The sale is just the start!

The Sales Team at The Royal Portfolio are true unsung heroes – they’ve a vital part of our ability to deliver a complete experience and the perfect stay. To achieve this, they draw on their experience in both sales and operations, and their insights into what today’s guests are looking for in a luxury property.

Our Sales Team are all about relationships – and they make sure that they’re always available to answer questions from our trade partners.

In our latest blog, we introduce you to our Sales Team – in their own words.  

Left: TRP Sales Team, Right: Werner Krause

Werner Krause

What excites you most about your new role and responsibilities?

I am looking forward to being able to share the beauty and magic of the iconic properties in The Royal Portfolio. 

Trade partners and their clients, new and existing, know the high standards and exceptional luxury that Liz Biden creates at her lodges and hotels. I consider myself fortunate to have been part of the management team of one of these properties for 10 years, and now I will be able to share Liz’s dream with many more people.

I am excited about growing the mutually beneficial relationship between The Royal Portfolio and all our trade partners. 

How do you plan to support our trade partners and clients in your region?

I will focus on ensuring that they have all the information and resources available to present our properties to their clients. I will also be assisting with training for their team members on The Royal Portfolio properties and South Africa, sending informative updates on new developments and assisting with any arrangements which will elevate their clients’ experience of our properties.

Share a bit about your background and experience in the industry.

I completed a professional chef diploma in Stellenbosch and specialised in front of house and wine studies. This course allowed me to work at a luxury safari lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve for 5 years, before I had the wonderful opportunity to be part of the management team at La Residence where I have been for 10 years. I have represented The Royal Portfolio at a number of travel shows throughout this time which allowed me to form relationships with key trade partners. 

What unique perspectives or strengths do you bring to the team?

Moving from Operations to Sales means I have knowledge of the inner workings of a Royal Portfolio property, and also a deep understanding of our company culture, purpose and values.  

It’s our culture that gives our property teams the freedom to create magical and memorable experiences for our guests.  

Being in hotel operations allowed me to acquire skills including how to work with different people, creating memorable guest experiences and executing a shared vision. By implementing these skills in my new role I can, together with the rest of the Sales team, share The Royal Portfolio properties successfully with our trade partners. 

How can trade partners and clients reach out to you for inquiries or assistance?

I am always available on my mobile and email and I also consider the North American business hours of our trade partners to ensure a quick response.

Anton Noll

What excites you most about your new role and responsibilities?

I’m excited to be part of an amazing team of people – a team that makes magic happen daily. It’s thrilling to bring these diverse and special products to the travel trade. To see the excitement in our trade partners and subsequently our guests, is very rewarding and fuels our passion further. Both in a business development capacity and in maintaining existing relationships, the aim is to ensure the positive growth of our incredible portfolio.

How do you plan to support our trade partners and clients in your region?

Being fortunate enough to be able to spend extended periods of time in the UK/EU markets, I look forward to seeing key partners and ensuring that the portfolio is represented, relationships are maintained, and new partnerships are formed.
When in South Africa, I look forward to hosting trade partners at our properties and providing a unique experience that will accurately represent the experience of their own guests.

Share a bit about your background and experience in the industry.

I am incredibly lucky to have a very diverse background in the industry, ranging from luxury sales management for agencies and lodges, to destination management and product representation across Africa. I see myself as a custodian of Africa and always strive to show how amazing this continent is.  

What unique perspectives or strengths do you bring to the team?

Commitment and dedication to our properties go hand in hand with trade relationships. Being able to speak German as a first language will always help to work closer in these markets. Being proud of my work makes it even more fulfilling. 

How can trade partners and clients reach out to you for inquiries or assistance?

I am always available on my mobile or by email. Please feel free to get in touch any time and I will be glad to assist as best as I can.

Left: Anton Noll, Right: Felipe Brosou

Felipe Brosou

What excites you most about your new role and responsibilities?

Having recently been given the opportunity to take on Asia Pacific, I see this as a big opportunity to learn about an exciting and vibrant new market for me, as well as representing a brand that captures and celebrates some of South Africa’s most iconic locations to both the Latin American and Asian and Australian markets.

How do you plan to support our trade partners and clients in your region?

By providing regular updates on all the portfolio’s news, timely support on the ground regarding bookings and queries. Planning and facilitating FAM trips, as well as hosting site inspections at our properties to make sure all our key international and local partners are always up to date on our properties and what they offer.

What unique perspectives or strengths do you bring to the team? – Share a bit about your background and experience in the industry.

I bring a combination of diverse industry experience having worked on the DMC side,  as well as having a broad understanding of the trade channel, and many industry contacts and relationships. I am also, fluent in Spanish as my first language, which helps in taking on sales calls in LATAM.

How can trade partners and clients reach out to you for inquiries or assistance?

I am available on both email and WhatsApp. Please feel free to reach out to me any time!

Kimi Reardon

What excites you most about your role and responsibilities?

Nothing excites me more than the opportunity to introduce my industry peers to the remarkable experiences of South Africa, The Royal Portfolio way! With Liz and Phil’s unwavering commitment as custodians of both the wild places and urban spaces you’ll encounter, each experience is a testament to the incredible potential this country holds. It fills me with immense pride to represent my exceptional team as an international ambassador, contributing to the growth of North America’s support towards Africa’s promising and transformative future!

How do you plan to support our trade partners and clients in your region?

Being based in the heart of North America is a tremendous advantage, as it means I can offer a natural support system for our industry peers and trade partners. There’s a comforting reassurance in picking up the phone and discussing itineraries and logistics in real time. While I will join some of you on a game drive or two at Royal Malewane, I am more often on the road, traversing the US, sharing real-time product updates. I’m genuinely excited about connecting with you right here on your home turf, wherever that may be!

Share a bit about your background and experience in the industry:

My journey into this industry began nearly 15 years ago, and almost by accident. I became involved in travel planning, specialising in Africa. After eight rewarding years, I transitioned to the representation side, where I had the privilege of working alongside some of Africa’s most visionary ambassadors. It was during this time that I discovered my true passion: supporting my industry peers and elevating the client experience at privately-owned properties. This incredible journey led me to The Royal Portfolio, where I proudly joined the team in 2022.

What unique perspectives or strengths do you bring to the team?

With almost a decade of experience as a tour operator, specialising in Africa, I intimately understand the daily challenges faced by our trade partners. I’ve explored the complexities of crafting tailor-made itineraries, fielded queries from curious travellers, and now I can draw on my firsthand experience to advise how our properties complement other. My experience isn’t Silo-ed (… see what I did there!). As an extension of The Royal Portfolio, I’m confident that my background will not only assist our trade partners in crafting and perfecting their itinerary combinations but also kindle new interest, business, and awareness of South Africa and travel to the continent overall.

How can trade partners and clients reach out to you for inquiries or assistance?

My phone is always at the ready, so please don’t hesitate to call, email, or reach out via WhatsApp whenever you need further support. I’m here to assist you every step of the way!

Left: Kimi Reardon, Right: Ian Taylor

Ian Taylor

What excites you most about your new role and responsibilities?

I look forward to establishing and building relationships with our trade partners, introducing The Royal Portfolio to new agents and leading an incredible Sales team.

How do you plan to support our trade partners and clients in your region?

By working proactively with our trade partners, understanding and anticipating their needs, and exploring new and mutually beneficial opportunities.

Share a bit about your background and experience in the industry.

I have been in the hospitality Industry since 1997. I started in Operations, and then worked in Marketing, Sales and Revenue. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing properties across southern Africa, from Cape Town to Victoria Falls

What unique perspectives or strengths do you bring to the team?

Having experience in Operations and Revenue, as well as Sales and Marketing, provides me with a balanced outlook and a more complete understanding of the Sales requirement. I remain passionate about hospitality and the hospitality industry, and I am dedicated to ensuring it remains a beacon of hope for South Africa.

How can trade partners and clients reach out to you for inquiries or assistance?

Whatever works best – email, WhatsApp, a phone call, a coffee at The Silo…

Emma Gelb

What excites you most about your new role and responsibilities?

I’ve been in this role for almost 2 years and have really made it my own.

How do you plan to support our trade partners and clients in your region?

I provide support to our sales managers and trade partners across all regions.

Share a bit about your background and experience in the industry.

Following my studies, I felt that the tourism industry had the greatest potential to combine my passions: conservation, sustainability and community development. I started at a tour operator and moved over to The Royal Portfolio almost two years ago and haven’t looked back. I returned to the academic world during COVID, and I am in the process of completing my Masters in Environment, Society and Sustainability, through the University of Cape Town, with my thesis being titled ‘Climate Change and Tourism: The level of preparedness of tourism operators in the Greater Kruger area to the threat of climate change’.

What unique perspectives or strengths do you bring to the team?

Coordination, administration, problem-solving and communication.

How can trade partners and clients reach out to you for inquiries or assistance? 

emma@trp.travel

Left: Emma Gelb, Right: Edward Morton

Edward Morton

As Ambassador for The Royal Portfolio, Edward Morton may just have the best job in the world. Edward was ‘discovered’ by Liz Biden back in 2003, and since then he has made a huge contribution to our culture and the way we deliver the perfect stay to each of our guests.

Edward has a ‘roving brief’ – that is, he moves between our properties to ensure that no matter whether in the city, on the coast, in the Winelands or in the bushveld, every guest of The Royal Portfolio can enjoy the perfect stay.

His famous ‘lightbulb theory’ is all about focusing on the little details which, while they may seem insignificant in themselves, contribute to the complete experience for our guests and trade partners.  

Edward is no stranger to the travel industry – he’s been accompanying Liz on sales trips since he joined The Royal Portfolio, and his charisma and panache have given him ‘celebrity status’ amongst our travel partners. As our Ambassador, Edward provides valuable support to our stellar Sales Team.

The complete experience of staying at one our properties typically begins with a call or email to our Sales Team. Their different backgrounds and years of combined experience add up to unbeatable expertise, and a passion for providing answers, assistance and – ultimately – the best possible South African vacations. Our Sales Team is deeply committed to building and maintaining relationships with all our industry partners – if you haven’t yet connected with them, there’s no time like the present!