Durban - Tala Private Game Reserve, just a 40 minute drive from Durban, has entered a new era.
The popular reserve, which got into financial difficulties last year and was put under a business rescue plan, has now turned the corner and is making a profit.
With a new team of specialists at the helm, jobs have been saved, improvements have been made and the game reserve is “doing really well”, said Kurt Knoop, of Manci Knoop Financial Services, who has been in charge of the rescue plan.
Once owned by businessman, Stuart Hilcove, Tala was subject to several successful land claims by the Nkumbuleni Community.
The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) then funded the business and a new company Gradoscope (Pty) Ltd was formed to act as the operating company which owned the contents of the premises and the animals.
A series of contracted hospitality operators then managed Tala, but last year, when some of the creditors could not be paid – the expenses were too high – the NEF called in Knoop and his team to save the day.
“The business had deteriorated. There had been a lot of management changes; and there was quite a bit of confusion about where the brand stood in people’s minds,” Knoop said.
He explained that in terms of the Company’s Act of 2008, there was a section that allowed a company that was financially distressed to go into business rescue, to keep it afloat to save jobs and try to turn it around for the benefit of everyone.
There are 74 families involved in Tala.
“I knew it was always a really good business and a wonderful place to go. I knew where it had come from and where it could go. It was a question of putting in a business plan, getting our management team in place, doing our predictions and bringing in stability.”
The changes have been dramatic – and some were almost immediate.
Knoop queried why the reserve’s water bill was R120 000 – and within seven days he discovered that there were several huge leaks. These were repaired, bringing the bill down to R40 000.
Instead of bringing in an outside hotel group to run the reserve as had been done in the past, Knoop called in a team of experts in hospitality, marketing, operations and sales and public relations.
A decision was made to rebrand the tourist attraction and it is now known as the Tala Collection Private Game Reserve, with the focus being on four elements: accommodation (there are five different venues), the game, weddings and the world-class conference facilities.
A new website backs up the new name and approach.
“We wanted to put the passion back into the product and make sure the basics were there,” Knoop recalled.
An investment has been made in training and the attitude and ability of the staff has improved, enabling them to be better equipped to deal with the public.
The community is now more involved in the operation too and some now work as night watchmen, with radio communication with reception, something which was not available before the new business plan kicked in.
Roads have been repaired, buildings repainted and with such a positive attitude of the staff “we are definitely turning Tala around and making a profit”, Knoop said.
He said when some people heard that Tala was in business rescue, they stopped visiting.
“But Tala is doing really well and they should come back.
“The feedback from those who do come is amazing. Everyone here has a smile on his or her face and they all want to help and serve,” he said.
Daily News