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Our Courses University of Cape Town Small Business Management Internet Marketing Internet Super-User Internet and the Law Project Administration Financial Management Business Writing Practical Labour Law Guest House Management Sectional Title University of Stellenbosch Wine Evaluation Industry Partners Creative Writing Contact Us Name: Email: Phone: Message: Preferred method of contact: Email Phone	Guest house \| It is not all about the money By Corine Van Dyk Everybody was waiting for millions of visitors to come to South Africa for the World Cup; in the end, far fewer visited our beautiful country. People saw moneymaking opportunities everywhere – every second home became a B&B, guest house or privately rented accommodation. Little did they realise that the cost of running such a business is high and that travellers expect certain standards and features. How many extra transport services were on our roads, thinking they could transport tourists without the required documentation? Booking agents popped up, trying to make their fortune, and sadly some establishment owners paid strangers to fill their beds and lost out in a big way, instead of trusting their product and relying on their own judgment and marketing. During the past two years, establishment owners were talking about how much to inflate their rates. Some owners said they would raise prices to cover their damages or no-shows. However, damages should be covered by having the correct insurance and no-shows by requesting half the rate as a deposit before arrival. Did guest house owners take the time to get to know something about their visitors before arrival? For example, Greeks are proud of their national basketball team and very serious about their cultural heritage. If you had the privilege of accommodating Argentineans, you would know that they have the best beef in the world and will have no problem spending a fortune on an excellent “bide de chorizo” (rump or sirloin steak). The Chileans are the one of the best-educated people in the world, with a literacy rate of 95%. It is also useful to know what everyday gestures mean in other cultures. Our sign for “everything is OK” is seen as vulgar and disrespectful. Tapping on your forehead when you are in the company of a Dutch person is uncalled for as your gesture indicates the person standing in front of you is “crazy”. There’s more to running a guest house than just making money. Corine van Dyk is the convener of the course. Click here for more information on the University of Cape Town Guest House Management Course. Back to SmartyPants Newsletter - July 2010 Edition Add comment Name (required) E-mail (required) Website Notify me of follow-up comments Send Cancel	Sign up now Previous editions September 2010 Edition August 2010 Edition July 2010 Edition June 2010 Edition May 2010 Edition April 2010 Edition March 2010 Edition February 2010 Edition January 2010 Edition December 2009 Edition
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Guest house | It is not all about the money

By Corine Van Dyk

Everybody was waiting for millions of visitors to come to South Africa for the World Cup; in the end, far fewer visited our beautiful country. People saw moneymaking opportunities everywhere – every second home became a B&B, guest house or privately rented accommodation. Little did they realise that the cost of running such a business is high and that travellers expect certain standards and features.

How many extra transport services were on our roads, thinking they could transport tourists without the required documentation? Booking agents popped up, trying to make their fortune, and sadly some establishment owners paid strangers to fill their beds and lost out in a big way, instead of trusting their product and relying on their own judgment and marketing.

During the past two years, establishment owners were talking about how much to inflate their rates. Some owners said they would raise prices to cover their damages or no-shows. However, damages should be covered by having the correct insurance and no-shows by requesting half the rate as a deposit before arrival.

Did guest house owners take the time to get to know something about their visitors before arrival?

For example, Greeks are proud of their national basketball team and very serious about their cultural heritage. If you had the privilege of accommodating Argentineans, you would know that they have the best beef in the world and will have no problem spending a fortune on an excellent “bide de chorizo” (rump or sirloin steak). The Chileans are the one of the best-educated people in the world, with a literacy rate of 95%.

It is also useful to know what everyday gestures mean in other cultures. Our sign for “everything is OK” is seen as vulgar and disrespectful. Tapping on your forehead when you are in the company of a Dutch person is uncalled for as your gesture indicates the person standing in front of you is “crazy”.

There’s more to running a guest house than just making money.

Corine van Dyk is the convener of the course.

Click here for more information on the University of Cape Town Guest House Management Course.

Back to SmartyPants Newsletter - July 2010 Edition

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