In 1981 the company entered into a partnership in the timeshare industry, which allowed its management team to gain extensive knowledge on timeshare development, sales, letting, management and finance. The first property that the company managed, and subsequently disposed of, was the well-known Durban Spa. The first development the company undertook, however, was the building of 18 self-contained cottages, “Riverbend Chalets”, on sub-divided land from the Drakensberg Gardens Golf & Leisure Resort. As this project was a resounding success the company embarked on its second timeshare development, “The Fairways” also at Drakensberg Gardens Golf & Leisure Resort. It was at this time that the company began to pursue other development and management opportunities resulting in the formation of GDS Investments (Pty) Ltd, the Timeshare Management Company. The purpose of the Management Company is to contract and manage the resorts at a fee which is established at the outset of the project. Purchasers finance is provided by Gooderson Leisure Corporation Division Goodfin, which offers finance to prospective timeshare owners over a time period at a prime plus a percentage.
Gooderson Vacation Sales (Pty) Ltd was formed in January 1996 to handle the in-house letting of all the self-catering and timeshare properties. These included “The Fairways”, “Riverbend Chalets” and “Mountain View Cottages” on the property of Drakensberg Gardens in the Southern berg, “The Silversands” opposite Ushaka Marine World along Durban’s Golden Mile, “Mtunzini Forest Lodge” built on a sand forest in Mtunzini on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal, and “Bushlands Game Lodge – Self Catering” near Hluhluwe on the far north coast of KwaZulu Natal. With the growth of the timeshare division, comes an increase in the availability of rental stock in the self catering division.
The “New Business” division, which has recently been established, investigates business opportunities to expand the timeshare portfolio by means of research into new and existing resorts for decisions at Board level, based on the feasibility studies presented.
The company currently manages the following timeshare resorts on behalf of their owners and they are Lifestyle Resorts which are all affiliated to R.C.I. The Timeshare Exchange Company.
• Silversands (124 units) The Silversands timeshare resort is located in the Point area of Durban, near uShaka Marine World. The accommodation ranges from 2 to 8-sleeper apartments.
• Riverbend Chalets (18 units) – (Gold Crown Resort)
Developed on the grounds of the Drakensberg Resort, Riverbend Chalets was the first project where the company completed the full life cycle from development to the administration of the units on behalf of the owners. The chalets can accommodate a maximum of 6 persons.
• Fairways (62 units) – (Gold Crown Resort) - This development overlooks the 18-hole golf course at the Drakensberg Gardens Resort. Twenty-four units have already been built and, with effect from mid-2006 the company was building another 12 units. The semi-detached units can accommodate 4-8 persons. It is the intention to build the balance of the development over the next 30 months.
• Mountain View (8 units) – (Lifestyle Resort) this is another development at the Drakensberg Gardens resort with units accommodating 4-6 people.
• Mtunzini Forest Lodge (22 units) - (Lifestyle Resort)
This lodge was acquired in November 2002 and converted to a timeshare resort, in early 2005. It is located on the KZN North Coast and has direct access to the sea. The resort is 65% sold-out and it is anticipated that it will be fully sold by the end of February 2007. The wooden cabins, which are built on stilts in a sand forest and can accommodate 4-6 persons.
Gooderson Leisure Corporation manages and provides accommodation and restaurant services to (leisure, international, and conference guests) in the KwaZulu–Natal province. The company’s positioning in the hospitality industry determines its relative market share and profitability.
The company currently operates the following hotels:
• Tropicana Hotel (3-star). This 168-bedroomed Company owned hotel is situated on the main beachfront of Durban at 87 Marine Parade.
• Beach Hotel (3-star)..Located at 107 Marine Parade. The 112-bedroomed Beach hotel is leased from its owners under a 25-year lease that expires in November 2015.
• Drakensberg Gardens Golf & Leisure Resort (3-star). This 101-bedroomed Company owned hotel is located on an 860-acre estate, in the Southern Drakensberg, 30 kilometres from Underberg.
• Bushlands Game Lodge (4-star) This is a 29 bedroom Lodge centrally situated in Zululand on 150 acres, and in close proximity to KwaZulu Natal Game parks, including Hluhluwe, Umfolozi, Mkuzi, Nduma, Sodwana Bay and The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, the lodge offers guests the ultimate African bush experience. The Company is constructing five additional self-catering bedrooms this year will increase the occupation capacity at the lodge.
• DumaZulu Cultural Village & Lodge. (3-star) This 23 bedroom lodge is located south of Hluhluwe on a 50 acre plot. The Traditional Village provides day visitors and overnight guests with an authentic African cultural experience. In addition there are restaurant and bar facilities as well as one of the largest curio shops in the province.
• Natal Spa Resort and Conference Centre (3-star) This 52-bedroomed Company owned hotel and 20 selfcatering units is located on a large estate, in the Battlefields area in Paulpietersberg - 350 Km from Durban and Johannesburg
Employment Equity and Tourism BEE Charter
More than 87% of the company’s staff complement of 409 people are black. Progress is being made on the introduction in the Black Management in the middle and senior management employees which will meet the requirements of the Tourism BEE Charter. It is the company’s intent to identify a suitable black equity partner that could acquire an equity stake in the company. Gooderson Leisure Corporation is Empowerdex “C” rated as a Satisfactory Broad-based BEE Contributor with unconstrained Operational Capacity.
Althogh Nibela Lake Lodge was sold and is no longer in our Portfolio, the Nibela Peninsula community , benefited from the electrification of the area to the Lodge and through sourced funds for the building of a Clinic. Gooderson Leisure Corporation social responsibility is the involvement in the community in its operational areas. At Drakensberg Gardens Golf & Leisure Resort, we are in the process of negotiating with the rebuilding of the 3 class-roomed school and the supply of furniture, electricity, running water and toilet facilities
