overlooking the Bay of Maputo, the Pool Deck perfect for cocktails and the Bowling Green with 500m2 area, complement the hotel’s offer of venues and pre-function areas.

Incentives:

• Inhaca and Portuguese Islands are located 30 Km off-shore, across Maputo Bay. Accessible by airplane (in 10 minutes) and by boat (1 to 2 hours), the main Island has a small village, a resort, a small airport, a popular seafood restaurant and a Marine Biology Research Center. The inhabited Portuguese Island (15 minutes away from Inhaca) is easily accessible by boat. Activities in Inhaca may be arranged through Gone Fishing, an operator based at Inhaca Lodge; and these include tours to Santa Maria beach and Indian Ocean, snorkeling, scuba diving, bird watching and hiking.  
• Cultural visits with arts and crafts 
• Themed dinners include Red Extravaganza, Ocean Touch; Silver, Classic Gold, Diamonds & Pearls; African Theme Décor

Gondwana Game Reserve – Garden Route

Situated in the heart of the Garden Route, Gondwana Game Reserve offers 11,000 hectares of dramatic terrain with free roaming Big 5 and awe-inspiring scenery that will stir your senses. It is the perfect venue for a range of events including executive getaways, corporate functions, conferences and product launches.  The reserve is accessibly located a five hours drive from Cape Town or 45 minutes from George airport, making it an easy choice for “meet-centives”.  Despite being only 15 minutes off the N2, once on the reserve, it is as if you are in the middle of nowhere with endless mountain views and green rolling hills blanketed in colourful Fynbos offering well over 1000 varieties.

The reserve boasts 2 luxury lodges - Kwena Huts a 5 star bush lodge with 14 stand-alone suites and Lehele Lodge a thatched, modern functions venue and boutique conference centre. There are 8 private bush villas on the reserve with 2and 3 en-suite bedrooms and open-plan design, which can be utilized for smaller, more private strategic sessions.

Meetings:

The contemporary conference centre at Lehele Lodge boasts:

·        A large wooden 5 meter long table seating 18 delegates boardroom style

·        Break away areas (indoor and out with tables and chairs)

·        State of the art technology including hi-definition data projector

·        Custom sized white projector screen

·        High clarity sound system including microphone

·        54 inch flat screen TV

·        Floor to ceiling glass folding doors leading onto outdoor deck with black-out curtains

·        2 x Apple Mac Flat Screen computers

·        Wireless internet connectivity

·        Back of house office support

·        Ceiling Fans in all areas

·        2 x fireplaces

 Incentives:

·         Malaria Free Big 5 reserve for safari activities,

·         wine tastings,

·         4x4 driving course,

·         Bush picnic or BBQ

·         Seating up to 80 guests for indoor dining they can be transformed into fairytale venues with table settings of your choice or left as is with contemporary solid wood tables and elegant, contemporary bush décor and panoramic views of the magnificent Fynbos reserve and wildlife. 

Tribes Hotel, Nairobi

Tribes Hotel, Nairobi

Tribes is a luxury boutique hotel set in the heart of Nairobi. From the hotel’s inspired architecture and interiors to the staff’s singular focus on service, a common vision pervades: the unity of form and function celebrated within the diversity of cultures, styles and materials.

Tribe welcomes guests to a luxurious experience. The hotel maintains a benchmark of

excellence in every aspect of its offerings. The 137 guestrooms and suites excite and

soothe at the same time – rich deep colours mix with natural stone and wood, stainless steel and glass features blend with rustic metal and handmade wooden furniture, world-class amenities and new age technology seamlessly complement local fabrics and artifacts.

Epic, the hotel’s restaurant, serves an eclectic mix of global flavours through the creations of Executive Chef Luca Molteni. The restaurant is trendy, sophisticated and unpretentious; pairing the freshest ingredients with visually striking design– a decidedly ‘fun-dining’ experience.

Kaya, Tribe’s exclusive spa combines traditional and new-world treatments from around the globe. The five treatment rooms and hair studio infuse a sense of tranquility through inspiring design – taming the body, mind and soul.

Meetings:

Tribe’s services and facilities are specifically designed to cater to the needs of the modern global-traveller, the VIP and the demanding celebrity. With an emphasis on security and privacy, the full-service concierge offers an unparalleled commitment to guest comfort.

Tribe's Executive Resource Centre offers the highest levels of functionality, design and technology - making it an ideal choice for those craving inspired meeting spaces and attentive service. Executive boardrooms offer the highest level of technology of any in the city and specialize in banqueting for intimate events and conferences.

Theatre style – 140 delegates

U-shape – 45 delegates

V-shape – 40 delegates

Schoolroom style – 60 delegates

Banquet style – 122 delegates in round tables

Incentives:

The feature “Sound Room” lets guests indulge in a private cinema experience and entertain business associates in an exclusive setting; a fully-operational business center is available to all guests.

Safari Camp in the Winelands at Rhebokskloof

A unique concept, in a well known venue, brings new life to Rheboksloof Wine Estate in Agter Paarl. This historic wine estate, tucked away behind Paarl Mountain, is located approx. 1hr20 min coach drive from Cape Town. It really has a most beautiful location, with views expanding over the vineyards and the Boland as a backdrop. The vineyards are grown on the slopes of the Paarl Mountain, and it is here, amongst rocky outcrops that Chief’s Camp have set up their latest venture. Traditionally known as a luxury mobile safari camp, with locations as diverse as the arid west coast, to the big five Pilanesberg, the owners, in conjunction the Rhebokskloof, have introduced a new concept …a mobile tented camp in the vineyards.

Combined with the numerous venues and activities already in existence at the wine estate, this offers wonderful opportunities for both meetings and incentives.

I have to admit that my initial reaction when I heard about this concept was, well why would you? I can safely say, having done this first hand, it is truly a memorable experience – the benefit of easy access to Cape Town whilst experiencing a new version of the safari camp. Livingstone would be proud!

There are numerous options to suit all budgets, namely the tented camp, but with all meals at the existing Rheboksloof restaurant or the full experience, with dinner & conference actually in the vineyards. The tented camp also has a newly built, permanent boma venue which is ideal for sundowner cocktails, or sitting around an open fire places in the late evening, swapping stories. Chief’s Camp can also set up just a dinner in the vineyards with out the tented camp, if guests are staying in Cape Town or surrounds.

Capacities run to about 140 tents, which could take maximum of 240 guests, although they assured me, with enough time to arrange, they could go larger.

Meetings:

Rheboksloof has an existing meetings venue seating 120 delegates schoolroom style, or a conference tent could be set up at the camp site. 

Incentives:

·         Other venues at Rheboksloof include the The Rhebok, a permanent, Bedouin tent roofed venue, safe from the elements that can accommodate a gala dinner of 350 delegates. The maturation cellar, out of harvesting season (Jan– April) can handle a dinner for up to 150 guests. The restaurant can seat up to 250 guests using both indoor and verandah area. The rolling lawns, leading down to the lake, offer opportunities for much larger groups, picnic style.

·         On-site there are 18 quad bikes, and access to 200 horses, which offers a multitude of teambuilding opportunities… think of cowboy’s at work or vineyard safari by quad bike.

·         The unique dinner under the stars, amongst the vineyards

·         Wine blending competition for up to 120 delegates. Guests a can also design a label and have the wining blend bottled as a takeaway gift.

Legends Golf and Safari Resort

Legend Golf & Safari Resort is one of the world's most eagerly anticipated Golf and Safari resort openings. Located adjacent to the Entabeni Reserve, and a mere 3 hours from Johannesburg, Africa's most talked about leisure venue has now unlocked the gates to its majestic monumental architectural Great Enclosure and is inviting golf and safari enthusiasts to enjoy the experience of a lifetime. As the Legend Golf  & Safari Resort Suites are built in the bush there are no fences or gardens within the resort grounds - just 210 wonderful rooms, built across the bush within the resort.

The suites, consisting of three or four individual bedrooms linked by walkways, offer accommodation of unmatched, timeless elegance dedicated to relaxation and reflecting the African wilderness.

Meetings:

Sofala Conferencing Pavilion
Under the gaze of the majestic Hanglip Mountain this pavilion has been specifically constructed with all the facilities expected at a resort catering for all conferencing needs.  The venue, seating 200 delegates, has all the facilities required to ensure a successful conference, event or exhibition.  Various wonderful breakout areas in the heart of the African bush are also available.

Monomotapa Banqueting Pavilion

Overlooking the majestic Monomotapa-style Great Enclosure and Amphitheater, this 300-seater pavilion, supporting the Sofala Conference Centre next door, caters for gala dinners, special events, exhibitions and conferencing dining.

Incentives:

·         Legends Golf and Safari Resort offers unique themed evenings at a plethora of dinner venues; the White Lion Boma, the cultural village, the Signature Course Club House, The Lookout Restaurant, the Glass Hall and bush dinners

·         “World-in-one” 18-hole Signature Golf Course and the unique Extreme 19^th

·         Malaria Free, Big Five game drives &  bush walk safaris

·         Helicopter flights

·         Traditional African entertainment and drumming sessions

·         Teambuilding activities such as archery, abseiling & target shooting 

The Extreme 19th Hole