Meet GM Brandon Schafli of the Premier Hotel

Meet GM Brandon Schafli of the Premier Hotel Knysna – The Moorings
Brandon Schafli is an excellent example of someone who has been groomed by a hotel group from
entry level to build a career in the hospitality industry.
Briefly introduce yourself, your career background before your current position
I am the General Manager of the Premier Hotel Knysna – The Moorings. I have worked for Premier
Hotels and Resorts for a number of years throughout many of our properties. I did my in service
training with Premier Hotels and Resorts through our college based in East London and once I had
completed my training I became a full time employee of the Premier Hotel Regent. I continued to
study whilst working full time in the capacity of a Trainee Manager. After completing my Diploma in
Hospitality I was promoted to the position of Shift Duty Manager of the Premier Hotel Regent.
I left the company for a brief period only to return a year later and take up the position as Assistant
Food and Beverage manager of the Premier Hotel King David. I was then promoted to the position
of Food and Beverage manager of the Premier Hotel Regent where I spent approximately two years
before I moved on to a totally different sector of the industry – Lodge Management. As the Assistant
General Manager of Mpongo Private Game Reserve, the group’s legendary Private Game Reserve
near East London, I spent a year and a half in one of the most tranquil environments being exposed
to some of the most amazing experiences one could wish to see. I was then appointed as the
General Manager of Premier Hotel Edwardian, a leisure property based on the lower south coast
where I spent two years of my career before moving into my current position in one of the most
picturesque towns of the Western Cape.
What attracted you to this hotel and how long have you been on the current position?
I have only recently moved into my current position. Who could ever pass up the opportunity
considering the beauty of Knysna?
What have been your proud achievements since taking over your current position?
As I have recently been appointed we will have to wait and see.
Give us a breakdown of the offerings in your hotel?
We offer accommodation as well as conferencing facilities. We have an amazing restaurant and bar
overlooking the garden and swimming pool. We have direct access to the Knysna lagoon with some
of the most luxurious villas on the edge of the lagoon. Guests have a choice of a number of inside
and outdoor activities in and around the hotel. We also offer complementary Wi-Fi to every guest.
What daily challenges do you face with your position?
Ensuring that we remain ahead of our competitors in this market is an ongoing challenge.
What is the overall staff compliment under your supervision and what percentage of that is
recruited from local community?
We have a staff compliment of thirty staff members of which 90% are from the surrounding areas.
Do you have an example to share where your hotel has groomed a staff member from entry
position to climb the career ladder?
I could use myself as an example. Premier Hotel and Resorts gave me the opportunity to develop my
career and through commitment and dedication I have managed to get to where I am today. Premier
Hotels and Resorts continue to provide me with the assistance I need to perform my role in the hotel
under the mentorship of some of the industry’s leading hoteliers such as Mr Richard Bray and our
Managing Director Mr Samuel Nassimov.
How does the hotel recruit new staff members?
All our vacancies are advertised through our Human Resources department based at our head office.
How do you ensure you turn once-off hotel guests into repeat clients?
We strive to provide the best hospitality experience from the minute a guest walks into our
reception area until they bid farewell.
How is your hotel impacting positively to the environment?
We have a number of environmentally friendly practices in place to ensure our footprint is reduced,
for example water saving showerheads in our bathrooms and cards asking guests to consider the
environment and help us save water. We are also busy replacing all light bulbs with energy saving
bulbs.
What inspires you to wake up each morning ready to positively contribute in your hotel?
The fact that I will get to meet new people from many countries throughout the world inspires me
all the time. It is one of the great advantages of my job?

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