July Question of The Month

Franschhoek is undeniably one of South Africa’s top tourist destinations. As a premier tourist attraction most of the businesses in the village, from restaurants to rest homes, are in some way affected by the work done on our behalf by the Franschhoek Wine and Tourism Association.The

Month has chosen to pose the July Question of The Month to various businesses asking for comment about the perceived value that the FWVTA brings to Franschhoek. The question to the businesses is as folows:

· If you are a member of the FWVTA - What value does the Association add to your business?
· If you are not a member of the FWVTA – Why are you not a member? and/or What do you expect from an organisation such as the FWVTA?

Arthur McWilliam-Smith of Akademie Street Guest Houses replies - Read Here
Jessica Gretschel of Black and White replies - Read Here
Jenny Prinsloo, CEO of FWVTA, replies - Read Here

Read more of the answers in July's The Month

July Question of The Month - Jenny replies

Jenny Prinsloo, CEO of FWVTA, says:

FWVTA : What’s it all about?

• Besides being the official destination marketing organization for the Franschhoek Valley, FWVTA is involved with an increased number of festivals and events, safety and security issues, working towards creating a sustainable environment in the Valley, and practicing responsible tourism.
• We have increased the number of Franschhoek festivals to attract more visitors to the Valley particularly over the less busy winter months and slower seasons. Our festivals have appeal over a wide target market including food and wine, sports and the outdoors, classical music and literature, and arts and crafts. Last year and this year we have achieved huge media coverage from festivals and foreign journalists that we hosted. This has kept the Franschhoek Valley “in lights” throughout the year.
• Through the Director of Community Safety at the Stellenbosch Municipality, we facilitated the 10 police patrols on duty 24 hours in the Main Road in Franschhoek, from the start of the summer season until the present. We are currently in discussions with the Director on the erection of security cameras. Two cameras have been earmarked by the Municipality to date, one for Groendal and one for the Franschhoek Main Road. We are investigating options to erect three cameras in the Main Road.
• As part of responsible tourism, FWVTA has a community development programme in place which includes projects such as the Umdilaya waiter service training, the Youth Ambassadors top achiever project, the Franschhoek Literary Festival social development programme, the community Bastille Festival programme, the Streetsmart project benefiting street children, the schools and teachers excursion programme, and the MTB Grand Prix and development cycling project. A list of local community businesses and suppliers has been compiled.
• FWVTA launched its sustainable environment programme with Earth Hour in March, where all the restaurants in the Franschhoek Main Road switched off their lights on 28 March, in a worldwide initiative to create awareness about climate change. We are working on various “greening” projects, tree planting, composting, recycling at festivals, and carbon measurement analysis in our wine cellars. Documentation on Franschhoek’s BWI, IPW, ISO9000 and other compliance initiatives will appear shortly on our website.

What’s in it for FWVTA Members? Membership benefits include:

• Presentations and networking sessions every second month on value-add topics e.g. MATCH; fraud prevention in your business; the relevance and importance of digital marketing; the benefits of “green” grading for accommodation establishments; how the Chamber of Commerce can help small business during the economic downturn etc.
• Marketing opportunity to take an exhibition stand at Franschhoek Festivals organised by FWVTA
• Marketing opportunity to be represented at tourism trade shows and roadshows
• Access to the services provided by the Chamber of Commerce, Stellenbosch chapter, via FWVTA’s membership of the Chamber
• Representation on SA Wine Routes and WOSA; co-ordination of cellar door service training and wine courses for cellar staff
• Free directory listings in all official FWVTA promotional publications
• Free descriptive listing, including photo gallery, on the FWVTA website
• Free advertisements on the new Classifieds section of the FWVTA website
• Free telephonic advice from our Human Resource Consultant e.g. hiring, contracts, maternity leave, etc as well as discounted personal consultations
• 20% discount on BnBSure policies from Incompass Insurance
• 10% discount on advertising in the Franschhoek A-Z directory
• 5% discount on glassware orders over R500 from Chrystal Direct
• All FWVTA members are automatically also members of Cape Town Tourism. This includes representation on their website, through their offices and also on their digital kiosk system.
• Use of the FWVTA logo on publicity material – subject to approval of FWVTA
• Access to stocks of maps and promotional materials at the FWVTA office or at the Info Centre
• Marketing opportunity to display brochures at the FWVTA office and the Info Centre
• Access to members email addresses database
• FWVTA is recruiting new members so that more retail businesses, emerging businesses, professional practices, accommodation establishments, restaurants, Vignerons, farmers, industries, learning institutions, conference venues, wellness centres and other organizations may participate in our marketing initiatives on behalf of the Valley. We are implementing a new digital marketing and PR campaign in the new financial year 2009-2010. We will be contacting potential members soon, and would also welcome potential members contacting us on tel 021 8762861, or visiting us at address 1st Floor, 62 Huguenot Road, next to the Pharmacy.

Read more of the answers in July's The Month

July Question of The Month - Jess replies

Jessica Gretschel of Black and White says:

According to my lease contract I hold for my boutique, I am forced to be a member of the FWVTA. Although the FWVTA does not contribute to any direct influence on my boutique I do believe that what attracts tourists to Franschhoek in general has a lot to do with the efforts of the FWVTA. I would like the FWVTA to get the message across that the valley has more to offer in terms of specialized retail shopping rather then simply being an Eat, Drink and Sleep destination. Franschhoek is becoming as much a shopping destination.

July Question of The Month - Arthur replies

Arthur McWilliam-Smith of Akademie Street Guest Houses says:

Having been involved in the tourism industry in Franschhoek since before the start of the FWVTA I would suggest that anyone who does not see how vital the Tourism Association has been to the growth of this town does not have an ounce of business brain – or perhaps is a Johnny-come-lately and hasn’t seen what has happened over the last twenty years.

The Melleting Pot

Who is Patric Mellet?

An excerpt from his blog gives only part of the answer: "There was no particular Damascus moment of deciding that I would engage in the struggle and follow the resistance road. It just emerged as a natural path to take from a childhood hallmarked by poverty and pain, and the Apartheid system that dominated our existence and reinforced hopelessness. Through the liberation movement a path of hope beckoned in my teenage years. In taking this path – the resistance road, I experienced a profound transformation of my own life. There was no glamour in taking this path in the early seventies, when as a result of such a decision; one was branded as a radical terrorist by the establishment."

Patric is featured in the July edition of The Month. Don't miss the chance to 'meet' this fascinating man.

March On!

Until a week ago the tag line of Franschhoek's Bastille Festival: "a celebration of freedom", was in danger of being seriously undermined because of the calling off of the proposed Freedom Walk/Run. The event failed to attract a sponsor and the FWVTA was compelled to move ahead with their plans without it. The Month happened to learn of the cancellation of the Freedom Walk at a meeting with Cnlr Gordon Pfeifer. A concerned call to Charlotte van Zyl (of the Delta Trust) soon put things right. Thanks to Solms Delta Wine Estate for their generous sponsorship of this year's event. How fitting that their minstrels will lead the procession into town this year. Vive le True Community Spirit, vive.

Place Vendome Takes Shape

Bradley Tyler and Peter Hager's Place Vendom is taking shape and set to transform the entrance to Franschhoek South. The latest news is that The Corkscrew will inherit some of the look with a new coat of paint and a 'werfmuur' to complement its neighbour.