Johannesburg - The Basiea Bed & Breakfast (B&B) in Protea North, Soweto, this week became the first township establishment to be graded by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) tourism division, using the leisure industry's Crystal Grading Scheme (CGS).
Basiea was awarded a "three crystals" certificate after each area including accommodation, bathrooms and quality of food was graded.
"My plan is to work even harder and take the grading of the place up to five crystals," Minah Makhoro, the ecstatic owner of the establishment said.
"The SABS certificate will give me exposure to the international tourism market as I will now be registered on its website."
The SABS said Makhoro would be invited to the annual World Tourism Market expositions in London and Berlin and the Durban Tourism Indaba starting from this year.
"The CGS was introduced in southern Africa in 1999 to achieve one consistent standard with one brand throughout the region that would serve as a guideline for travel agents, tour operators and the business sector when visiting this part of the world," said Antoine Lombard, an SABS tourism consultant.
"Before that, there was the stars system, which was reintroduced soon after the launch of the CGS but the CGS has been adopted by Botswana and Tanzania which have also indicated that they would like to make use of the training services of SABS tourism."
Lombard said this would be the second time that Tanzania was sending a group of people to South Africa.
He said the CGS should not be confused with other leisure industry grading schemes that were in place throughout the world.
"The CGS concentrates heavily on the management aspects of the operation and ensures that proper procedures and processes are being put in place to ensure consistent consumer output. If any training is required to achieve these objectives, SABS provides such training.
"SABS tourism does not merely look at the grading of the industry, but tries to ensure that crystal members achieve sustainability that also ensures growth and the creation of further employment," he said.
"SABS tourism made history by funding the first small micro medium enterprise (SMME) development and ensures proactive delivery of service to ensure that all SMMEs can start benchmarking themselves properly within the tourism industry to achieve optimum recognition."
He said the event at Basiea's underlined the need for the industry to work together.
Lombard said Basiea Bed and Breakfast had been identified to be part of the SABS's CGS because Makhoro was always there to ensure that her guests received the service they asked for.
"When you phone Basiea, the phone never rings more than five times before she answers it. She has introduced proper processes and procedures that ensure that her guest house can now be recognised in the international arena," Lombard said.
"Apart from a permanent trained staff, she has a very well trained casual staff and in addition to the managerial efficiency of the place, the furniture, fittings, decor and the equipment compare to any other three crystals grade establishment in southern Africa".
He said Makhoro had a wonderful force of personality and would not stop phoning SABS tourism for advice until she was sure that she had the right thing for her guests.