Meet the new FEDHASA Cape board & it’s 2.0 approach | The Planner

Earlier this month, FEDHASA Cape held it’s first in-person AGM in three years. The meeting was an important opportunity to assess the association’s performance and how this can be fine-tuned to make it increasingly future-fit. The result is a FEDHASA 2.0 approach, which will focus on three key areas: Coaching | Collaboration | Commercialisation.

BACK ROW Left to right: Monwabisi Thethe, Neil Hughes, Lesego Majatladi, Glyn Taylor, Dawn Smith, Lee Dicks
FRONT ROW Left to right: Faried Jones, Viwe Sona, Rema Wiese, Lee-Anne Singer, Phelokazi Mbebe

What the future holds

Lee-Anne Singer, the newly elected FEDHASA Cape Chair, explained, “Under the areas of Coaching | Collaboration | Commercialisation, we intend to focus on growing our membership to ensure we have a stronger and more-influential voice, as well as launching commercial projects and partnerships that impact on our members’ bottom line, both through cost savings and revenue-generating opportunities.”

She added, “FEDHASA sees itself as a connector within the hospitality sector, as well as an enabler for tourism and hospitality businesses. And both of these focus areas build on the excellent lobbying work that has been done by our former chair, Jeremy Clayton, the FEDHASA Cape Board and Secretariat.”

“I am convinced we will make a real difference to our organisation and the hospitality sector at large.”

Creating and cementing connections

One of the association’s significant achievements has been the strategic public and private partnerships they have built over the past few years. One of these has been with Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape. Another has been with SAACI and Cape Town Tourism to form the Joint Association Member Meeting Sessions (JAMMs).

Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander was present at the event and was optimistic about the future. She said, “We’re starting to see green shoots of recovery after two challenging years. We are very pleased to see the Western Cape economy restarting in so many ways, including some unique multi-year opportunities emerging out of the energy crisis in South Africa.”

Meet the board

The newly appointed FEDHASA Cape board are:

Chairperson:

  • Lee-Anne Singer

Hotels segment:

  • Chairperson: Lesego Majatladi
  • Alternate: Glyn Taylor

Small Accommodation segment:

  • Chairperson: Lee Dicks
  • Alternate: Neil Hughes

Restaurant & Catering segment:

  • Chairperson: Monwabisi Thethe
  • Alternate: Dawn Smith

Trusted Partner segment:

  • Chairperson: Faried Jones
  • Alternate: Ian Lumsden

Young Professionals segment:

  • Chairperson: Viwe Sona
  • Alternate: Phelokazi Mbebe

“This dynamic group of individuals will bring new energy to FEDHASA Cape’s efforts to enhance the value we deliver to members and I am convinced we will make a real difference to our organisation and the hospitality sector at large,” said Singer.

FEDHASA, or the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa, is recognised by Government as the official representative of the hospitality industry of South Africa. It represents the full spectrum of the hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, conference centres, caterers, self-catering accommodation, home hosting establishments (B&Bs and guest houses), clubs, taverns, shebeens, suppliers and trainers, consultants and service providers to the hospitality industry.