LUX Hospitality Awards 2016

LUX - Hospitality Awards 2016 9 At Namibia Exclusive our lodges are all characterised by being relatively small, with a maximum of only nine rooms at each of our current and future establishments. Currently the lodge market is relatively untapped in our region, therefore we are defining the market and setting the standard for excellence. We hope that in time more companies will follow our lead and invest in this sector of the market, which is heavily underrepresented in Namibia. As an example in the same survey mentioned previously, over 2000 people with a net worth in excess of U$ 10 million visited our eastern neighbour Botswana whilst 11 000 visited our Southern neighbour South Africa. Tellingly Namibia wasn’t mentioned. We aim to go some way towards changing that. To achieve this, we aim to offer the very highest quality service. When guests arrive at the lodge
 they are always greeted and met by a member 
of our dedicated staff. Our staff are a major focal point for Namibia Exclusive. At each of our lodges, both operational and future developments we have agreements and contracts in place with the local communities in the area via their conservancies, which manage on their behalf. A cornerstone of which is that we have undertaken to employ and train staff for our camps from the communities. Most Exclusive Safari Hospitality Company - Namibia Namibia Exclusive is a lodge operator targeting the top end of the safari market to Namibia. Piers L’Estrange talks us through the firm and its plans to open another three establishments across the north of the country. Most Exclusive Safari Hospitality Company - Namibia With an undertaking that ultimately all of our staff at our lodges will originate from them so that we can make a meaningful contribution towards uplifting rural Namibians whilst at the same enabling them to stay close to their ancestral homes. When one considers that in most cases due to the remote rural locations of our lodges the jobs that we create are often the first jobs that some our employees have ever had; training them to deliver 5-star service to our guests has been a massive challenge both for the staff and us. It has been humbling to see how they embraced the challenge and have exceeded our expectations. Cuisine is also a vital factor in our market, as this is an area often overlooked in the safari industry. We strive to provide innovative menus that would not look out of place in the top restaurants around the world. Looking to the future we have a number of exciting developments which will help us to grow as a company and offer our visitors a more rounded experience. We are in the process of opening another three luxury lodges spread across the North of Namibia. Xaudum Lodge, which is situated inside the Khaudum National Park in the extreme North East of the country. Sheya Shuushona Lodge, which adjoins the Northern border of Etosha National Park adjacent to our private concession area inside the park. And Omatendeka Lodge, which is situated at the headwaters of the Hoanib River below the Grootberg Mountain in the North West of the country. In addition, we are also planning on introducing a helicopter circuit to link up our lodges once they are all opened and allow guests easier access to all of our facilities. Ultimately what defines Namibia Exclusive is fine dining, incredible wilderness experiences and a genuine desire to improve the lives of those who work for us and the communities that they come from. Company: Namibia Exclusive Email: [email protected] Web: www.namibia-exclusive.com