In a first for the Eastern Cape, two Grahamstown East Bed and Breakfasts were presented with grading certificates at a fuction held at the Makana Tourism Office on Thursday.
Willem Makkink, director of Makana Tourism said that this is the first time that two township B&Bs have been graded and fully accredited as the only other graded township establishment is in Soweto.
In a first for the Eastern Cape, two Grahamstown East Bed and Breakfasts were presented with grading certificates at a fuction held at the Makana Tourism Office on Thursday.
Willem Makkink, director of Makana Tourism said that this is the first time that two township B&Bs have been graded and fully accredited as the only other graded township establishment is in Soweto.
Esihle B&B owned by Nothyolo Bungane was graded as a three-star B&B while Eluyolweni B&B, owned by Siziwe Thinta, was graded with two stars by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA).
The grading process is important because tourists and business travelers are more likely to stay at a graded establishment than at one without a grading. Guests staying at graded establishments are guaranteed a level of quality as these establishments have to meet certain requirements set out by the TGCSA before they can be graded.
Senior Tourism Officer, Vuyani Njovane said that in 2006 the Tourism Office started a township home stays project with the vision of upgrading the home stays into B&Bs.
"When we saw that these two B&Bs meet the TGCSA requirements, we approached the Eastern Cape Tourism Board to help get these businesses graded," he said. The ECTB pays 50% towards the grading process and the SMME pays the other half.
Bungane of Esihle B&B in Extension 5 started her establishment because of the demand for accommodation in Grahamstown with all the graduations, festivals and conferences. Bungane has 40 years experience teaching Home Economics and said this is what makes her establishment so different.
"I have learnt a lot about interior decorating and hospitality while teaching," she said. Esihle currently has three lounges, six bedrooms each uniquely decorated with en suite baths and televisons with DSTV. Two of the bedrooms are outside giving the guests more privacy.
"I wish to thank Makana Tourism and the Grahamstown Hospitality Guild for all their help and support since starting my business," Bungane said. She also employs neighbours to help out when she has many guests staying at her home.
Thinta of Eluyolweni B&B, a 5 bedroom establishment also in Extension 5 said that she is happy that she finally reached the grading stage. She also said that she will not relax but will work even harder to improve her business so she can be aern another star for herself. Thinta said that her establishment’s cleanliness and the way she treats her guests is what sets her apart from other establishments.
Both B&Bs are listed on the Makana Tourism website and their rates, as determined by Makana Tourism, range from R250 per person per night to about R275 with a reduced price for couples.
"We’d like to have at least 10 B&Bs in the township by 2010 but our vision goes beyond that," said Njovane. He added that "our doors are open to other B&Bs who want to go through this grading process," and the ECTB still has funds available for SMMEs looking to be graded.
