SuzetteBouwer

Gauteng, South Africa

I have worked in the hospitality industry for over 25 years.

I was born in Zambia, call myself a “Zimbo” and live in Johannesburg, South Africa. I have a very fond affection for Cape Town having spent two significant phases of my life there, perhaps it is more about the special people I met there some of who still tempt me back from time to time; not that I am undermining what a fabulous place it is, winter an all!

My CV on LinkedIn reveals the serious stuff most notably that I have worked for some pretty impressive hotel groups affording me great opportunities to become somewhat of a Southern African aficionado. I have worked with hotels and lodges in Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique.

I worked for SADC on the World Expo 2000 project in Hannover, Germany. During this time, I planned and hosted an impressive display of Southern Africa’s UNESCO World Heritage sites to celebrate World Tourism Day.

Sadly, I returned from Germany having showcased the Southern African region as a proud African only to find that my mother was losing her farm in Zimbabwe. No point harping on, though one cannot escape being touched by such an experience but blessings are many and we count them daily. Occasionally one gets the opportunity to make a difference – that’s definitely what my SADC stint in 2000 was about.

What I am trying to say is that I have been around the southern African block at bit!

My passion IS travel and marketing turns me on, so the two together take up a lot of my happy time.

I value the opportunities that a “job” of this nature provides amazing opportunities to learn, broaden the mind, see, hear, taste and smell new cultures. PJ, my life partner, is also passionate about travel. Especially if it is in one of his Classic Cars (which Rank No. 1 priority on his list) plus he is a great cook and THE consummate host – becoming more Irish with each Jammie Whiz-So. Hence the PJ Food & Cars category...

We opt to spend a large proportion of our time eating, drinking, socialising and travelling – the common denominators? New experiences and having fun!

Life is about choices and does it not, therefore, follow that I specialise in hospitality marketing? To me, that is about bringing the right people and product together? It is so easy to get it right but even easier to err.

As we travel and are blessed with great experiences, wonderful friends and opportunities which allow me to demonstrate how respecting different needs and wants, listening to what is really said followed by attention to detail creates a uniquely satisfying experie