And according to Distell HR and Corporate Affairs Director, André Opperman, skills development focused on delivering a better tourist experience and managing costs effectively, will also be key to this realignment.
“How else do we respond to the drop in tourism and the resultant implications? Before things get better - as they no doubt will - the focus must be on raising service standards while containing costs if players are to have a chance at surviving the current tough times.
“For this to happen, employers and their employees need to learn more, know more, and grow their flexibility and resilience. By acquiring and building skills, they can be more creative in their offerings at the same time as they increase their agility to take on additional responsibilities without compromising service levels,” he said.
Opperman who was speaking against the backdrop of the 2021 Distell Inter-Hotel Challenge which is currently underway, said Distell had supported the challenge as headline sponsor for the last nine years because “we understand that education and skills transfer are the bedrock for quality service and growth”.
“This year’s event has attracted an “impressive number” of entries from South Africa’s leading hotels, with 160 candidates competing across various categories. That hotels have responded so enthusiastically this year, notwithstanding the challenging climate, is very encouraging.”
The practical aspects of the challenge promote skills in wining and dining service, as well as in cuisine, including baking. It also includes a category for concierges and baristas.
An important component of the challenge, is the transfer of skills by overall category winners to their colleagues. Until now, winners have been very conscientious in knowledge sharing with their peers - an act which is core to the spirit of the competition.
Annette Kesler of Showcook, the organisers of the challenge, added: “The urgency in growing relevant hospitality skills has been significantly escalated by Covid-19. When custom is limited, competition obviously intensifies. Management and staff must equip themselves to up their game and that includes better understanding of changing visitor needs.
“That is why, in preparing contestants this year, we have put additional focus on the importance of using indigenous ingredients, localism, rising health awareness and changing nutritional needs, as well as the changing patterns in drinks consumption. Trends show that patrons no longer exclusively consume a single drinks category. They switch from ready-to-drinks to cocktails, wine or spirits, depending on mood or context. Skills therefore need to match these shifts.”
Kesler added all entrants were required to attend in-depth presentations by experts in their fields before taking part in the challenge. These presentations were held in September in Cape Town, and in October in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Those making it into the finals would have to attend further advanced presentations in preparation for the final round of the challenge, called the cook-offs, scheduled for November.
“So, for example, all competitors participating in the drinks service category, are required to attend courses run by the Sommeliers Academy and the Cape Wine Academy. Finalists will be required to present at the cook-offs, to be eligible for the top spots.”
She confirmed the prize for the top-performing wine steward would include working alongside the award-winning sommelier team at London’s famous 67 Pall Mall Club, and educational visits to top-ranked whisky distilleries Bunnahabhain and Deanston in Scotland, as well as to Bordeaux’s La Cité du Vin (City of Wine) museum in France. The winner would also receive bursaries for more intensive Sommeliers Academy and Cape Wine Academy study.
The chef of the year would spend a three-week off-shore internship with Minor Hotels with flights sponsored, where possible, by Distell. The overseas destination would be announced at the gala awards dinner in December.
The pastry chef of the year would spend three weeks interning in France at the Château La Creuzette in Boussac with flights provided by Lancewood.
London’s famous 67 Pall Mall Club
THE PLAYERS
CAPE TOWN
1. Belmond Mount Nelson (Fleur du Cap & Three Ships)
2. I Love Coffee Group (Nederburg & Richelieu)
3. Ellerman House (Pongrácz & Amarula Cream)
4. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve (Allesverloren & Gordon’s London Dry Gin)
5. TAJ Cape Town (Zonnebloem & Scottish Leader)
6. The Liz McGrath Collection (Allesverloren & Cruz Manhattan)
7. The Pepper Club (Durbanville Hills & Klipdrift Premium)
8. The President Hotel (Fleur du Cap & Cruz Vodka)
9. The Vineyard (Durbanville Hills & Van Ryn’s)
JOHANNESBURG
10. De Hoek Country Hotel (Durbanville Hills & Van Ryn’s)
11. Marriott Johannesburg Hotel Melrose Arch (Nederburg & Three Ships)
12. Sun Time Square (Zonnebloem & Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky)
13. The Ivory Manor (Pongrácz & Klifdrift Premium)
14. Sun City Resort (Fleur du Cap & Amarula Cream)
KWAZULU-NATAL
15. Beverly Hills Hotel (Durbanville Hills & Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky)
16. Durban ICC (Fleur du Cap & Three Ships)
17. Hartford House (Pongrácz & Van Ryn’s)
18. Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani (Nederburg & Amarula Cream)
19. The Oyster Box (Zonnebloem & Klipdrift Premium)
THE PRIZES (not mentioned above)
The Distell Inter-Hotel Challenge Baker of the Year 2021 will receive a KitchenAid Artisan Mixer while the hotel collects a KitchenAid commercial mixer.
The top three concierges each receive a diamond-studded, hand-crafted gold lapel pin by The Diamond Works Institute.
The top three baristas are rewarded with prizes by Avanti Coffee, KitchenAid Africa and AL&CD Ashley.
The best team overall receives the KitchenAid Africa floating trophy, while the GM of the Year receives exquisite hand-crafted engraved gold cufflinks by The Diamond Works Institute.
The International Hotel School’s R30 000 online bursary, designed to give candidates the tools to further their business aspirations, will be awarded for academic excellence i.e., the top achiever for the Cape Wine Academy and Sommeliers Academy examinations.
‘The Wonga Award’ presented to the most up-and-coming wine steward will receive a R30 000 bursary from the South African National Youth Development Agency to pursue an online business course with the International Hotel School.
The Mentor of the Year wins a weekend at Lanzerac Hotel & Spa with flights, permitting by British Airways operated by Comair.
Other partners include Lancewood, Denny, S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, Bio-Wheat, Rio Largo Olive Oil, ClemenGold®️, LemonGold®️ and Lurpak.
Prizes from Dr Susanne Reuther of KitchenAid Africa including KitchenAid Artisan Mixers, Gadget & Utensils, Ceramics, Bakeware and more, as well as prizes from AL&CD Ashley including Scanpan, the finest of Global Knives and Brabantia, The Hall Collection, Penguin Random House, Platter’s South African Wine Guide, Didactix and Von Geusau Chocolates.
THE JUDGES
Wine and spirit service: Sandy Harper and Jean-Vincent Ridon
Wine and food pairing: Aubrey Ngcungama, Penelope Horwood, Germain Lehodey, Kristina Beuthner, Karen Bloom and Mark O’Flaherty
Food: Hugh von Zahn, Jane-Therese Mulry, Fatima Stanley, Jocelyn Meyers-Adams and Jac Kolver
Kitchen skills: Julietta e Silva, Candice Adams and Chanelle Boucher
Barista: Alison Douglas, Caroline Ncube, Leah Nabakwe, Paula Visser, Robert Shazi, Tarryn van der Toorn and Wayne Abrahams
Concierge: Horst Frehse, Jeff Rosenberg and Mike Waller
To view a selection of videos, click here.
#DistellInterHotelChallenge2021