As MATCH is unable to fill the missing 15 000 beds it requires to accommodate FIFA’s officials, sport teams and ticket package holders, it has made the shock announcement that it is letting go of its requirement that 2010 World Cup accommodation must be graded by the Tourism Grading Council, reports the Southern African Tourism Update.
MATCH requires 55 000 rooms, and has contracted 40 495 rooms to date, of which 75 % are hotel rooms and 25 % small accommodation rooms.
The report says that MATCH will use its “discretion” to select non-graded accommodation for the event. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Tourism and MATCH will be amended to reflect the grading requirement change.
However, Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk was adamant that he preferred that graded accommodation be used: “The South African government neither supports nor promotes the use of non-graded accommodation establishments. Furthermore, the South African government respects the right of all accommodation establishments, whether graded or not, to choose whether they want to contract with MATCH or not”. These are interesting words, reflecting the Minister’s understanding of the resistance to MATCH by the small accommodation sector, regularly reported by WhaleTales in this blog.
In the media statement, MATCH reiterated that it will not contract private homes, an initiative driven by Seeff and Pam Golding estate agencies.
FEDHASA National CEO Brett Dungan addressed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee last week, and trashed the Sunday Times report of a week prior, which described the resistance from the small accommodation sector to FIFA’s “MATCH-fixing”. Southern African Tourism Update reports that Dungan said that MATCH requires “100 000 rooms”, clearly an exaggeration of the FIFA accommodation requirement. Dungan is also quoted as saying that only 13 % of small accommodation establishments have contracted with MATCH, which, if correct, reflects how deep the distrust of MATCH is by small establishments. Dungan also is quoted as saying that a 20 % commission is a standard fee to pay when receiving business from tour operators. Once again he appears to be poorly informed, as MATCH is taking a 30 % (not 20 %) commission on top of the 2010 accommodation rates, a most exceptionally high rate. Dungan did acknowledge that there would not be enough accommodation in each of the towns and cities with 2010 soccer stadia, according to the report.
One of the solutions to general accommodation during June and July 2010 is cruise ships, not for MATCH, but for soccer fan groups and individuals. The QE2 from Dubai was reported to have requested docking in the Cape Town harbour, but Minister van Schalkwyk had strongly rejected the request, saying that South African accommodation establishments should be supported.
The latest news on cruise ships is that a German based company Moltke Promotion GmbH, through its subsidiary One Ocean Club, has partnered with IKapa Tours & Travel. The MS Noordam is reported by Southern African Tourism Update to be based in Durban harbour, accommodating soccer fans, who will be taken to Port Elizabeth for the quarter final, and for the third and fourth place play-off. The MS Westerdam will be based in Port Elizabeth for the first half of the soccer tournament, and then will be cruising between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town in the second half.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio www.whalecottage.com]
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It’s still worrying to see that people do not understand that the 15,000 room shortage by MATCH does not mean South Africa has inadequate accommodation. Only 8,000 rooms of the 70,000 beds in Greater Cape Town will be contracted by MATCH.
How do I find and book accommodation as a private individual in some host cities?
Would it not be better for MATCH to relax its commission down to the norm 10 – 20% rather than relax its requirement of contracting to star graded establishments?
As well, in the article above, Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk wasn’t adamant about preferring that graded accommodation be used when he goes on to say ‘ Furthermore, the South African government respects the right of all accommodation establishments, whether graded or not, to choose whether they want to contract with MATCH or notâ€. ‘
He doesn’t promote non graded establishments but supports any and all establishments to contract with MATCH. That seems to soften his stance for being PRO graded establishments in my view.
Dear Ayn
In which host cities would you like to book accommodation?
Hi Denise
Thank you for your comment. I am not sure that a reduction in the MATCH commission % will make more accommmodation establishments sign up with MATCH, as MATCH adds the commission on top of the rate – so it does not have to be paid to them.
My conclusion about Minister van Shlakwyk not supporting the use of non-graded is from this sentence in the article: “The South African government neither supports nor promotes the use of non-graded accommodation establishments.”
I can hire a property next to me to rent at out for the soccer venue. How must I operate to secure bookings before renting this property?
Thanks for your question Mike. Make sure that you want to get into hospitality, if you are not currently a player. This is a 24/7 commitment. The best way to go is to develop a website, to advertise the property, or go to Seeff and Pam Golding, who are renting out homes and apartments to soccer fans.
Howdy, just stopping by to show some [holiday|seasonal|Christmas|Kwanza|winter} cheer! I posetively accept how hard it is blogging all this information! Have a GREAT NEW YEAR!
Thanks!