Media Releases

• Riviera on Vaal Hotel joins the Legacy Hotels Group
• Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club appoints new F&B Ops Manager
• Lions stay at Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club
• Riviera on Vaal takes blanket project to the people
• Riviera on Vaal treats Vereeniging Child Welfare to a day out
• Annual Charity Golf Day a great success

The Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club today announced that it has entered into a strategic relationship with Legacy Hotels & Resorts, an established, African based hotel management company, to manage and market the hotel operations effective 1 October 2009.

The Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club is a landmark in the Vaal Triangle. It was built in 1929 by Mr. Schlesinger, a Hollywood filmmaker who fell in love with the spot on the Vaal River where it proudly stands today. It was opened for business in 1936 amid great fanfare. Each room on the then two levels, boasting an en suite bathroom - a luxury unheard of at the time.

Through the decades the Hotel changed hands until it was bought on auction by entrepreneur Mac van der Merwe for the Zorgvliet Portfolio in 2003. The Portfolio which promises all their guests "special experiences for special people" is a family business which boasts properties such as Ka'Ingo Private Reserve & Spa in the Vaalwater area and Zorgvliet Vineyard Lodge & Spa.

Refurbishment of the Hotel commenced under the watchful eye of Managing Director, daughter Melanie van der Merwe and the Hotel reopened the first 30 rooms for business after 3 months. The very next year the Riviera on Vaal Hotel achieved five star status for the first time and maintains this accolade to this day. In August 2008 Trilok Bhunjun was appointed the first General Manager at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel.

Says MD of the Riviera Melanie van der Merwe: "We are pleased to be associated with Legacy Hotels. As business owners we feel comfortable and positive that we have very similar priorities with regards to service delivery to our guests, commitment to the advancement of the business and skills development of our staff. The Legacy Management team boasts countless years of combined experience, a strong understanding of and access to the international and local corporate markets. We are very excited at the anticipation of optimal financial returns."

Legacy Hotels and Resorts owns and manages a collection of four and five star hotels, bush lodges, leisure resorts and casino resorts in key tourism and business locations throughout Africa.

MD of Legacy Paddy Brearley says "I believe that the unique Riviera on Vaal hotel will offer another exciting option for both our leisure and corporate markets and will complement our existing properties."

"I believe that there are a lot of synergies between our current marketing service provider, MV Communications and the Legacy Hotels and Resorts marketing division," Ms. Van der Merwe commented when asked about the role of their current marketing company. "With combined effort Riviera on Vaal Hotel's vision of becoming a sought after destination for leisure and corporate travellers will be realized much sooner."

She reveals that there certainly was an emotional side to be dealt with in making this huge decision: "The Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club is our pride and passion. I am however convinced that we have made a sound business decision and that our hotel is in excellent hands."

Michael Graser has been appointed Food & Beverage Operations Manager at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club.

With previous work experience at the Mount Nelson Hotel, the Cellar Hohenort Hotel as well as the Table Bay Hotel, Michael was interested in the operation of and relationship between the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and adjacent Country Club that forms part of its brand. It was this interest and what it meant for him in reaching his goal that influenced his decision to move from the fairest Cape to the Vaal Triangle. His goal is "to gain as much exposure and experience before becoming a General Manager".

Michael graduated from The Cape Technikon Hotel School in Granger Bay, Cape Town in 1999 with a National Diploma in Hotel Management and completed his experiential training at Hotel Speer in Rapperswil, Switzerland.

After residing in Gauteng for three months the Graser family is settling in quite nicely. Wife Judi and sons Sebastian (4 years) and Matthew (8 months) seem to enjoy living in Vereeniging.

"More sunshine and less traffic - it's perfect for the family," smiles Michael.

The recent clash between the Springboks and the English and Irish Lions brought many a foreign visitor to the Vaal. This avid Lions fans was spotted at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club in full traditional attire, ready to cheer his team to victory.

Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club joined forces against the cold with River Square Shopping Centre this weekend. The Hotel's marketing team was at the Square to ask patrons of the Centre for a contribution towards the Blanket Project which aims to gather as many blankets as possible for the poor and less fortunate.

The morning's activities proved to be very successful and the public of Three Rivers opened their hearts to this worthy cause. Featured here is Zadia Venter from MV Communications, the PR and Marketing Agency representing the Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club, at one of the tables.

As tradition by now dictates, the guests of honour at the recent Charity Golf Day in aid of Vereeniging Child Welfare were, of course, the children. A group of 20 kids from the organization joined the staff of the Hotel for a day of fun and laughter.

Jumping castles were erected for the younger kids while the older children enjoyed a round of Pitch 'n Putt. Safe 'n Sound Adventures and Entertainment, who manages the Children's entertainment for the Hotel, volunteered their services for the day and Christelike Uitgewers Maatskappy saw to it that every child received a goody bag to take home. Murphy, the Hotel's mascot saw to great excitement by bringing packets with something for the sweet tooth.

The day's excitement ended at 17h00 for the kids, after a great afternoon at the Hotel: something that might be an everyday experience for most of us, but was regarded by most of them as a once in a lifetime experience.

The Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club's annual Charity Golf Day in aid of Vereeniging Child Welfare was held at the Country Club on Friday 12 June. Despite the cold weather, golfers came from far and wide to support this worthy cause. Tee off started at 10:00 a.m. to avoid the early winter sunset. A great day's golf earned a group of lucky winners fantastic prizes such as weekends away at luxury lodges, hampers of goodies and vouchers from benevolent sponsors. Louw Riekert, whose second place secured him a weekend at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club, donated his prize back to the charity and in so doing raised an additional R 2 000 towards the organization!

The day ended with a spit braai dinner at the 19th hole with golfers' partners joining them for a wonderful evening out in support of a great cause. The Riviera on Vaal Hotel & Country Club would like to thank Matthews Restaurant, Inyama Grill House, MV Communications, Riviera on Vaal Properties, Broderick Sports, Brandhouse, The Riviera on Vaal Pro Shop, Cloud 9 Golf, Diamond Corner, Sedgars, Liquor City, Model Bottlestore, ABI, Bakgat Musiek, Waltons and Vaal Gas for their generosity.

The next charity golf day is planned for 31 July 2009 in support of the Give me a Chance Children's Foundation. Corporate sponsors who would like to get involved can do so by contacting Zinaida Theron on 016 455 6100 for more information.