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Cape’s Winterberg Mountains. According to
Kaschula, it was a prime location to introduce
fractionals, complementing the hotel, private
game reserve, equestrian center, and spa.
Following this launch, Kat Leisure took fractional
ownership to Simola Golf & Country Estate in
2008, and then to Hogsback Arminel Village
Hotel in 2014.
A Stop on the Mandela Route
Approximately 12 years ago, WF Osner
Investments acquired Hogsback Arminel Village
Hotel in the Amathole Mountain Range. (The
resort’s name was inspired by the shape of the
range, which resembles running wild pigs.)
Within 18 months, they had gutted the 31-bed
hotel and renovated the spa, restaurant, and
conference center. Five years later, they intro-
duced the self-catering cottages and duplexes.
And today, the tranquil, four-season prop-
erty is a magnet for nature lovers, corporate
groups, and wedding parties alike. The resort
is ideally situated, allowing for only a short walk to Hogsback Village
restaurants and shopping. And the area offers forest excursions to
see several impressive waterfalls, including Kettlespout, 39 Steps,
and Madonna and Child, as well as the Eco-Shrine and the
Arboretum, representing a garden of trees from around the world,
including 100-year-old California redwoods. Also, visitors have the
rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of endangered Samango mon-
keys and the Cape parrot in the indigenous forests.
The area’s famed folklore draws in both locals and visitors. As the
yarn goes, South Africa–born author J.R.R. Tolkien was inspired by the
region, bringing the magical forest to life in his Lord of the Rings trilogy.
And Hogsback, only 19 miles (30 kilometers) from Alice, where Nelson
Mandela studied, is the perfect base for those following the famed
Madiba route, which traces Mandela’s early life.
A Second Home for Locals
Largely a locals retreat, Hogsback Arminel Village Hotel serves as a
second home in the mountains for many owners. Treasured for the win-
ter and spring seasons, the property draws customers seeking an
active lifestyle of hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Most hail from
East London (a one-and-a-half-hour drive away) and surrounding cities
such as Port Elizabeth. Among the small percentage of international
buyers, Germans dominate the group.
The property’s thatched two-bedroom cottages are nestled in a
lush garden setting away from the hotel. The units are fully furnished
and equipped with plasma-screen TVs, a dishwasher, a gas fireplace,
and a Weber grill on the wooden outdoor deck. Fractional owners and
exchange guests can relax at the property’s Arminel Forest Spa. Its
motto is “Exceptional. Every day,” ensuring the focus is on the health
and wellness of each guest. Dining options offer full buffets for break-
fast, lunch, and dinner.
Fractional sales launched in April 2014. Phase two is currently tar-
geted to roll out in 2016, with the exact timing
based on sales pace. Pricing ranges from
R65,000 to R120,000 per share (approxi-
mately US$6,000 to US$11,000). Annual dues
are R1,500 (US$139) per month.
Event Marketing Leads to Sales
The Kat Leisure team utilizes a variety of mar-
keting and sales approaches to promote the
resort, including Facebook advertising and
radio buys with Algoa FM, a regional adult
contemporary station. The most successful
approach, however, is event marketing.
“We needed a better approach to mar-
keting than the traditional invitation to a sales
presentation,” explains Kaschula. “We found
it by embracing existing destination events or
creating our own. In fact, the Hogsback
Village Christmas in July event was devel-
oped by us eight years ago to drive our hotel
business, and we continue to enjoy its suc-
cess today.”
Christmas in July features a bonfire, ox wagon rides, live music and
entertainment, children’s activities such as a circus and a visit from
Santa Claus, port and wine tastings, and more. The marketing strategy
also capitalizes on the area’s Lord of the Chain Rings, a three-day
mountain biking race held each November, offering new trails never
blazed by riders before.
Additionally, the company hosts the Simola Hillclimb held every
May at Simola Golf & Country Estate. Attended by more than 11,000
people, the esteemed event has drawn Jaguar as a sponsor, and is now
widely viewed as on par with the U.K.’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Kat’s Eye on the Future
The leadership at WF Osner Investments and Kat Leisure is not resting
on its laurels. Recently purchased beachfront land in Port Elizabeth is
being prepped for the next leisure property. According to company
information, it is policy to invest, construct, and retain properties, which
has led to ownership of commercial, residential, and industrial proper-
ties with a gross lettable area in excess of 120,000 square meters
(nearly 30,000 acres).
“Kat Leisure is ingrained in the Western and Eastern Cape markets,
offering a unique holiday experience,” says Darren Ettridge, Interval
International’s senior vice president of resort sales and business devel-
opment for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. “From inspired hiking
around Hogsback Arminel Village Hotel to the first Jack Nicklaus
Signature Golf Course on the Garden Route at Simola Golf & Country
Estate, the team at Kat Leisure provides memorable experiences for
our exchange members. We’re in our first year of a multiyear agree-
ment, so we look forward to a long relationship together.”
See page 2 for currency conversions.
Beth Ridenour has worked as a public relations professional in the lodging
and vacation ownership industries for more than 10 years.
43
Developer:
WF Osner Investments (Pty) Ltd.
Hotel Operator:
Kat Leisure (Pty) Ltd.
Headquarters:
Kynsna, South Africa
Product:
Arminel Hogsback Village Hotel:
sectional title (whole ownership) in perpetuity
and fractional ownership for one fixed week
per year
Simola Golf & Country Estate: two two-week
fractional ownership options: fixed season and
rotational
Resorts:
Kat Leisure owns and manages 10
properties spanning the Western and Eastern
Cape of South Africa
Price:
Hogsback Arminel Village Hotel:
R65,000 to R120,000
Simola Golf & Country Estate: R195,000 to
R500,000 per share
Website:
katleisure.co.za
Social Media:
facebook.com/katleisuregroup
Kat Leisure (Pty) Ltd.
fast
facts
Simola Golf & Country Estate