Leaves Lodge & Spa, South Africa’s 5 Star Hospitality Establishment with an Executive Touch of Royalty and Excellence

A blend of nature in its purest form decorated with state of the art infrastructure coupled with a touch of royal treatment in service delivery is the reality that every guest experiences at the 5 Star rated Leaves Lodge & Spa in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

This majestic hospitality establishment with an executive touch of excellence in customer service is a prime choice for corporate guests such as company executives, members of parliament and the military as well as leisure guests and holiday makers including politicians and celebrities.

With over a decade of excellence in the hospitality industry, the lodge which derives its name from the tree leaves that continuously fall on the ground across the year offers presidential, deluxe, superior and standard rooms plus a spar treatment that reinvigorates the total person.

Leaves Lodge & Spa is perfectly etched in the indigenous forests that are adorned with beautiful mountains which are cooled by the streams of water that elegantly meanders around the granite dome which gives a perfect view of the Lowveld landscape.

A visit to this establishment gives every guest a stress relieving, mind refreshing and morale boosting experience that is suit for goal getting highflyers in life since the tranquility of this leisure haven creates beautiful and long lasting memorable moments.

Bookings to the Leaves Lodge & Spa can also be done online through their website – https://www.leaveslodge.co.za/

In an interview with iniafrica news, Sydney Blake from Leaves Lodge & Spa shares the history of this rare establishment as he also talks about its unique services and its plans for the future.

iniafrica news: Would you briefly give us an overview and background of Leaves Lodge and Spa including events that it has hosted and important people that it has accommodated since its inception?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: Leaves Lodge is one of the few 5 Star rated guest houses in Nelspruit.

Our guest database consists of mostly corporate guests, although we also offer accommodation to leisure guests and holiday makers.

Over the years, we have even developed a very good relationship with people from our neighboring countries.

Due to the quality of services and the nature of relationships that we have with our client, we proudly offer accommodation to parliament, military, business and other VIP guests. We also host popular South African artists and politicians etc…

The main building was built 16 years ago for private purposes by the De Lange Family. Later on, 6 rooms were renovated and used as guest rooms, and that was the start of Leaves Lodge & Spa Nelspruit. Over the years the rooms expanded and we ended up with standard rooms, superior rooms, deluxe rooms, presidential rooms and self-catering units.

iniafrica news: The hospitality industry is a critical sector in the economy because of its financial contribution to GDP and because of its ability to positively transform communities especially environmentally and infrastructure-wise. What is it that motivated Lodge’s participation in this critical and important industry?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: It’s totally passion. This establishment is not for our benefit only since it has managed to create jobs for at least 13 employees and more-so, the beautiful infrastructure that we have built enhances the magnificent outlook of our environment.

iniafrica news: Briefly tell us about the motivation behind the unique name and even the logo of this establishment.

Leaves Lodge &Spa: The name originated from the fact that there are leaves falling on the premises throughout every season.

The logo is 3 Leaves of the Wild Fig Tree. This is a personal favorite tree of the De Lange Family.

iniafrica news: Now, tell us something about the spa including the reasons why you had to include this unique service into your product range.

Leaves Lodge & Spa: Beauty and relaxation were always a passion and dream of Mrs. Renee De Lange, so she decided to make the Spa part of the Guest House as a value added marketing point and product. The Spa attracts local clients as well as in-house guests.

iniafrica news: What is your unique approach on service delivery towards customer engagement?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: Through attention to detail and personal attention to each guest, we also offer airport transfers and shuttle service at an additional cost as well as full dinners on request and not forgetting that breakfast is included in all our rates.

iniafrica news: How has the market responded to products and services offered by Leaves Lodge & Spa so far and what can you attribute to such kind of a response?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: It’s encouraging to note that the feedback from our customers has always been overwhelmingly positive.

This positive response can be attributed to the quality of our services since our team strives to give the best service and communicates thoroughly with each other as well as with the guests.

Skills-development has also played an important role in as staff members in our establishment have been appropriately trained to do housekeeping duties, administrative duties, cooking skills, maintenance duties, gardening etc.

iniafrica news: What is it that is unique about yourself, your team and your services which sets you apart and which also helps you to stand out among various service providers in the hospitality industry?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: Many competitors around us are in the middle of the city like us, however we do have the benefit of bordering an indigenous forest, murmuring mountain stream built on a granite dome overviewing the Lowveld Landscape.

iniafrica news: What do you believe and understand are the main advantages to your clients when they come to Leaves Lodge and Spa for their quality moments, be it for business or leisure?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: Our clients can take advantage of the fact that we offer attention to detail as well as personal touch to each guest in a very tranquil environment as we deliver quality service that creates beautiful and memorable moments.

iniafrica news: What can you look back at and say that, so far, this has been your major achievements as a player in the hospitality industry and what do you believe has greatly contributed towards such achievements?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: Our greatest achievement has been our ability to satisfactorily offer outstanding services and rooms to the public.

iniafrica news: In a world where other entrepreneurs, especially the youths are failing to successfully run their own enterprises because of various challenges, how have you managed to launch and operate in this industry?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: We always do a good market research and have a plan in action. We do not let disappointments and obstacles stop us from offering the best service and achieving our goals..

iniafrica news: It is a fact that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the current economic situation globally especially in the hospitality industry is challenging. As such, what is it that has helped you to continue operating as a business?

Leaves Lodge & Spa:  Budgeting, cutting unnecessary costs, planning.

We also strive to ensure that our food is free from contamination as we also provide hygienically uncontaminated rooms in order to keep our guests healthy and virus free.

All this is done by successfully following Covid-19 protocols.

iniafrica news: Based on your experience, what advice can you give to unemployed youths and many other job seekers concerning entrepreneurship especially in the hospitality industry as a way of creating employment for themselves and others?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: Even the smallest dream can come true, never doubt yourself. This private house ended up in a successful business, and the ingredients are; hard work, dedication, tears and frustration.

iniafrica news: Where do you foresee your business in the future and what legacy do you want it to leave on earth? What other products and services do you intend to introduce into the market and what is the motivation behind it?

Leaves Lodge & Spa: Definitely to maintain a 5 star rating and strive for MORE!

Our legacy to the world is a successful establishment that will be a result of hard work and dedication.

The questions in this interview are adapted from the book, The SME HANDBOOK written by Brian Kazungu. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1654361712/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i0