VUYO MKIZE
THE BLACK-owned, female-managed and four-star-graded Soweto Hotel is expanding its horizons.
At the forefront of its expansion is the new merger in management between the hotel and the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, announced yesterday at a media conference held at the hotel on Walter Sisulu Square.
The most important part of the big announcement was that Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, co-owner and founding member of the hotel, will now be managing director of the Soweto and Birchwood hotels.
The announcement coincided with the Soweto Hotel’s fourth birthday yesterday, adding to the celebratory mood of the day.
The Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre was established in 1998, with one conference room and 80 accommodation rooms. Today it has 665 accommodation rooms and 60 rooms for conferences.
Siddo has been in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years, giving her a wealth of experience that Birchwood CEO Kevin Clarence said he believed would add more value to her new position.
“The Birchwood Management Company was in need of additional senior management and better black representation in our senior positions. We’ve been trying to identify someone who won’t only be the face of the company, but also embody the ethics of the business.
“We are serious about transformation in our company and would like our clients and guests to recognise our commitment towards black economic empowerment within the structures of our management.”
Clarence said the merger in management that would effectively see Birchwood Management Company running both hotels would also look into making a positive turnaround for the Soweto Hotel’s profitability.
Siddo has an impressive resumé, having studied at the renowned Les Roches School of Hotel Management in Switzerland and worked at top hotels in Africa, Europe and the US.
In addition to that, in 2000 she joined the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism as chief director of tourism support.
She said her approach had always been to look at things holistically.
“Development is a big part of any venture for me. I don’t think it’s a new thing to have a black person at management positions in hotels.
“Birchwood has grown to accommodating over 600 people in its hotels, and I feel confident that my skills will add value to the company.
“I am also hopeful for change in Soweto. When you walk into the Soweto Hotel, you see the vision we had in creating it.”