Daniel Emamere is the CEO of Heavenly Boutique Guest House, a boutique offering in the South of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Emamere, a Nigerian-American hospitality investor, who co-owns the hotel with his South African wife, is among those whose venture into the Rainbow country has been impactful.
In this interview, the Chicago-based PhD holder and hotelier, tells OBINNA EMELIKE his experience as an investor in South Africa, why hotel, preference of boutique offering, expansion plans, among others. Excerpt:
How do you describe your hotel?
Our hotel is Heavenly Boutique Guest House. It is an exclusive boutique offering, yet we are four-star. We have 13 executive rooms and are still graded as four-star. That grading is not easy in South Africa because they followed details and due process. We also have a stylish venue for hosting events in the hotel.
We are about 20 minutes from the OR Tambo International Airport, about 15 minutes from Soweto, about 10 minutes from the Apartheid Museum, and 12 minutes away from the popular FNB Stadium.
Why a boutique hotel?
Boutique offerings allow you to offer personalised services because they are small and the staff members and even the guests know everyone.
They are classy and exclusive. When you go to top tourism destinations like France, they segment their hotels, allowing boutiques for exclusive offerings.
Of course, boutiques are not full-fledged hotels that have 50 rooms, 100 rooms and above, but their strength is in their small size and personalised touch.
How were you able to establish a thriving business in South Africa?
I came in as an investor from my base in Chicago, United States of America, and had this vision of building this hotel here in South Africa.
That vision drove me to get a property here, in the South of Johannesburg. So, I bought the property, broke it down, and then built this hotel from the ground up. Again, I was able to do that because I came into South Africa as an investor, and the authorities saw the genuineness of my purpose, my potential and gave me the necessary support and approvals.
Again, my wife is a co-owner and she is South African.
What are the facilities in the hotel?
We have 13 tastefully furnished rooms, a hall for events, a rooftop we call Sun Deck, where we host events also. We are in the process of restructuring that place into a spot for all-year-round event hosting.
Already, we are building a steel structure there to ensure business all through the year, regardless of the weather. The project is based on client’s demand.
How long have you run the hotel here?
It has been on for about nine years now, and we look to expand soon.
What is your target market?
Well, we are classy. Considering that, we tailor to corporate and leisure clients. We also cater to clients that cherish quality boutique offerings, less numbers and privacy.
What is unique about the hotel?
Many things are going for our hotel. Our motive from the onset is to build a hotel that provides exceptional service for every client, that prioritises customer service and maintains extreme cleanliness.
One of the things that have been very impeccable about our property is that we go the extra mile to ensure that it is flawlessly clean all the time. No compromise. We are progressing to building a brand now.
Is the size not restricting business?
No, because we are a boutique property and we tailor our offerings to meet the needs of those who love exclusivity. But we also up to 10 and sometimes above that number, especially in a room sharing arrangement. You can have up to 28 people sharing the rooms.
Any plan for expansion?
This is our first hotel in South Africa, though I have other investments.
But we are looking at expansion soon, because it has been nine years since we opened the hotel. We are working to see how we can expand the business.
We are in the south of Johannesburg and would like to expand to the north of Johannesburg.
We are also looking at some of the recreational areas, like Limpopo, and Kruger National Park.
Does South Africa encourage foreign investments, especially in the hospitality industry?
Yes. I am not the only foreigner in their hospitality space. The truth is that there is space for foreigners in South Africa’s hospitality investment.
There are many from across the world who meet their requirements and are encouraged to set up businesses here even in the tourism and hospitality industry.
As a Nigerian, it was not easy setting up business here, but the genuineness of my purpose made a way for me.
First, they need to trust you. Once South Africans trust you, they will go the extra mile to ensure that you achieve your dreams.
