On 13 April the FEDHASA Hospitality Awards were held in Cape Town to formally recognise and celebrate the exceptional contributions of companies and individuals in South Africa’s dynamic hospitality industry.
The evening highlighted the unwavering dedication, innovative thinking and commitment to excellence of hospitality professionals across a number of categories. Peermont had two entries for the 2024 Awards with both entities walking away with honours. Jannie Roos took the top award for Facilities Manager of the year, while Tiaan Schultz finished runner up in the Food and Beverage Manager of the Year category. Both were rewarded for their dedication and commitment to Emperors Palace, as well as the other resorts in the Peermont portfolio.
‘We are very proud of Jannie and Tiaan,’ says Peermont Hospitality Executive Dave Milne. ‘This is the perfect opportunity to showcase and celebrate the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure our resorts are world class.’
FEDHASA is South Africa’s trusted association for the hospitality industry, representing all segments and all establishments under one banner and with one voice. They offer expertise and guidance born from a long-standing history and established track record. Highlighting categories like Executive20 Housekeeper, Hospitality Technology, Culinary Excellence and Leader of the Year, the FEDHASA Hospitality Awards are also a means to help set the standard and to inspire hospitality professionals across the country. Peermont’s Jannie Roos and Tiaan Schultz have demonstrated the group’s dedication to providing all guests and visitors with relaxing stays and exciting times.
‘In ever-evolving industry, we pride ourselves on keep abreast of the latest trends and embracing new technologies so that we can be innovative and agile. And this is a great honour to receive this recognition,’ says Milne.
Celebrating Excellence
Peermont has been an industry leader for many years, always on the pulse of change. Jannie Roos and Tiaan Schultz have both been integral to recent accesses at Emperors Palace and the rest of the Peermont Group.
As the Food and Beverage Manager Tiaan Schultz spearheaded several initiatives that have significantly contributed to the success and popularity of the Food and Beverage as well as Groups and Conventions operations across 10 resorts. His standardisation of Food and Beverage services resulted in cost saving measures and created a group standard for guests across all resorts. One of the major successes was the conceptualization and creation of Reign Restaurant. Located in the 5-star D’oreale Grande Hotel Reign replaced Aurelia’s restaurant, ushering in a new era of contemporary dining and gastronomic innovation. Furthermore, Schultz’s involvement in the Peermont Groups and Conventions strategy has revitalised conferencing and eventing, embracing technology in the conferencing industry to provide a seamless experience for delegates.
As the Maintenance Manager Jannie Roos led several initiatives that have significantly contributed to pivotal changes and improvements at Peermont, especially embracing sustainability for environmental preservation, resource conservation, and long-term economic viability. Through Roos’ initiatives, Peermont’s flagship brand, Emperors Palace has been at the forefront of positive green developments. The latest project was the ambitious construction of a water reservoir on complex complete with 13 boreholes. Emperors Palace can utilize up to 800 000 litres of water a day, which is equivalent to about 5 300 bathtubs being filled up. With the implementation of the boreholes and a water reservoir there is now a storage capacity of 2.9 million litres, which not only prioritizes water conservation and management, but alleviates pressure on ailing municipal infrastructure in the Ekurhuleni area.
The ongoing development and expansion of these hospitality initiatives demonstrates Roos and Shcultz’s commitment to continuous improvement and staying at the forefront of industry trends and keeping Peermont at the pinnacle as an industry leader.
First, look down when you walk in: the interior walkways are paved with authentic Smart Stone Huguenot Cobbles, engineered specifically to replicate the tactile feeling of walking on real, ancient Roman highways. It is an incredible piece of immersive design that has stood the test of time since its inception.
Second, as someone sensitive to travel fatigue, the engineering here is spectacular. Despite being right next to major runways, the structural acoustics completely eliminate aviation noise. Furthermore, if you explore the convention wing, the rooms are named chronologically after Roman Emperors (Claudius, Augustus, Tiberius), featuring a highly advanced smart-lighting system that subtly shifts tone to help international travelers fight jet lag.
The multi-tiered security checks at the gates provide immense peace of mind, making it a safe, self-contained empire. From the manicured garden paths to the world-class service, it is a flawless, deeply thought-out destination. Don't just stop by for a quick game—take a moment to appreciate the sheer craftsmanship of the Palace of Dreams!
Hidden Details Most Guests Don't Know The Secret History of the Floors:
When the resort opened in September 2000, it was named Caesars Gauteng. The internal casino paths use custom Huguenot Cobble and Shepstone Pavers designed by SmartStone to precisely mimic the durability and texture of ancient Roman stone highways.
The "Imperial Court" Conference Subtext:
The major conference rooms in the South Wing are purposefully named after successive Roman emperors—Claudius, Augustus, Tiberius, Florian, and Romanus. They feature a hidden central smart-lighting grid that automatically shifts color warmth to match the biological clock of travelers suffering from jet lag.
The Multilayered Security Ring: Casual visitors often miss how tightly the security net is woven. Because of its position right next to O.R. Tambo International Airport, the property utilizes an advanced, continuous perimeter sweep and bag-screening protocol that keeps it significantly safer than standard commercial venues.
The Sound-Insulated Aviation Oasis: Despite being directly in the flight path of Africa's busiest airport, the structural glass and architectural roofing are uniquely engineered to absorb low-frequency jet engine vibrations, meaning you can sit in the gardens or sleep in the hotels in absolute peace