Whale Cottage Portfolio Blog

The City of Cape Town has spelt out its public transport plans for the soccer fans attending the World Cup in Cape Town from 11 June to 11 July.

A combination of transport methods, including trains, buses, minibus taxis, and metered taxis will transport guests between the airport, the station, the public viewing areas, and the Cape Town Stadium, reports the Cape Times.

Soccer fans with World Cup tickets will travel for free between the stadium and any one of 25 park-and-ride centres in the city, even stretching out as far as Strand, and also including UCT, Camps Bay High School, and Kronendal Primary in Hout Bay, offering 7000 parking bays in total.   Park-and-ride centers include Century City, GrandWest Casino, Kuilsriver, Oostersee, Fish Hoek, Retreat, Brackenfell and Claremont.

A shuttle bus will run from Hertzog Boulevard at the Civic Centre to the Cape Town Stadium, starting 6 hours before the match starts until 4 hours after each match on match days.  

On match days too, an Atlantic seaboard bus service will run from Hout Bay through Camps Bay and Sea Point, to the Stadium, starting 4 hours before kick-off, until 2h00 the next morning.

Throughout the 31 days of the FIFA World Cup, a shuttle bus will transport soccer fans from Cape Town International airport to Hertzog Boulevard 24 hours of the day, in intervals of 6 - 30 minutes, depending on usage.   The cost is a reasonable R 50 per one-way trip.

A further bus service will operate in the city itself, running 24 hours per day, and leaving every 10 - 30 minutes, connecting Hertzog Boulevard, Table Bay Boulevard, Heerengracht, Coen Steytler Avenue, Long and Loop Streets, Buitensingel Street, Orange Street, Buitenkant Street, Darling Street, Oswald Pirow Avenue and back to Hertzog Boulevard.   This will allow soccer fans, with tickets for the stadia, or just coming to enjoy the fan park outside the City Hall, to obtain easy access to their hotels and to restaurants.  Another shuttle bus route will be to Queens Beach in Sea Point, via the Waterfront, until 2h00 every morning.

Trains will transport the soccer fans to public viewing areas at the Bellville Velodrome, Athlone Civic Centre, OR Tambo Sports Hall in Khayelitscha, and the Swartklip Sport Hall in Mitchell’s Plain.

The city has warned that one will not be able to park close to the stadium, and that disabled soccer fans will have to also make use of public transport, its shuttle stations being wheelchair-friendly.

Further information about the transport connections during the World Cup can be obtained on www.capetown.gov.za, or at tel 0800 656 463.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

The Sweet Service Award goes to the contractors and staff responsible for the magnificent Cape Town Stadium, which was completed on schedule. It has become a modern landmark for the Mother City, and will give soccer fans a view onto Table Mountain or on to the Atlantic Ocean.   It is proudly supported by Capetonians, many of whom were resistant to it initially.   The area around the stadium is almost complete and the 9-hole Metropolitan Golf Club is likely to have a better course and clubhouse than ever before.  The road system near the Stadium is outstanding, and it is quick and easy to connect to the V&A Waterfront from Sea Point, Green Point and Fresnaye.  Some of the many contractors include consulting engineers Arcus GIBB, Henry Fagan & Partners GOBA, BKS, ILISO Consulting, Martin & East; quantity surveyors MLC, HP and Abakali;Architects gmp Architects, Munnik Visser, jakupa, Paragon Architects, Louis Karol; OvP Landscape Architects; and many more.  Mr Bev Mitchell was the Chairman of the management committee and Andre Lambrechts the chief project manager.  None of this would have been possible without monies from the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape government, and the national treasury.

The Sour Service Award goes to Vodacom once again, for receiving payment for the cellphone subscription via Pick ‘n Pay’s EasyPay.  Such payment is meant to register on the system the following day, but does not appear to, as the customer was once again cut-off, without warning, despite payment having been made on due date.  It appeared that Vodacom was cash-flow short, as it sent an SMS on 1 December to chase payment, when it usually did so around the 4th or 5th of the month!  The customer was cut off on 3 December.  Once one registers the cut-off at Vodacom, one is promised a one-hour reconnection time, but this is never accurate, the reconnection taking 6 hours, even though proof of payment was sent to Vodacom’s Johannesburg offices, and all ID and address verification procedures had been followed and checked.

The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog.  Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at info@whalecottage.com.   Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog, and in the WhaleTales newsletters on the www.whalecottage.com website.

A most bizarre media report was posted by Eye Witness News, in stating that Lianne Burton, the Marketing Manager and media spokesperson of Cape Town Tourism, the city’s tourism body, is happy that Cape Town is seeing fewer tourists this summer season, and that they are going to other more affordable cities such as Durban.

Burton told Eye Witness News that Cape Town Tourism is “…pleased high-end tourists were choosing to spend their festive season holidays in the Mother City”.   Burton also said that “the city needs so-called ‘quality tourists’ who spend more cash.”   The report continues: “Burton said Cape Town Tourism was not distressed thousands of local travellers apparently chose to flock to seemingly more affordable areas in KwaZulu-Natal and other parts of the country, instead of travelling to the Cape.”   Burton is reported to have said: “We can’t pack people in by the thousands.  I think Cape Town and Durban are slightly different, we certainly aren’t aiming for quantity”.   

What is interesting is the public reprimand Cape Town Tourism Board member Nils Heckscher, GM of the Winchester Mansions Hotel in Sea Point, has given Burton, who said that every prospective tourist is essential.  He is reported to have said:”To turn around and say,’We don’t want this tourist or that tourist’ is an arrogance that we can ill-afford”.

Cape Town Tourism has been appointed by the City of Cape Town to market Cape Town.   Both Belinda van Niekerk, the acting-CEO of Cape Town Tourism, and Burton, were unavailable for comment this morning, as they have given themselves and most of the Cape Town Tourism staff the day off, according to the switchboard, on this the busiest tourism day of the whole year!

See the report at www.eyewitnessnews.co.za

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

A 2010 World Cup advertising issue has kicked up a huge controversy.

According to an article in the Cape Times earlier this week, the City of Cape Town is selling advertising space on Table Mountain, by means of night-time illumination, for the 2010 World Cup, at R 150 000 per month, for an 8-month period.   The City has to offer FIFA sponsors “first right of refusal” for all public advertising media options.

It appears that a City of Cape Town 2010 World Cup branding document offers Table Mountain as a branding opportunity, and that S A National Parks has agreed to the branding, but the body is denying this.

In a joint statement on 22 December, both the City of Cape Town and S A National Parks declared that “No 2010 branding or any other advertising or promotional event of a commercial nature would be allowed on Table Mountain”, reports the Cape Times.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

The Sweet Service Award goes to Roshan Sewmangal at Nedbank’s Head Office in Johannesburg, who has been incredibly efficient in addressing a customer’s needs that were not being met at business branch level.   Roshan has an amazing ability to listen, to keep the customer informed about the progress of the query, and has been most efficient in quickly addressing the client’s requests.

The Sour Service Award goes to the City of Cape Town, which charges for payments over R 4 000, when made by credit card, to the customer’s next account.  Many residents living on the Atlantic seaboard have a rates bill in excess of that amount every month, and would have to pay this particular account by cheque if they wish to avoid the hefty credit card commission charge by the City. Mastercard and VISA do not allow merchants to charge a commission charge on top of the purchase price.  Interestingly, the City of Cape Town is not the merchant - Pick ‘n Pay’s EasyPay system is.  

The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog.  Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at info@whalecottage.com.   Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog, and in the WhaleTales newsletters on the www.whalecottage.com website.

The Sweet Service Award goes to Begum Harris of the V&A Waterfront branch of the Post Office.   Not only was the customer impressed with the Post Office being open after 17h00 (the Waterfront and Canal Walk branches stay open until 21h00!) but was surprised about the friendliness of Begum and her colleague, delighted with the speed of her service and impressed when Begum proactively asked if she could certify the photo-copies made of an ID document! 

The Sour Service Award goes to the City of Cape Town’s Solid Waste department dustbin staff, who are disturbing residents of Cape Town with requests for Christmas box donations, as well as to their call centre.   Early last month the bell was rung by three different collectors over two days, as well as yesterday, and the illegal collections were reported to the City of Cape Town call centre.   The Call Centre demanded information about the wording on and colour of the truck and the vehicle registration number, to ensure that they were not bogus collectors.   One wonders why the City does not have inspectors in the suburbs in which dustbin collection is taking place, to check on the behaviour of their staff.  The resident was advised to photograph any further collectors, and to send the photograph to the City, so that it can prove that the collectors do indeed work for the City, and so that disciplinary action can be taken against the staff!   The call centre staff are most unhelpful, and treat one as if one is not telling the truth.   One is not allowed to speak to the Solid Waste department directly.

The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog.  Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at info@whalecottage.com.   Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog, and in the WhaleTales newsletters on the www.whalecottage.com website.

Cape Town is in  a frenzy to beautify itself before the world’s media and the FIFA big brass come to Cape Town for the FIFA Final draw on 4 December, which will be held in the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Roadworks are hastily being completed on Buitengracht Street, near the Convention Centre, to make Cape Town look at its best for the very important event in the FIFA 2010 World Cup programme.

For the first time, the driving and advertising exclusion zone has been announced, simply by an ad in the Cape Argus, outlining the ‘Final Draw Controlled Access and Exclusion Zones’.

The block of streets between Ross Street, 2 streets parallel to Buitengracht Street in Green Point/De Waterkant and Parliament Street, and Buitensingel Street/N1/N2 entrances to Buitengracht Street, now has restrictions placed upon it until 12 December, in terms of the City of Cape Town’s 2010 By-law.   No advertising linked to the World Cup may appear in this zone in the period specified, without formal FIFA permission, and businesses may also not “change their normal business operation without approval from the City of Cape Town”, says the ad!   The ad warns that access into the zone on 4 December may be restricted.

On the day of the Final Draw, a public viewing area will be established at the top of Long Street, and restaurants in the area are stocking up on supplies for thirsty soccer fans, fearing lack of access for deliveries on the big day.   It is expected that 20 000 visitors will attend the Final Draw party in Long Street.   A section of Long Street will be cordoned off on 3 December already, reports the Cape Argus.

The FIFA Final Draw will randomly select which teams play against each other in which locations, influencing where the teams are based during the World Cup period, and is the precursor to accommodation bookings and other arrangements for the big soccer event.

At the Final Draw FIFA President Sepp Blatter is also expected to announce the location of the Fan Fest venues for 2010.

The 32 teams that have qualified for the 2010 World Cup are:   Portugal, France (a controversial match, for which a replay is being demanded by the Irish), Slovenia, Greece, Algeria, Uruguay, Japan, the Netherlands, North Korea, Australia, South Korea, the USA, Brazil, Ghana, England, Paraguay, Spain, Denmark, Ivory Coast, Chile, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Serbia, Argentina, Switzerland, Honduras, Slovakia, Nigeria, Cameroon, New Zealand and South Africa.

The Japanese team is setting up its base camp at Fancourt in George, while the German team is said to be considering Val de Vie, between Paarl and Franschhoek.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

The new Cape Town Stadium has been completed and handed over by the building contractors to the City of Cape Town, reports the Cape Argus.

The R 4,5 billion stadium has had all its seats installed, the grass pitch has been grown from seeds planted 2 weeks ago, the outer facade has been recleaned and painted after the storms over the past ten days dirtied some of the exterior, and the signage erected, all in time for the roofwetting party.

The stadium allows spectators a good view onto the pitch.   Spectators will not be more than 190 meters away from the soccer action.  Two special VIP boxes are contained in the stadium - one for FIFA President Sepp Blatter, and the other one is speculated to be for President Jacob Zuma.

The stadium construction commenced two years ago.  Three events will be held at the Cape Town Stadium in the first half of next year, to test it before the 2010 World Cup. 

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio www.whalecottage.com

Cape Town is facing strong tourism competition, and will have to set itself far tougher tourism challenges and to market itself more creatively to be able to meet this competitive challenge, said Cape Town Tourism CEO Mariette du Toit-Helmbold at the tourism member association AGM earlier this week, reports Southern African Tourism Update. 

“ * be recognised as one of the top cities in the world to live, visit, study and invest in
  * double its tourism income
  * use the Fifa World Cup as a springboard to create an economic legacy and unite Capetonians
  * to solve its seasonality problems.”

 ”* a commercial business development strategy focusing on retail, use of technology to upgrade the visitor services network, and expansion of a patron partnership programme with the corporate sector.

* Joint marketing agreements with the tourism industry to expand private-sector funding contributions.

Instead of competing against each other, Cape Town Tourism and Cape Town Routes Unlimited will be working together in marketing Cape Town from the end of October, says Southern African Tourism Update.

Discussions are underway as to the co-funding of marketing both Cape Town and the Western Cape at international marketing shows, for business tourism, for city events, for e-business, and the V & A Tourism Gateway.  In addition, the respective roles of the two bodies for marketing the city and the region are being discussed. 

Commenting on the discussions, Cape Town Routes Unlimited CEO Calvyn Gilfellan called for a “lasting institutional framework that would be protected from political interference”.  

The City of Cape Town is already funding Cape Town Routes Unlimited on a project-by-project basis.   In June the two parties met with the respective city and provincial politicians, to discuss the prevention of marketing duplication and fragmentation, following from the City of Cape Town withdrawing its R 25 million funding from Cape Town Routes Unlimited, and allocating the responsibility for marketing the City to Cape Town Tourism.   This resulted in both bodies marketing Cape Town locally and especially internationally.   Previously the city and the province were controlled by two different political parties, but now that the DA runs both city and province, a tourism marketing alignment can be created.

It is surprising how poor both marketing bodies are in keeping tourism players up to date, especially Cape Town Tourism, which has a membership body it could easily and regularly e-mail.

Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com