ITB BERLIN SHOWCASES PATERNOSTER’S 5-STAR STRANDLOPER OCEAN BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN GLOBAL 50th ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016, ITB Berlin – the world’s leading travel trade show – has selected the 5-star Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel in Paternoster as the South African representative to take part in a global marketing campaign. The initiative sees 50 Berliners travelling with the ‘ITB Berlin Buddy Bears’ to 50 unique destinations all over the world, to meet 50 representatives and showcase 50 special events, topics or projects.
As part of the campaign, German-born Simone Jacke, the owner of the Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel, is interviewed online by Cape Town-based architect Dr. Luyanda Mpahlwa, who studied architecture in Berlin before returning to the land of his birth in 2000, where he founded the Architecture and Design firm, DesignSpaceAfrica. Dr Mpahlwa, who was the architect behind the South African Embassy in Berlin, was chosen as an ITB50 ambassador to handover the ITB Berlin Buddy Bear to Strandloper Ocean.
Strandloper is described by ITB50 as ‘a luxury retreat hidden in the dunes of the picturesque fishing village of Paternoster, a haven of unspoilt West Coast, just 150 km north of Cape Town, where thousands of years ago the indigenous Strandloper tribe lived. The hotel complex blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, and the peacefulness is interrupted only by the reassuring sound of surf breaking on the shore. This is a place of restful contemplation, which offers its guest the ultimate luxury of space and time, and this being South Africa, the possibility of a chance meeting with the odd whale or dolphin.’
Simone Jacke says that it is part of the hotel’s strategy to be an integral part of nature. “We hope that little by little every guest connects with nature and regains self-awareness. Sustainability is important; close to nature we find our roots again as modern society disconnects us from where we really come from. Our simple approach at the Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel is easy barefoot luxury, where one can be oneself and establish balance in one’s life by reconnecting with nature. We believe that this offers a unique experience to our guests.’
ITB Berlin will be taking place between 9 and 13 March 2016, and will include 180 countries from around the world, represented by some 10 000 exhibitors, to attract an estimated 110 000 trade visitors, of which more than 40% are from outside of Germany. Over the last 50 years ITB Berlin has become the world’s largest travel trade show, displaying a comprehensive overview of the market that includes travel products and services from around the world and growth-intensive niche markets. It also reflects trends in society as well as technical and economic developments.
MORE ABOUT STRANDLOPER OCEAN BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Just 90 minutes from Cape Town, Strandloper Ocean is a secluded, romantic retreat that offers countless extraordinary experiences. The property, voted Best 5-Star Guest House in South Africa in the 2014 Lilizela Tourism Awards, is a fusion of beach style and contemporary, barefoot luxury set against the wild beauty of indigenous gardens and the wide, white beaches of the quaint West Coast fishing village. Fourteen rooms and suites each have their own terrace or courtyard where uncluttered beach style compliments nature with breathtaking views across the beach, fynbos and beyond. Guests may enjoy hiking trails and endless beach walks, bird watching, biking and fishing; indulge in a relaxing massage in the Elements Wellness Suite, or take a refreshing dip in the sparkling swimming pool. Paternoster is known as a seafood mecca and the fruits of the sea remain in vast quantities of fresh fish, huge black mussels and authentic West Coast crayfish, caught by local fishermen and served the same day at the Strandloper Ocean Lounge restaurant, where creative cuisine is presented with a strong regional influence.
