NMMU and the Mantis Collection sign MOU

A mutually beneficial agreement between Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the Mantis Collection hospitality group focusing on business and environmental related projects was formalised at the university recently.

The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties is to formalise a commitment to support each other and work together on specific projects that will add value to the university and to the Mantis Collection.

A series of successful workshops have been held over the past few months to look at areas of common interest for which NMMU and the Mantis Collection can build a long-term partnership.

These areas include the use of renewable energy in a game lodge environment in order to support the efforts of Shamwari and other properties in the Mantis Collection to develop a new generation of accommodation lodges that are powered by renewable energy. An intensive training course to enable field guides to qualify with practical skills and expertise of value to reserves such as Shamwari in the Eastern Cape as well as the running of short management courses providing training focused on the game lodge industry, are also included.

Adrian Gardiner, Chairman of the Mantis Collection adds, “Besides our work in conservation and tourism, our company has always held the view that the future of our country lies in education. To this end we have initiated The Born Free annual rescue centre combined with an education facility as well as the Education Institute for Services Studies in Port Alfred.”

“The signing of the MOU with the NMMU will enable us to achieve goals which both our organisations thought were impossible. We are proud to be associated with such a highly acclaimed educational institution through a formal agreement”

‘’NMMU is delighted to be associated with Mantis Collection as one of the foremost environmental preservation companies in the world. The enhanced opportunities for interaction between NMMU and Mantis Collection arising from this agreement will definitely be of great benefit to our staff and students.

‘’We believe that this agreement between these two institutions both based in the Eastern Cape, signals in an era of mutually beneficial initiatives and outcomes for NMMU and for Mantis Collection which will make the Eastern Cape a leader in this type of partnership,’’ said NMMU Vice-Chancellor Dr Rolf Stumpf.

MANTIS COLLECTION SUPPORTS EISS BURSARY
STUDENTS - March, 2007

The Mantis Collection, a privately-owned hospitality company specialising in boutique accommodation and game reserves in South Africa and internationally is promoting skills development in the tourism sector by being one of the first companies in the Eastern Cape to sponsor previously disadvantaged students wanting to complete their B Com Hospitality Management degree.

Sisonke Mapuma and Thulani Xhali, were awarded the Mantis Collection bursaries and will be the first of twelve students forming part of the corporate bursary programme initiated by the Educational Institute for Service Studies (EISS) based in Port Alfred.

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Canton, MA (August 10, 2005)- Bruce Beckham, Executive Director of Tourism Cares for Tomorrow announced today the finalists for the Smithsonian magazine/Tourism Cares for Tomorrow Sustainable Tourism Awards. “This is the 5th year of these awards and each year it becomes more competitive. All of the more than 100 applicants were impressive and worthy of the Sustainable Tourism Awards. Narrowing the applicants by our panel of experts was really challenging.” said Beckham. The Sustainable Tourism Awards for Conservation is given annually to a person, company or institution in honor of work that enhances or conserves the physical environment. The recipient must demonstrate a clear connection between their endeavours and tourism.

Shamwari Game Reserve is a finalist in the category for Conservation.

Descriptions of the finalists and online voting are available at www.sustainabletourismawards.com. Online voting began on the site on August 15th, 2005 and ends on October 31, 2005. The same email address is able to vote once per day.

Winners in each category will be announced at the United States Tour Operators Association luncheon sponsored by Smithsonian magazine in Cancun, Mexico on December 4th, 2005.

Tourism Cares for Tomorrow is a non-profit that benefits society by preserving, conserving and promoting the responsible use of the world’s natural, cultural and historic treasures and supporting education and research to help secure the positive future of travel and tourism worldwide. For additional information about Tourism Cares for Tomorrow, please go to www.tourismcaresfortomorrow.org.