Malelane DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT

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SECTION B: ACTIVITY INFORMATION
Has a specialist been consulted to assist with the completion of this section? NO
If YES, please complete the form entitled “Details of specialist and declaration of interest” for the specialist
appointed and attach in Appendix I.
The Applicant, together with the Design Team for this project, informed this section.
1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
a) Describe the project associated with the listed activities applied for:

1.1. Operator
The proposed operator is the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Carlson Hotels and Rezidor Hotel Group merged in
early 2012 to form one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The portfolio of the Group
includes more than 1,319 hotels in operation and under development, with a global footprint spanning 80
countries, and a powerful set of global brands including Radisson Blu, Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By
CarlsonSM, Park Inn by Radisson, Hotel Missoni and Park Plaza. In most of the Group’s hotels, guests can
benefit from the loyalty program Club Carlson, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. The
Group and its brands employ more than 80,000 people.
The Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Brussels, Belgium. Radisson Blu Hotels &
Resorts, the leading brand of the Group, and represents first class, full service hotels combining a stylish and
contemporary approach to design with a culture of innovative thinking, developed to meet the very specific
needs of the guests. The Group currently operates more than 260 Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts across
Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

1.2. Funding Structure
The funding structure for the development will only be finalised after the completion of the Basic Environmental
Assessment, in 2015. However, all parties have committed to the following approximate shareholding:
 13.5 % held by Community Trust, financed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the
Public Investment Corporation Ltd. (PIC).
 20.0 % held by BEE shareholder - Siyazi Management Consultants, owned by Senzo Tsabadze,
funded mostly by internal resources, with assistance from the IDC.
 20% held by the Operator Carlson Rezidor Hotels, which will be funded 50% by its shareholder, the
Danish Fund for Developing Countries ("IFU") and 50% by AfriNord Bank Ltd, which has been formed
to finance the expansion of Carlson Rezidor Hotels in Africa. The shares will be held by Carlson
Rezidor's South African subsidiary, RHW Joint Venture Ltd.
 26.5% held by the Promoters of MSRI, which comprises Secprop 118 Investments (Pty.) Ltd and
Cradle of Man Ltd.
 20.0% held by the Public Investment Corporation Ltd. - with the objective of transferring these shares
to the Community Trust in future

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1.3. Development components
The proposed development comprises the establishment of a 240 bed (120 key) Safari Lodge with a four star
rating (TGSA) in the Malelane Region of the Kruger National Park. In accordance with the bed limit for this
development, it is the intention to provide 238 beds for tourism guests and 2 beds for on-site staff. The rest of
the staff are to be accommodated off-site, outside the KNP boundary and transported to the site on a daily
basis.
In addition to the above, the application incudes the development of a Park and Ride facility at the Malelane
Gate adjacent to the existing staff housing. This will be developed as a partnership between the proposed
Safari Lodge and the Kruger National Park.
The development also includes the realignment of approximately 3,25 km of the existing S114 road (which
currently runs through the proposed site) and the maintenance / upgrade of the existing S114 road.
The following development footprint areas are applicable:
 The total footprint of the Lodge will not exceed 14Ha. Refer to Appendix A.4a for the layout of the
proposed lodge.
 The total footprint of the Park and Ride will not exceed 1,5Ha. Refer to Appendix A.5 for the layout of
the Park and Ride facility.
 The realigned section of the S114 (assuming a maximum 6m road and a maximum of 3m reserve
width on either side) will not exceed 4Ha3
. Refer to Appendix A.6 for a map of the proposed
realignment of the S114.
Therefore, the total development footprint (including the new road, which is, strictly speaking, a linear activity)
will not exceed 20Ha.
These facilities are explained in more detail below:
1.3.1 Safari Lodge
The Entrance Gate will be the first point of contact for visitors entering the lodge itself after being driven from
the Park and Ride Facility. The gate has been designed to provide a sense of arrival for guests and to ensure
that access is controlled accordingly. A second gate will be placed on the existing S114 exiting the lodge site to
the north to allow for game drives and after hours access.
The Main Lodge is the central facility of the hotel. All tourism and guest functions are located at the main lodge
and the functional flow of the hotel is anchored from here. The main lodge complex will measure approximately
3508 m² and will include the following:
 Porte-cochere;
 Reception / lobby;
 Lounge;
 Business centre;
 TV rooms;
 Curio shop;
 Dining room / restaurant;
 Bar and catering deck;
 Sundowner deck and pool.
 Boma;
 Administration / offices;
 Guest laundry;
 Ablutions;
 Store;
 Kitchen;
 Parking area for mini busses and golf carts;
 Kitchen delivery area and backyard.
The Conference Venue will accommodate small and medium sized conference groups (up to 120 delegates).
The facility will measure approximately 1699 m² and will include the following:
 Porte-cochere;
 Reception;
 Pre-assembly area;
 Interlinked conference rooms to allow for small and larger events;
 Ablutions;
 Service corridor.
The Wellness Centre will offer wellness treatments and associated products for the lodge guests. This centre
will measure approximately 664 m² and will include the following:
 Reception;
 Treatment rooms;
 Deck;
 Gym;
 Ablutions and change rooms;
 Clinic and store.
The Family Centre is designed to provide entertainment activities for families with children. The family centre
will measure approximately 931 m² and will include the following:
 Reception;
 Children’s play areas (indoor and outdoor);
 Swimming pool for toddlers and for older children;
 Shop;
 Cinema;
 Ablutions.
The Environmental Education Centre will be designed to showcase the natural assets of the Kruger National
Park. The Education centre will be a meeting room where presentations will be offered to lodge guests,
covering specialist topics such as birding, trees, history of the area etc. It may be equipped with a mix of
electronic interactive equipment and static interpretation displays.
The Service Centre is where all support service activities are located. This facility will measure approximately
1305 m² and will include the following:
 Delivery area and service yard;
 Covered staff parking area (40 bays);
 Covered golf cart parking and repair facility (30 bays);
 Covered game drive vehicle parking;
 Vehicle wash bay;
 Stores for a wide range of purposes;
 Staff kitchen and canteen;
 Sick bay;
 Staff recreation rooms;
 Offices;
 Ablutions;
 Manager’s house (management couple);
 Solar panels and generators;
 Solid waste facility with recycling depot;
 Water purification plant and storage reservoirs (potable and non-potable);
 Package plant (connected to sump and pump station at main lodge).
Accommodation for couples or single guests will be provided in the form of Single Tent Rooms. There will be
111 of these canvas tents, each measuring a total of 81, 6 m² and including the following:
 1 Double en-suite bedroom with amenities;
 Viewing deck / patio
Accommodation for families or groups of four people will be provided in the form of Family Tent Rooms.
There will be 4 of these tents, each measuring a total of 114 m² and including the following:
 2 Double en-suite bedrooms with amenities;
 Lounge;
 Viewing deck / patio.
Six housekeeping service rooms will be strategically positioned between accommodation units. The purpose
of these rooms will be to enable the housekeeping teams to provide more efficient service from facilities which
are located close to the accommodation units. These will only be day facilities and will not provide
accommodation for housekeeping teams. These rooms will include the following:
 Storage for housekeeping and maintenance;
 Ablutions.
A Riverside Meander will be constructed from the main lodge along the Crocodile River for guests to
experience the outdoors in the Kruger National Park. The river meander may cross the Timfenheni Spruit by
means of a suspension bridge. This will be a low impact pedestrian bridge only. Refer to Appendix J.13.
Internal Roads and Walkways will be developed in a manner which ensures minimal impact and takes the
sensitivities of the associated site into consideration. Vehicle roads will measure a maximum of 6m in width
(surface) with up to 3m reserves on either side for storm water and bulk service reticulation. Pedestrian
pathways / golf cart routes will be a maximum of 3m wide. Refer to Appendix J.10 , J.11 and J.12.
Refer to Appendix A.4 and C.1 for layout and illustrations of the proposed lodge facility.
1.3.2 Park and Ride
The Park-and-Ride facility will be developed at the existing Malelane Gate and will service both lodge guests
and regular day visitors to the Kruger National Park. This aligns with SANPark’s strategy to implement
mechanisms to minimise traffic volumes in the southern portion of the Kruger National Park, especially at peak
times.
Lodge guests will not be allowed to self-drive to the lodge, but will be required to leave their vehicles at the
Park-and-Ride facility. They will be met at the Park-and-Ride and transported by shuttle or open game drive
vehicles to the lodge. 24 hour security will be provided for all cars parked, but also to ensure all access to the
KNP will be controlled though the proper channels, thereby ensuring protection against poaching.
Day visitors to the Park will also be able to leave their vehicles at the Park-and-Ride facility and make use of a
SANParks operated game drive service into the Park.
The Park and Ride facility will include the following facilities:
 Reception;
 Lounge;
 Ablutions;
 A kiosk;
 Offices;
 Luggage store;
 Outdoor rest area;
 Car wash bay;
 Covered parking bays for 145 vehicles;
 Oversized covered parking bays for game drive vehicles;
 Access, drop-off and parking for buses and larger passenger vehicles;
 A drop-off-and-go zone;
 A security fence.
Refer to Appendix A.5 and C.2 for layout and illustrations of the proposed Park and Ride facility.
1.3.3 Realigned S114
The existing S114 is a gravel road teeing off from the H3 and following the Crocodile River for a few kilometres.
It is not in very good condition at present. Currently, the S114 gravel road traverses the proposed site, crossing
the Timfenheni River and linking with the S121 intersection in the north.
In order to develop the proposed lodge on this site, it is necessary to realign a 3,25km section of the S114. This
road will be constructed as a Class B all-weather road. The realigned section will pass to the west of the lodge
site and reconnect with the existing S114 approximately 1 km beyond the site. A new river crossing will be
required, which will be developed as a concrete slab structure with erosion protection (gabions) to stabilise as
required.
The section of the S114 within the development site, including the existing river crossing, will be retained by the
developer as part of the lodge’s private access network, and to allow game drive / shuttle access from the
north.
A preliminary road realignment route was walked by the Specialist Ecologist in February 2011. This 4,2km route
was subsequently amended in order to limit the length of the realignment and to avoid numerous sensitive
sodic patches and Adenium spp. colonies. While the amended route has not been walked by the Specialist
Ecologist, he has confirmed that much of the vegetation appears to be similar on a high-resolution satellite
image and that no sodic sites are visible. Refer to Appendix D.6.
Of note, is that the Specialist Ecologist will be consulted when the route alignment is pegged, to ensure all
highly sensitive areas are avoided. This will be done by walking the route and adapting the alignment slightly as
required. Refer to Appendix D.1 and the proposed Mitigation Measures contained in Appendix F in this regard.
The Geotechnical Assessment has confirmed that there should not be any geotechnical constraints associated
with the development of the road. Refer to Appendix D.7.
In addition to the above, and in order to facilitate access to the site, approximately 12, 6 km of the existing S114
will be improved to the standard of a KNP Class B gravel road. This will include surface upgrades and storm
water bolsters and mitres.
Refer to Appendix C.3 and J.10 for illustrations and details of the proposed S114 road re-alignment and existing
road upgrade and to Appendix J.9 for the Roads and Stormwater Report by the engineer and Appendix J.10
and J.11 for supporting drawings.

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1.4. Architecture and design intent
1.4.1 Approach
The proposed lodge will adopt an environmentally friendly design philosophy for the development. The design
approach follows the idea of minimal visual, ecological and environmental impact wherever viable.
The objective is to create structures that merge with the natural bush to allow the occupants to feel part of the
surrounding environment. The bush is to dominate and the buildings are to be subtle and not make an
architectural statement, but rather to blend in form and colour. The structures are to tread lightly on the earth,
and the visual impact is to be minimized by separating structures and allowing the bush to persist between the
structures.
1.4.2 Visual considerations
Buildings are to be simple in form and deliberately separated to lessen impact on the environment, and allow
for placement adjustments during construction to preserve large trees and protected specimens. Subtle
walkways between buildings connect without overpowering. Exposure to the elements heightens the bush
experience when walking from building to building.
Main gathering areas mimic the bush in that the roofs can be likened to tree canopies providing shelter and
shade while allowing cool breezes to circulate in the open well ventilated areas below.
The structures are visually minimized through being both single storey and possessing light, shallow gradient
roofs, mainly of canvas sheeting and steel sheeting material. The khaki canvas roofs and the charcoal coloured
steel roofs reduce the impact of glare from sunlight.
External lighting will be minimized so as to limit the disturbance of the natural nightlife and visual impact from
the public park roads and sites across the Crocodile River. There will be no above ground electrical power
lines.
Refer to Appendix C for the ‘look and feel’ of the proposed lodge and tented units.
1.4.3 Materials
Canvas tents, low pitch, grey steel sheeted roofing and single storey structures all help to create a low visual
impact on the environment. The standard tents will have a double flysheet extended over it for protection from
the elements and also insulation from the sun. Insulated canvas material is another option under consideration.
Colours, materials and textures are chosen to blend and match the natural colours and bush of the region.
Materials on most of the main buildings will be canvas, timber, glass, steel, stone and plastered brickwork, with
earthy colours that are sympathetic to nature. Road and paving surfaces are natural gravel or sand coloured
composite materials.
The use of natural materials (canvas, stone, gravel, timber) and timber platforms also reduce both the internal
and external aesthetic impact of the development, by retaining the natural look and feel, and blending the
design with the immediate environment.
1.4.4 Development footprint reduction
Due to the nature of the tented units, a pipe pile method will be used for the foundations and structure. This will
allow all tents to be built on stilts and elevated on suspended slabs above ground level. Therefore no platforms
will need to be constructed, no earth fill will be required beneath the floors, and little or no foundation brickwork
will be required. In addition, floor thicknesses can be reduced from 125mm to 100mm.
This reduces excavations, concrete quantities and extent of wet work, and thus greatly limits the impact on the
terrain. The holes for the columns and stilts can be made with mobile equipment, which will greatly reduce
ecological damage by machinery.

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1.5. Operational activities
1.5.1 Occupancy
The occupancy of the lodge over the first 5 years as per the financial model is expected to be 20% in 2017,
then 56%, 62%, 70% and 70%.
1.5.2 24-Hour reception and shuttle service
A lodge reception service will be operated from the Park-and-Ride. All lodge guests, regardless of arrival time,
will be ferried via shuttles or open game drive vehicles between the Lodge and the Park-and-Ride. No self drive
will be permitted.
The following traffic volumes have been projected as a result of the proposed Lodge and Park-and-Ride
facilities:
 Additional traffic into the Park-and-Ride from outside the KNP: 30 vehicles per hour during morning
and afternoon peak hours, with an average of 160 vehicles per day;
 Traffic from Park-and-Ride to the Lodge: 20 vehicles per hour during morning and afternoon peak
hours, with an average of 105 vehicles per day;
 SANParks game viewing vehicles operating from the Park-and-Ride: 5 vehicles per hour, with an
average of 40 vehicles per day.
Refer to Appendix J.9.
Lodge guests will be encouraged to arrive during normal KNP operating hours in order to capitalise on the
evening game drives.
In the event of a flight delay or vehicle breakdown, guests will be able to check in after the KNP gate closing
time. The shuttle from the lodge will be available until 22h00 and, thereafter, special arrangements will be made
with the Lodge and the Malelane Gate security point (located on the south bank of the river). It must be noted
that this will be the exception rather than the norm. In addition, SANParks has confirmed that the 24-hour
access will not be extended to current concessions operating in the Park. Late arrivals for Skukuza Safari
Lodge and the concessions will be dealt with as per normal Park rules.
All after-hours vehicular access to and from the Lodge (including guest shuttles and staff transport) will be via
the H3 and S121 so that access to the lodge will be from the north. No after-hours travel will occur westwards
along the S114, so as to minimize noise and lighting impact on the Leopard Creek Estate.
Shuttles could also potentially be provided between relevant airports and the Lodge. This could include internal
airports within the boundary of the KNP and external airports in the area. Of note, however, is that after hours
access will be limited to the Malelane Gate.
A company that specializes in vehicle management systems, Afrirent, will also monitor vehicles. This is to
ensure that all vehicles travel along the correct, predetermined routes and adhere to all speed limits. The
operator will monitor infringements and implement fines for transgressions.
1.5.3 Game drives and guided walks
Activities from the lodge are proposed to include both day & night drives in open 4x4 vehicles on existing tourist
roads accompanied by a qualified guide. No self-drive game viewing activities will be allowed.
Accompanied walks with suitably qualified guides are also possible in some areas. Fully qualified SANParks
field guides will lead game viewing activities and the Lodge will, therefore, not employ any of its own guides.
The lodge operator is to obtain approval from SANParks for the trails to be walked.
The lodge will not have an exclusive use game viewing area or concession to make use of. Public park roads
will be utilised for this purpose. The number of permitted game drives, including night drives, will be determined
in collaboration with SANParks during the detail design phase, but is anticipated to start at around 27 drives per
day in 2017, and reach up to 40 drives per day by 2021.
As for other vehicles, all after hours driving will access and exit the lodge to the north. No after hours game
drives will be permitted along the S114 south of the lodge site.
1.5.4 Hospitality services
Hospitality services to be provided by the lodge will be to the standard associated with a 4-star luxury lodge.
These services will include the following:
 Serviced accommodation;
 Restaurant and bar;
 Wellness centre;
 Pool deck and lounge;
 First aid;
 Disabled assistance;
 Laundry services (guest clothing only –main laundry service will be outsourced to a company in
Malelane);
 Housekeeping services;
 Business facility services.
In the proposed layout, the tented units are located a fair distance from the main lodge (i.e. up to 1,4km away).
Golf Carts will be utilised to shuttle guests from their tented units to the main lodge and back along designated
golf cart / pedestrian routes.
1.5.5 Family centre activities
The family centre will provide activities for children to participate in along with the necessary equipment. The
family centre will also provide scheduled programmes for children in peak holiday seasons and will cater for all
weather conditions.
1.5.6 Environmental interpretation
Environmental education activities will be provided to educate children and adults on the ecosystems and
history of the Kruger National Park. Environmental interpretation will be provided at the lodge in the form of tree
identification, booklets describing the surrounding ecosystems and general environmental information.
1.5.7 Management services
The operator will manage the operational workforce for the proposed lodge. Staff will be sourced from the local
community in and around Malelane as far as possible and capacity building will take place. Only two
management staff will be accommodated on-site in the manager’s house, all other staff will reside off site and
will be shuttled to and from the lodge on a daily basis.
Management Services will be included in day-to-day operations. Management services will include:
 Waste management and recycling functions;
 Management and maintenance of utilities and infrastructure;
 Security, for the purposes of keeping visitors safe in a big 5 area. Due to the lodge being on the
periphery of the Park, security issues relating to criminal activities will also be managed appropriately;
Environmental Management will be undertaken on an on-going basis according to the Environmental
Management Plan for the lodge. The Environmental Management Plan will take into consideration all
sensitivities and mitigatory measures identified during the Basic Assessment Process. An Environmental
Control Officer will be appointed to conduct compliance assessments in terms of the National Environmental
Management Act and the SANParks Concessions manual for the Kruger National Park.
Of note is that projected vehicle volumes discussed in section 1.5.1 above exclude delivery vehicles accessing
the lodge and staff transport shuttles. It is expected that delivery vehicles will operate at off-peak times (i.e.
during the week after 9 and before 3). Times for staff transport will depend on shifts, but after-hours transport
out of the Park will occur, as staff will not be housed on the lodge site. All controls that will be applied to afterhours
guest access will also apply to staff transport shuttles.

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1.6. Construction activities
The construction period is expected to last between 12 and 18 months, assuming no unforeseen delays are
encountered.
1.6.1 Construction camp:
The scale of the development and the expected duration of construction require that a construction camp be
demarcated prior to the commencement of works, and maintained throughout the construction period. This
construction camp will include a site office; a materials lay down area, waste storage areas etc. and will be
securely fenced.
The locations of the work areas will be within previously disturbed areas, or within the lodge footprint areas as
demarcated. Areas outside of the actual footprint, and especially riverine and other sensitive environments will
be protected from disturbance.
1.6.2 Contractors accommodation:
No accommodation for construction workers will be available on-site, as local labour from the region will be
transported to the site and back on a daily basis. Security personnel may be housed on site. In this situation,
only potable water, cooking facilities, basic wash facilities, and site toilets will be required within the
construction camp.

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Impact on existing tourist operations
The existing tourist operations that stand to be most affected by the proposed Malelane
Safari Lodge include the Pestana Kruger Lodge, which is located on the south bank of
the Crocodile River adjacent to the Malalane Bridge, Jocks Safari Lodge and the Lukimbi
Safari Lodge. The key concerns raised by the manager of the Pestana Lodge is that the
proposed Malelane Safari Lodge will, by virtue of its location within the Kruger National
Park, provide an attractive alternative for visitors who would have traditionally stayed at
the Pestana Lodge. The potential impact is likely to be exacerbated by the 24 hour
access associated with the Park and Ride. The conference and wellness facilities will also
compete with the Pestana Lodge. The impact on the Pestana Lodge would in turn result
in job losses.
While the proposed Malelane Safari Lodge does have the potential to impact on the
Pestana Lodge, within a free market economy developers have the right to establish
facilities that provide competition and create choices for consumers. Likewise, the
owners of the Pestana Lodge have the right to reduce their rates or offer special
discounts that would potentially impact on the Malelane Safari Lodge. In terms of
assessing the potential impact, there are a number of other variables that are unrelated
to the proposed Malelane Safari Lodge that could also impact on the Pestana Lodge,
including the state of the global and South African economy, the interest and rand
exchange rate, crime levels in South Africa and political changes. The assessment of the
proposed impact of the Malelane Safari Lodge on the Pestana Lodge and, for that matter
other tourism operations in the area, is therefore unlikely to be definitive. In this regard
other tourism operators in the area interviwed indicated that the establishment of a four
star hotel in the Kruger National Park near the Malalane Gate would attract more visitors
to the area, which would in turn benefit the local economy.
In the case of the Jock Safari and Lukimbi Lodges, the market they cater for is more
exclusive and discerning. The patrons who can afford to pay the rates charged by the
Jock Safari and Lukimbi Lodge are paying for the exclusiveness associated with these
small luxury lodges. These patrons are unlikely to want to stay at a 240 bed facility,
such as the proposed Malelane Safari Lodge. The impact on these establishments is
therefore likely to be limited.

This is my favourite piece Kruger connecting to society at best - who cares for jobs in the adjacent communities

[Richprins]

Thanks so much, Dear!

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Malelane Safari Lodge SIA

4.4.4 Establishment of a new tourist destination in the Kruger National Park
The Kruger National Park is one of the world‟s most popular public entry game parks and
receives in the region of 1.3 million visitors per year. In terms of facilities SANParks
offer a variety of tourist accommodation options and currently have 12 main rest camps,
five bushveld camps, two bush lodges and four satellite camps, which, in total, provide
~ 4 100 beds (depending on maintenance, upgrades and various other circumstances)
(Kruger National Park Management Plan, 2008). In addition seven luxury lodges have
been granted 20 year concessions.
A number of individuals and organisations are opposed to the establishment of hotels in
the Kruger National Park, such as Against Interference in Kruger Our Nature Asset
(AIKONA) and Africa Wild amounst others. However, as indicated in Section 1.6.1,
Assumptions, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs approved the Kruger
National Park Revised Zonation Plan on 26 June 2013. The Revised Zonation Plan makes
provision for the establishment of a Peripheral Development Zone (PDZ) which extends
2 km into the Park. The development opportunities associated with the PDZ include the
development of accommodation facilities such as the proposed lodge. The establishment
of the proposed Malelane Safari Lodge is therefore in keeping with the policy of
SANParks for the Kruger National Park.
As indicated above, SANParks and the proposed developers and operators are confident
that the proposed Malelane Safari Lodge will be financially successful. This is based on
market research undertaken by SANParks, Secprop Leisure and Carlson Rezidor. The
findings of this research indicate that there is a demand for a four star resort facility
located in the Kruger National Park that caters for foreign and domestic market, and
caters for both emerging middle class tourists and business. The establishment of a new
tourism destination in the Kruger National Park will increase the number of beds in the
park. The proposed development will also provide an alternative to the existing
accommodation options available in the park, thereby appealing to a different sector of
the market.
The involvement of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group as the operators also provides the
development with an international hotel operator with an established track record. The
involvement of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is also likely to create opportunities to
market the lodge overseas. This in turn will benefit tourism in South Africa, the Kruger
National Park and the local area. The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is an international
hotel company, with headquarters in Minneapolis and Brussels, Belgium. The group
includes more than 1 300 hotels in operation and under development in over 100
countries, and employs over 88 000 staff. The hotel brands include Radisson Hotels,
Radisson Blu, Country Inns & Suites, Park Inns, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Hotel
Missoni.
The representatives from Leopard Creek Golf Estate indicated that the proposed
development would create potential opportunities and benefits for the Leopard Creek by
providing quality accommodation for potential visitors, specifically during the Alfred
Dunhill Championship held in December (Derek Muggeridge, pers comm. January 2015).
There is currently insufficient accommodation available in the Malalane area and visitors
have to be accommodated in Mbombela (Nelspruit).
The establishment of a Conference Centre and Wellness Centre will is also likely to
create opportunities for diversifying the type of visitors that currently use the Kruger
National Park. The majority of business conferences are held during the week, which
would enable the proposed facility to increase its occupancy rates. Concerns were raised
by the manager of the Pestana Lodge, Mr Simon Rowson that the lodge and the
associated conference facility would impact on the operations of the Pestana Lodge. This
is discussed in more detail below.