The African Travel & Tourism Association Celebrates Another Successful World Travel Market For Its Members
Following a record-breaking year for the African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA®), which saw 104 new members join the 684-strong organisation, World Travel Market London brought further success for ATTA®. Now in its 30th year, ATTA® continues to focus on amplifying members’ voices and providing a platform for tour operators, lodges, safaris, and tourist boards to connect.
“World Travel Market featured a successful ATTA® networking event that saw 150 members and non-members mingle, swap stories, and make connections,” says ATTA® CEO Jon Danks. “We were honoured to have Phera Jai of fly in from Nairobi to talk about a joint project with Humanculture that focuses on community development and environmental conservation.”
ATTA® was proud to feature a ‘village’ of 11 members at its stand, including African Ascents, The Sands, Kenya, and Cresta Hotels to London and WTM, some for the very first time. Regenerative resorts, an increase in air accessibility, and new elevated safari lodgings were some of the key news coming from the three-day show.
Highlights of the latest member news can be found below:
Award-winning options at Minor Hotels Africa
Zambia’s The Royal Livingstone Hotel by Anantara was named the 12th best resort in Africa in the annual Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards - the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. The hotel also offers new elegant and luxurious Junior Suites with sweeping views of the Zambezi River. Suites are classically furnished with modern comforts such as a luxurious bath that can be discreetly shielded to create an intimate sanctuary, or the sheers can be gently drawn open to the surrounding natural beauty.
New flights boost St Helena Tourism
Johannesburg-based airline, Airlink, is doubling its scheduled flight service between South Africa and St Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean - one of the remotest islands in the world - to a seasonal twice-weekly flight. In addition to the regular scheduled weekly flight that operates each Saturday from Johannesburg, a second weekly Tuesday flight originating in Johannesburg will operate to St Helena from 28 November 2023 until the end of February 2024. This will result in a further 13 return flights available to travellers in addition to the weekly flights over peak season.
Boutique meets bush at Sanctuary Retreats
Boutique-meets-bush at the brand-new, two-bedroom Private Villa at Sanctuary Tambarare in Kenya, which offers seclusion amid the wildlife-rich setting of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Contemporary in style, the two ensuite-bedrooms boast floor-to-ceiling cinematic views from the super king beds, teak floors, and unique touches that reflect the local culture. The private deck, boma and outdoor space offer immersion in the spectacular surroundings. Meals are prepared by a private chef and can be served in the tented dining area or al fresco under the vast African sky.
Hodi Hodi offers bush-to-beach experiences in Tanzania
Hodi Hodi offers a family-owned and run twin destination of a good mid-range price and quality Bush Camp in the Ruaha National Park of Southern Tanzania and Boutique Beach Houses on the Matemwe Beach of Zanzibar. The Hodi Hodi camp has a bar, plunge pool and waterhole right next to the main building. You can sit there in the morning with a coffee as the sun rises to watch elephants come to drink from both the waterhole and the fresh un-chlorinated pool. The ‘bush to beach’ combination can be curated into personalised packages for visitors.
Newmark Hotels and Reserves grows into West Africa
Newmark entered the West Africa market with Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate near Lagos, Nigeria and grows with the opening of The Hazendal hotel at Hazendal Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, a new boutique offering at Blaauwklippen Wine Estate – the oldest wine estate in Stellenbosch, and the launch of The Hazendal, South Africa’s largest superyacht. The brand-new BABOHI Lodge at QWABI Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere region elevates safari offerings and in Cape Town the first and only five-star regenerative travel destination, the private villas of Future Found Sanctuary, joins Newmark Hotels & Reserves.
Safari luxury at Sopa Lodges, Kenya and Tanzania
Established in 1986, Sopa Lodges stands as a beacon in East Africa's prime safari destinations, boasting 462 rooms in the largest collection of cottage-style accommodations, which blend modern amenities with rustic charm for utmost comfort and privacy. "Sopa" means "Hello” in the Maasai language, reflecting its ethos of extending the warmest welcome to every guest. Represented in Kenya and Tanzania, its prestigious establishments include Amboseli Sopa Lodge, Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Masai Mara Sopa Lodge, Samburu Sopa Lodge in Kenya, and Tarangire Sopa Lodge in Tanzania.
Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa
Vergenoegd Löw Boutique Hotel & Spa offers an incomparable blend of luxury and heritage, nestled in the exquisite landscape of South Africa's Cape region. Their award-winning wines have recently received prestigious medals, underlining the exceptional quality of the unique terroir. The estate is set to expand its five-star accommodations, adding six luxury two-bedroom farmhouse cottages by the end of the year. Star Chef Bertus Basson enhances the Vergenoegd Löw experience, lending his culinary prowess to the on-site restaurants and sustainability continues to be a central pillar, highlighted by initiatives like the newly added Dexter Cattle, as well as water conservation and responsible tourism.
ALS Limited
Attending WTM for the first time, FLY ALS showcased its charter and scheduled flights to Kenyan destinations such as Amboseli (famous for free-roaming elephants), Mara (for the Masai Mara National Park), Ukunda (Diani Beach), Vipingo (coastal) from Wilson Airport, Nairobi, Kenya.
For more information about membership with ATTA® please visit ATTA® :: Homepage.