Regency Hotel Group (Photo Archive)
Thirty-five-year-old Siyanda Dlamini is the managing director of the Regency Hotel Group and the co-owner and managing director of the Regency Apartment Hotel in Menlyn. Young, passionate about travel and the hotel business, and ahead of his time, Dlamini dreamed of being a hotelier since he was a child.
“My role as MD of the Regency Group is to direct and control the work and resources of the company, provide day-to-day advice and guidance for the running of the hotels and the brand itself, and to establish and maintain links with major customers, including government.” Says Dlamini. “I also oversee the management of staff and the efficient running of the hotels. I like to be involved in all aspects of the business as it’s my own brand.”
Dlamini started out by joining a catering club at his high school in Pietermaritzburg and kick-started his career as an assistant at Protea Hotels in 2001. Now, he co-owns the R350-million Regency Apartment Hotel in Pretoria, his very own 100% South African brand. His goal was to develop a brand and run a successful business and he achieved this by the time he turned 34. His vision is to encourage all aspiring entrepreneurs to enter the tourism industry because he believes it will be the biggest opportunity to grow business and revenue in South Africa.
“I live and breathe the hotel industry and recently had the opportunity to be part of the SA Tourism delegation that visited India and the QAE to promote tourism in South Africa,” he says.
Dlamini has done plenty of training and refining of his professional capabilities and it shows. He is loved by employees who follow him from hotel to hotel, and he is passionate about these people and their careers.
“My goal is to grow careers, not just give out jobs,” he concludes. “It is important to me that my employees love and own the brand. I also believe in African brands being given the chance and room to grow in South Africa we need to support 100% South African companies.”