With all of the world-class offerings, it is no wonder that the much-desired Taj Cape Town is busier than ever before.
Mark Wernich, cluster general manager for Taj Cape Town and Taj Pamodzi Lusaka, recently spoke to the Weekend Argus sharing insight into all that the brand has to offer.
While he did share a lot of great details, Wernich was offered a challenge and asked how he would entice someone to choose their brand, even if they somehow never heard of the Taj?
Wernich said, “I think our ‘Tajness’ is the factor that would be most persuasive in this regard. It’s the very special philosophy that informs the way we approach hospitality.
“We’re led by the spirit of ‘athithi devo bhava’, an Indian saying which translates to ‘the guest is god’ and, indeed, our guests can look forward to a heartfelt Indian welcome that’s rooted in warmth and a generosity of spirit.
“The unique character of Taj Cape Town is a further plus: the Indian heritage of the hotel blends easily with the innate warmth of South Africa’s cultures to make for a fascinating, authentic experience,” Wernich said.
With such an answer, one can see why Wernich has been recognised as Trailblazer of the Year by the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), adding to an already impressive list of accolades gathered during his career.
Trailblazer of the Year, ICHL’s flagship recognition programme, was designed to acknowledge and reward the exceptional performance and significant contribution of associates.
Asked what he makes of the award, Wernich said he thinks the reward recognises the headway they’ve made in terms of improving occupancy rates.
“Our repositioning - which saw us refurbish a number of key venues in the hotel, such as the Lobby Bar and Lounge, Mint Restaurant and Wood-Fired Grill and launch new ones like the Whiskey Lounge and The Pantry - has played a key role in this regard, enabling us to better our 2019 occupancy numbers.
“In fact, we are busier than ever before. Our revamped food and beverage offering has also been part of this: we have introduced an exciting pan-Indian menu at Bombay Brasserie, along with grills and small plates at Mint Restaurant, in line with international food trends. This appeals to our international leisure travellers. Then there is the revamp of our spa, J Wellness Circle, which offers luxurious signature treatments and spa journeys based on ancient Ayurvedic practices.
“These changes have enabled us to broaden our appeal, too, so that we have increased market share amongst MICE travellers and locals. I like to think that Taj Cape Town is now considered a first choice amongst visitors to Cape Town,” Wernich said.
“Our financial performance has improved significantly, rivalling that of other hotels in the group. It’s this that has earned Trailblazer status.”
Wernich added that as Chairperson of the Cape Chamber of Commerce & Industry, his goal is to unite small businesses within the region to create a stronger economy.
“Of course, I do this through my lens of inbound leisure tourism, as that’s my area of expertise. I’m pleased to say our efforts are gaining ground: as we move into the third quarter, international terminal passenger traffic for 2024 at Cape Town International Airport has remained steady with a year-on-year growth of 11% when compared to the same period in 2023.
”This translates to more than 1 750 000 passengers. Growth increased by 1% in July compared to the same period in 2023, with over 201 000 two-way international passengers travelling through the terminal. This means that Cape Town is growing in popularity as a tourist destination – and I like to think that the beauty and efficiency of our CBD plays a role in that.”
Wernich is also excited by the forthcoming season as they’re looking forward to a full house, with occupancy topping the same period for 2023.
“We’ve invested an enormous amount of energy into crafting food and beverage experiences that will entice them to stay at the hotel. Thanks to the diversity offered by Bombay Brasserie and Mint, we are able to please a wide range of palates, with the quality of our dishes and our excellent services matched by value for money.”
With September being tourism month, Wernich highlighted the Taj Cape Town’s offerings such as:
- Our Urban getaway package, priced at R4 540 for a luxury room, includes a complimentary welcome drink, English breakfast at Mint Restaurant and Wood-fired Grill, 15% off other meals at Mint Restaurant and Wood-fired Grill, complimentary wi-fi, complimentary valet parking and access to our gym facility and indoor heated pool.
- Our Experience Set Menu for two at Bombay Brasserie (priced at R995 for two), includes a choice of small plates that allows diners to experience a special blend of fine dining and street food.
“This is an especially exciting time for IHCL, as the company has been formally recognised as the largest hospitality player in India and has ambitious expansion plans in Africa's luxury hospitality space. There are many exciting developments on the horizon.
“Among these, the repositioning of Bombay Brasserie and J Wellness Circle truly stands out. These iconic offerings are now poised as standalone businesses, allowing other tourism players in African cities to integrate them into their portfolios. without being tied to the Taj brand,” Wernich said.
Weekend Argus