NEWS
After a few concerning months in the early part of 2009, I am pleased to advise that the Royal Portfolio and its four properties have ended the year in a robust manner. Thanks to all of you who have supported us during 2009. We refused to allow any bad news to change our ethos of providing our clients with the best possible stay and I am happy to add that we are still 100% committed to this going forward. We were also blessed with some wonderful media support with Royal Malewane receiving an excellent rating, by the Travel and Leisure, for the Worlds Best Hotels and for those who speak Dutch, a great trilogy on all the Royal Portfolio properties in the magazine “Miljionair”. These are attached if you are interested in perusing them, as are the wonderful articles on Birkenhead House in the Swedish “Hoom” Magazine, the Australian, the French magazine- Voyage de Luxe which also includes La Residence, and the CNBC/African Property Awards where Birkenhead House won Best Small Hotel in South Africa and Best International Small Hotel 2009.

The three hotels have all developed further during the past year and are looking in even better shape for 2010 when the Soccer World Cup is hosted in South Africa. We have not pursued any deals with Fifa or Match. And we are not increasing our rates as a result of the World Cup patronage. Our hotels are available in the normal manner and on the normal terms and conditions. We believe that we must provide this to our loyal customers who support us and not be coerced into a “once off” deal.

Game viewing at Royal Malewane has been wonderful this winter with lots of cheetahs, leopards and Hyena sightings. Of course elephant buffalo and lions have been seen in abundance and we are very proud that we are one of the few (maybe the only) Reserve where sightings of white and black rhino are an everyday occurrence.

Our first crop of Shiraz and Cabinet Sauvignon is sprouting like wild fire at La Residence. We will pick these grapes in March 2010 and our first wines will be available in 2011. It is a very long process making wine but we are delighted at the maturing of the vineyards and of the gardens at La Residence which is truly now a beautiful and elegant resort.

The whale season at Birkenhead House and Villa has all been wonderful and it is a particular pleasure for me to see how many more of these beautiful creatures come to Walker Bay now compared to when I first started visiting Birkenhead house when it was our holiday home some 20 years ago. Summer is on the way and the whales will be leaving for the Antarctic where Phil and I will be going to join them for a two week cruise. The Antarctic is one of the true wilderness areas of the world and we are thoroughly looking forward to our trip.

There are some new faces in the Royal Portfolio and it gives me great pleasure to advise you that Simon Mandy has joined us to assist me with marketing and operations. He has already had a 3 month stint at Royal Malewane and after the summer season at Birkenhead House and Villa will join me in our little Cape Town Head Office.

All that remains for me to say is thank you again for your support and I look forward to our interaction in 2010.

Best wishes
Liz Biden

Please click on the articles below to view:

 

BIRKENHEAD HOUSE TAKES ON THE WORLD TO WIN A COVETED INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY AWARD

Becoming a world-beating company in the highly competitive property industry is no mean feat. Achieving this level of success takes a vast amount of talent and expertise not to mention an iron will to excel above all others. And that’s exactly what Birkenhead House) has done as the ultimate winners of this year’s International Property Awards in association with CNBC Arabiya were announced in California on Thursday (November 12th).

(Birkenhead House) won the (Best International Small Hotel) at a prestigious gala dinner held at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego. Only the top scoring winners from no less than 105 countries were nominated to represent the finest property companies from across the UK, Europe, Africa, Americas, Arabia and Asia Pacific.

Entrants are initially judged at country or regional level. All in all, there are 36 different categories and up to two of the most outstanding entries in each category are given a four-star award, while the best overall entry is given a five-star. Every five-star winner’s entry is then re-examined to determine which companies go forward to be re-judged for the ultimate World’s Best Award. This symbol of worldwide excellence is already recognised and appreciated by the public who are becoming increasingly well informed and discerning about the properties they buy.
Entries were judged by a panel of 52 independent professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is unsurpassed by any other property awards. The International property Awards are also supported by 12 professional bodies such as the National House Builders Council, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the National Association of Estate Agents and many of these are represented on the judging panel.

(Shane Brummer, General Manager) said of achieving this worldwide accolade and recognition, (we are absolutely thrilled for Birkenhead house’s great achievement).