Page 51 - Gondwana Value Creation Report 2020

HOW WE MAKE AN IMPACT ETOSHA KING NEHALE – AN EXERCISE IN OPTIMISM

Etosha King Nehale is a world-class lodge that sits at the perfect Excitement in and around the office kept growing daily, and as Covid-19 lockdowns meant that we needed to do our recruitment As the boxes of CVs began to mature into shortlists, the more we got to know our potential future team
junction of catering to the Ovambo masses in the north and of December 2019, about 1 200 CVs from royalty and regular folk from home, which was even more unconventional because not
reflecting their culture. As the Ovambo make up 50% of Namibia’s made their way to Gondwana’s talent recruitment office, and the all applicants had email access, and some shared cellphones with mates: the ones who were royalty, the ones who were ordinary folk like us, the one or two with a tonne of
population, the lodge enjoys the support of government and phone lines were abuzz. Every second phone call was an enquiry neighbours and were locked down kilometres away. For the first
domestic travellers. about the lodge and how to apply. We’d recited the recruitment time, we shared and signed contracts through WhatsApp. attitude, but just as much potential, the funny ones, the shy ones, the chance takers, the ones who were
address cv@gcnam.com so many times in one day that ‘g for
Amid Covid-19 and lockdown, we had a difficult choice to make goat’ became a song. Our new colleagues kept their enthusiasm, even when the long- worried about lions, the ones who weren’t.
– whether or not to commission and open a lodge that wouldn’t awaited opening date came and went uneventfully. Thankfully,
be able to operate. We chose to open the lodge to honour our Very few of the applicants had prior tourism experience, this meant we had more time to arrange for traditional ondelela
commitments to our partners, businesses and new employees, something we knew would be a significant challenge for the dresses, masks, pocket squares and head scarves. We were eager Training and induction a strong focus on learning and experiential training. This developed menu that brings the cultures and flavours of
and to send a message about our optimism and preparedness Learning and Development Team, but we were devoted to to present our colleagues and the lodge in an excellent state. Since Etosha King Nehale is a rich cultural lodge, employees included storytelling, self-awareness, Gondwana history, this region to life. The programme, held at Witvlei, was
for the future when everyone was in a panic. The lodge was a honouring our joint venture agreement. So the team began We’re proud to have upheld a fair and unbiased recruitment strategy, needed training in how to present it as such, in addition to branding, DNA, service philosophy, team building, musical suspended during lockdown and resumed once regulations
remarkable undertaking, as it focused on full cultural immersion, preparing new employees to open the lodge according to our which successfully and efficiently grew the Gondwana team by 52 their standard lodge operations and guideline training, and performance and guest entertainment. allowed.
rather than simply being a destination to visit. Its planning and quality standards and on time. Fortunately, we have a relationship incredible members. We are even more proud to have taken every entrenching the new employees in the Gondwana Way. A kitchen learning programme was collaboratively developed Guides received training on their general duties and Covid-19
opening involved the Operations, Food and Beverage, Interior with an organisation that builds skills in underprivileged and opportunity in the process to share the Gondwana Way, and live the Maria Mvula and Francis Newman spent six weeks training by the Operations and Food and Beverage teams and the hygiene, and employee team members were trained on first
Design, People and Innkeeper teams. vulnerable young mothers to enable them to enter the labour Gondwana values: honouring people, diversity, integrity. the lodge’s team in an Academy-style programme with lodge designers – to provide training on the lodge’s uniquely aid, hygiene and Covid-19 regulations.
market. We also give their beneficiaries internship trials.

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