Tag Archives: Erik Venter

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 12 February

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Red Savannah Gourmet South Africa has prepared an 8 day gourmet wine and dine package for American visitors to the Cape.  The tour includes a visit to Babylonstoren, where they stay over, and go on a tour of the vegetable garden, and do wine, cheese, olive, and chocolate tastings in the area.  In Cape Town they learn Cape Malay food preparation, and spend time with top chefs Luke Dale-Roberts and Bruce Robertson.

*   A tough year lies ahead for airlines, which have seen capacity increase, and reduced numbers of locals flying domestically, due to the airline rate increases driven by the weak Rand and fuel prices, says Comair CEO Erik Venter.

*   Wine blogs help create brand awareness and pack recognition, but their direct effect on sales cannot be measured, as is the case with any media coverage.   However, mentions of a wine brand on JancisRobinson.com, Vinography.com, BiggerthanyourHead.net, Terroirist.com, and even 1WineDude.com can show an immediate impact on wine sales.

*  The 24th anniversary of the release of the late Nelson Mandela from the former Victor Verster prison outside Paarl will be commemorated with an  Anglo-Zulu war exhibition at  The Castle, which opened yesterday. Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 19 September

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*  Siobhan Thompson has been appointed as new CEO of Wines of South Africa (WOSA).  She moves across from Distell, where she was Global Marketing Head, having had past responsibilities for Liqueurs, Amarula, and Brandy and Cognac.  She headed Baby Foods at Colman Foods, and Consumer and Retail Research at Gilbeys, marketed the UCT Graduate School of Business, was a brand manager at Yardley, and a researcher at Nielsen and TNS Research Surveys.

*   Comair has taken delivery of four new Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which will help the airline to reduce its carbon emissions and to drive down costs for its British Airways service, similar to its kulula fleet replacement. A threatened carbon tax will drive up costs for airlines, said Comair CEO Erik Venter, already under pressure from the weak Rand.  This could have a negative impact on tourism, he said.

*   Snow is expected on Table Mountain, just a month after the last snowfall, Continue reading →