ETEYA Awards 2009

The ETEYA (Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award) have been running for an impressive 8 years, but this is the first year that the winner has been announced at INDABA. This year’s ETEYA award ceremony took place last night at the Tourism INDABA in Durban. The atmosphere was said to be ‘thick with anticipation’ as the following nominees waited for the winner to be announced:

• Tebogo Mametja, River Lodge, Limpopo
• Melina Langa, Malangeni Lodge, Gauteng
• Johannes Kaledi, Loving and blessing Guest lodge, North West
• Mathoto Tlokotsi, De Home Ekhaya Guesthouse, Free State
• Mechack Nkadimang, Hotel kgalagadi, Northern Cape
• Maria Nyawula, Victoria Manor Guest House, Eastern Cape
• Amos Mdluli, Glowing Tourism Services, Mpumalanga
• Brenda Rooipan, City of Choice Travel and Tours, KwaZulu-Natal
• Lubabalo Mbontsi, Ekasie backpackers, Western Cape

The winner of this year’s ETEYA trophy and R100 000 prize was Brenda Roopai from City of Choice Travel and Tours in KwaZulu-Natal.

The first runner up was Tebogo Mametja from River Lodge in Limpopo. Second runner up went to Johannes Kaledi from Loving and blessing Guest Lodge in North West Province, and finally third runner up went to Maria Nyawula from Victoria Manor Guest House in the Eastern Cape.

New award introduced at INDABA

A new award was introduced this year, the South African Ambassador Award. This award recognises a finalist that displays qualities of a true South African and shows a passion for the tourism industry. The very first South African Ambassador Award went to Mechack Nkadimang from Hotel Kgalagadi in the Northern Cape.

Congratulations to all nominees and winners, the competition was impressive this year.