Company Announcement - In the six months since winning the Tsogo Sun Book a Guesthouse ‘Guesthouse of the Year’, Carol Sanderson of Casambo Exclusive Guest Lodge has experienced unprecedented recognition of her status as an entrepreneur and role model for youth in South Africa.

Carol was chosen from among the 85 guesthouse owners as Tsogo Sun’s Book a Guesthouse programme’s most outstanding entrepreneur. She won prizes worth R10 000 from Tsogo Sun and an opportunity to attend Master I, The Awareness Process and Master IV, Master of Success from Beyond Coaching, and represents the Tsogo Sun Book a Guesthouse entrepreneurial development programme as an ambassador for the forthcoming year.

“Carol has been an outstanding ambassador for the programme during the last six months.  She represents the possibilities of what can be achieved with determination and innovation in business, even in our current challenging economic climate.  She has also been a great source of inspiration to the rest of the entrepreneurs enrolled in our entrepreneurial development programme,” says Candy Tothill who heads up empowerment for Tsogo Sun.

Casambo is situated on 10 hectares of land on the outskirts of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga. Owned and run by Sanderson and her family, which includes her five children, the guesthouse was established after her entrepreneur husband encouraged her to move on from being a radio journalist and pursue her dream of being a successful business woman.

Since winning Tsogo Sun’s prestigious annual Guesthouse of the Year award in May, Carol was selected by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Authority and the Provincial Department of Economic Development to receive honourary recognition for her contributions to tourism in the province at a prestigious event. The Provincial Government subsequently invited Carol to speak at various forums and to address other SMMEs about Casambo’s success. “I am so humbled by the recognition I’ve received from the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, particularly as the MEC has made mention of my achievements during his dialogue at various events.”

As part of her reward from Tsogo Sun for winning the Guesthouse of the Year, Carol has also benefitted from a public relations campaign that has seen her being featured within a wide range of radio stations, broadcasts, print and online media as well as international exposure, which has given Casambo exceptional coverage. “If I had a thousand words, they still could not express my appreciation for the recognition I have received from Tsogo Sun,” says Carol.

Tsogo Sun’s Book a Guesthouse programme forms part of the group’s sustainability in tourism plan. The programme is the only one of its kind in South Africa, with 92% of the entrepreneurs being black South African women.

The programme is endorsed by government and regional tourism agencies, encapsulated in a holistic model and harnessing decades of Tsogo Sun Sun’s hospitality and industry expertise. It has a year-long curriculum and an annual conference culminating in the Tsogo Sun Book a Guesthouse, Guesthouse of the Year Award.

Tsogo Sun has a portfolio of over 90 hotels and 14 casino and entertainment destinations throughout South Africa, Africa and the Seychelles.