Locals also booking 2010 accommodation

As the build-up to the 2010 World Cup gets ever more frenetic, estate agents continue to sign up properties for home owners who wish to cash in on rental income during the tournament.

But, says Seeff Properties West Coast chief executive Heinrich Koorts, Cape Town residents are themselves booking accommodation as they require somewhere to stay while their own homes are occupied by overseas visitors.

"Our group has already signed up over 10 000 beds countrywide, from one-bedroom studios for R750 a night to sprawling mansions at R30 000 a night, and a wide range of apartments, houses, villas, security estates, golf estates, waterfront homes, lock-up-and-go units, boutique hotels, guest houses and more. Our service will include full-time on-call assistance for any problems these visitors might have, to allow the owners to go on holiday themselves. We will be handling the personalised welcome to guests, introductions to the area and its attractions and handover of keys.

"We have already begun our foreign marketing drive, with our partner, Gary Bailey, being interviewed by the UK media, and are now on our way to exhibit our offering at the World Travel Market in London - the premier global event for the travel industry, where we will be targeting thousands of travel agencies and tour operators looking for accommodation for their clients in Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany and the US."

Koorts says homeowners on the West Coast were also starting to list their homes.

"You must remember that UK soccer fans will happily travel five hours to a venue to see their favourite team playing.

"We are not only targeting foreign bookings, but South African families who are letting their homes out close to stadiums and need somewhere to stay."

Weekend Property supplement (Saturday Argus)

Posted at 10:46AM Nov 16, 2009 by Editor in Market  |  Comments[2]