Jan Lodewyk Bezuidenhout General Manager
South Africa - currently in VietnamI have been with Forever Resorts since August 2010 and have made dramatic strides in a short period of time. I started off in Finance and has since been promoted to General Manager of Gariep (2012/2013), Blyde Canyon (2014/2015) and then to our flagship resort, Badplaas as Senior General Manager in 2015.
Forever Resorts is an international group with 21 properties in South Africa. I am also involved in Forever Living Products (largest manufacturer and distributor of Aloe and Bee products in the world) doing business in 168 countries. The International Head office of both the Forever companies is in Scottsdale Arizona, USA.
Some of my major achievements during this period:
· PMR DIAMOND ARROW AWARD FOR THE HIGHEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROVINCE FOR 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 AND 2018
· SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM LILIZELA AWARD FOR BEST SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION – BADPLAAS 2015
· SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM LILIZELA AWARD FOR BEST CARAVAN AND CAMPING FACILITY – BLYDE CANYON 2015
· SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM LILIZELA AWARD FOR BEST SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE – BLYDE CANYON 2014
· EXPENSE CONTROL CHAMPION – 2017
· TURNOVER CHAMPION – 2014
· MARKETER OF THE YEAR – 2014
· GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR 2013
· TURNOVER CHAMPION 2013
· EMPLOYEE RELATIONS MANAGER OF THE YEAR 2013
· MARKETING MANAGER RUNNER UP 2013
· FRONT OFFICE OF THE YEAR 2013
· GARDENS AND GROUNDS OF THE YEAR 2013
· FOOD AND BEVERAGE DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR 2013
· CONFERENCE DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR 2013
· HOUSEKEEPING DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR 2013
I prefer to follow hands on approach and to empower my heads of departments in order to take ownership of their departments and this contributed largely to the above successes.
During my years at Forever I was responsible to manage anything from 3 to 5 star properties.
Education
- 19982 - 1986 BCom Ed Degree (4 years) at University of the Free State
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Degree in Commerce and Education.
Also completed all the subjects for the post graduate degree B Com Hons. (Thesis outstanding) - 2019 - 2020 TEFL 240 hours Level 5 at I to I
Experience
- 2010 - 2019 Senior General Manager at Forever Resorts
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Badplaas consist of the following:
• Hotel – 48 rooms
• Self-Catering Chalets – 162
• Powered Camping Sites – 300
• Restaurants – 4
• Hydro Spa (Rated number 4 in South Africa)
• Nature Reserve with 14 species
• Supermarket with 2 outlets
• Liquor Store
• Curio Shop
• Kiosk
• Petrol Filling Station
• Various entertainment activities and facilities
• Beach Tennis Facility – hosting the World Championships in 2020Managed the following Departments:
• 2 Deputy General Managers
• Food and Beverage
• Banqueting
• Marketing
• Hotel
• Front Office
• Finance
• Supermarket
• Repairs and Maintenance
• Housekeeping
• Laundry
• Hydro and Spa
• Eco
• Human Resources
• Gardens and Grounds
• Restaurant – a la carte
• Filling Station - 1999 - 2010 General Manager at Fountain Enterprises
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CONSULTING ACTIVITIES:
The following activities require great experience of general and specific management. This involves research, understanding of the industry and business, development, negotiating, reporting and implementation.
- 1998-1999 General Manager at Phone Zone (Telecoms)
- 1990-1996 Productivity Accountant / Sales and Customer Service Manager at ESKOM (Electricity Supplier)
- 1987-1990 Teacher at Northern Cape High School
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Economics and Accounting