La Vallée no more Anne Gyselinck, well-known tourism personality in southern Namibia, announced that La Vallée Tranquille south of Maltahöhe does not operate as a guest farm any longer. For more than a decade, La Vallée Tranquille offered guests true Franco-Namibian hospitality 60 kilometres from Duwisib Castle. Anne is actively involved with the Daweb School Choir and a number of other projects involving the local community at Maltahöhe.
Touchdown in Southern Africa Formed in 1989 by travellers working in the UK airline trade and previously focusing mainly on the European market, Touchdown has now expanded its services to Southern Africa. Touchdown is a company that sells holidays to employees of the travel trade, offering them discounted airfares and hotel rates. This enables travel agents and other travel industry staff to take holidays with their families and thus enjoy the sector they work in. www.touchdownsa.co.za
Air Namibia self-check-in system At the end of June 2009, Air Namibia introduced a new self-check-in system. The system allows passengers to check in online from the convenience of their own home. It saves passengers valuable time normally spent in the queue and gives them the opportunity to choose their own seats, leaving them with peace of mind and in full control of their journey. The system opens for self check-in 24 hours before the departure of each flight, and closes three hours before the scheduled flight departure time. Self check-in is available to all passengers in possession of an electronic ticket bought online or through a ticketing agent.
www.airnamibia.com.na
NWR launches new website Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) recently launched its new interactive website. The website hosts a web camera, which allows visitors to the site to watch wild animals at the Okaukuejo waterhole in Etosha. Tobie Aupindi, managing director of NWR, believes that the web camera is without a doubt the biggest lure to the website. The camera gives potential visitors the chance to experience one of Namibia’s tourism highlights, giving them an idea of what to expect. The website also hosts information on Namibia’s national parks and accommodation offered by NWR. The site even has its own blog and an online booking system makes planning your journey to Namibia much more convenient. www.nwr.com.na
MATCH 2010 MATCH Hospitality, the exclusive worldwide rights holder for the FIFA Hospitality Programme, launched the Offi-cial Hospitality Programmes for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa at an exclusive breakfast event in Windhoek. The event gave the Namibian industry and business sectors an opportunity to purchase exclusive packages. Two hospitality packages are available: the FIFA Suite, which offers the most prestigious and personal way to enjoy the World Cup, and the FIFA Business Seat, which offers hospitality services in lounges or deluxe temporary facilities. Four options in these hospitality packages are available, promising guests a unique and exclusive soccer experience. The packages are luxurious and professionally organised and the ideal incentive for corporate and business fans. www.fifa.com/hospitality
HAN new Executive Committee The Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) recently elected a new executive committee. The new committee was announced at HAN’s annual general meeting. Gitta Paetzold was re-elected as CEO, with Christie Benade as chairman. Other members of the committee are Olivier van der Vyver, Wolfgang Schenk, Bruce Simpson, Frank Bruggers, Robert Nienaber, Werner Beddies, Heidi Snyman, Merrilyn Leippert, and Juan Corrie. At the same meeting in June, HAN announced that part of its budget would go towards promoting tourism awareness, mentorship, training and preventing crime, reflecting HAN’s dedication to the Tourism Transformation Charter and the general promotion of tourism in Namibia. www.hannamibia.com
Wildlife auction at Okosongoro The ninth annual African Wildlife Services auction took place during June at the Okosongoro Safari Ranch just outside Omaruru. Most of the species on sale were presented in breeding herds. The majority of the animals were bred at Okosongoro, but animals from South Africa, namely ten impalas and three hippos, were also up for sale. Wildlife from Epako Game Ranch, Okambara, Wabi Lodge and Rus en Vrede formed part of the auction. Wildlife such as sable antelope, rhino, nyala, lechwe and springbok were auctioned at this event. African Wildlife Services is owned by Hans-Otto Reuter, a wildlife consultant who has been organising wildlife auctions in Namibia since 2001.
www.wildlife.com.na
Gobabis Museum Project The Museums Association of Namibia (MAN) has received a grant of N$20 000 from the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Egon Kochanke. The money will be used to help the municipality of Gobabis erect a security fence around the old library building, set to become the town’s new museum. The new museum is being established with the support of Eberhard and Elfriede Einbeck, the couple who ran a private museum in Gobabis for many years. The new museum will provide a secure space for the many interesting artifacts in their collection and provide an opportunity for new exhibitions to be designed and installed. MAN has also provided a computer and digital camera to help the new museum set up a computerised catalogue of all items in its collection. Interested parties are welcome to donate materials to the new museum. www.museumsnamibia.org
