Page 3 - DAVID MUIRHEAD | THE MERCURY 7 NOVEMBER 2014 | THE BEVERLY HILLS

THE BEVERLY HILLS3

THE MERCURY ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7 2014

Home is

where the

heart is.

Running a hotel he considers to be
the genesis of the hospitality industry

in South Africa is a rare privilege, says
Beverly Hills general manager John de

Canha. Debbie Reynolds reportsTo the manor born .... Beverly Hills general manager John de Canha.Picture: DEBBIE REYNOLDS

knew that I wanted to come back and share that knowledge in our IMEET John a few weeks before the grand lady meet guests who are third generation,” he smiles. “Recently John was poised to join his father’s engineering business.at the two-star Parkview Hotel, followed by postings to
country.”celebrates her 50th a guest told me a story about “I honestly didn’t think Amsterdam, the United
After steering the Sandton anniversary, but anticipation coming here as a little girl and mechanical engineering was States and Canada.
Sun and Towers, Airport Sun and of the prestigious event is already getting into trouble because she for me, but wasn’t quite sure Joining him on his travels was
the Palazzo at Montecasino, he running high. Thereordered caviar from room service what I wanted to do,” he says. his wife, Cheryl, whom he met at
packed his bags again in 2006 and have been several celebrations while her parents were at dinner. “Thankfully, psychometric the President Hotel where she
headed for Dubai, where he was operationally responsible for throughout the year, but the one that topped them all took place Then there are the captains of industry who cut their deals here testing pointed me in the direction of the hospitality was working as the GM’s secretary. “Because of visas and
Southern Sun’s first two hotels in last night, with the Sun King and remember the exact table business.”the like, she couldn’t work so we
the Middle East, the Al Manzil himself in attendance.where it all happened.”His career began at Joburg’s decidedtostartafamily.Thetwo
and Qamardeen.“It was here, at the age of 28, What makes the hotel stand five-star President Hotel with the eldest, Adrian, 31, and Celine, 30,
Three years ago, in October that Sol Kerzner decided to build out, he says, is its generosity of Forte group, where he worked his were born in Amsterdam and
2011, he arrived on the East Coast of KwaZulu-Natal to run the hotel a five-star resort hotel, which he named after the glamorous spirit. Having worked in hotels over the world, John is not just way up to national sales manager, before working at the prestigious Margeaux, 27, was born in Tucson.”all
where it all began for Sol Kerzner Beverly Hills in Hollywood,” says shooting from the hip when he Hyde Park and Grosvenor hotels “We were and still are a
50 years ago. “It has been an John. “This was the incubation says the Beverly Hills has a very in London. His first experience of very close-knit family, thanks to
unbelievable journey of long for the industry –special place in hospitality Durban was as general managerliving in hotels in new cities and
hours, hard work, and huge from Southern Sun to Sun history.countries. My children certainly
opportunities, and I would International to Kerzner The man who has been learned how to play on Planet
unequivocally do it all again.”“To be successful in this International, which includes the One and Only and Atlantis honoured with “Hotel Operator of the Year Award” in Durban, Earth by having to constantly adapt to changing environments.”
industry you must love andhotels. with this hotel Sol Johannesburg and Tucson In 1997 John decided it was
want to serve. At the end of every rewrote and revolutionised the (Arizona) grew up in Germiston time to come home and in April
day I always ask ‘have I added hospitality industry in South in the then-Transvaal to parents he took over the reins as
value to people’s lives? Have I Africa.”who came to South Africa from executive director of
brought people together?’ From Having been passed the baton Madeira. After finishing his Intercontinental Sandton Sun
kings, princes, politicians and business giants to swindlers and three years ago, John considers himself fortunate to be at the schooling as a boarder at Marist Brothers’ College in Inanda, and Towers.“Working overseas gave me
paupers ...what a theatre! What a helm during such an auspicious Joburg, and completing his invaluable experience of the
journey!”milestone. “It’s special when youcompulsory military service,industry and of life, but I always