This month we celebrate Arbor Month. On 1 September we not only celebrate the start of spring, but we also celebrate Arbor Day and until the 7th September, we celebrate Arbor Week.

For many conferences and functions, the thought of being eco-conscious is not always on top of one’s mind, however a number of conference venues have implemented “green” options without delegates even having to think about them- The Royal Palm Hotel in uMhlanag being one of them.

Arbor month as a whole makes way for an opportunity to raise awareness of South Africa’s urban greening initiatives and encourages all individuals, communities and businesses to participate in various greening activities.

There are also team building activities that groups of delegates could get involved in such as litter-cleaning, beach cleaning, planting trees at a local school, creating a sustainable vegetable garden for an institution in need, and getting involved in recycling waste into correct recycling stations.

There is also the option of starting to go green at the office before the conference takes place. Staff can look at ways of greening their office by adding plants to the area, finding ways to reduce waste in the office, installing LED lights and even creating signs for each area reminding staff to turn off the lights to save energy.

They say that a change is as good as a holiday, and now at the Royal Palm Hotel, you can have both, as the hotel plans a massive refurbishment!

According to General Manager, Simon Bailey, plans are afoot to make significant changes to the restaurant, bar and lounge areas, to align them with the new look and feel of the hotel. “The refurbishment of the Hotel began last year, with the rooms undergoing a number of changes to keep the hotel on trend, and even more comfortable for our guests, and now it is time to other areas to follow suit,” commented Bailey.

Having last been refreshed some ten years ago, the restaurant will undergo significant changes, both in design and décor, which will see the currently open-plan kitchen being elegantly glassed off, allowing patrons to still see the culinary team in action.

The bar area, which is currently centralised in restaurant node, will be shifted towards the corner of the room, to better create a bar-lounge vibe, which Bailey feels is currently lacking in the area. This will also allow for a more upmarket cigar bar to the added to the offering, bringing the hotel in-line with the current market trends.

The main lounge area will be completely redecorated, the designs of which are being kept under wraps until the big reveal, but are said to be simply stunning, and bound to create an even more welcoming entrance to the Hotel. 

With construction commencing in the coming weeks, Bailey assures us that minimal disruptions are expected for guests, as other areas have been earmarked to act as temporary dining zones, thereby maintaining the hotel’s operational excellence.