08 Aug The women behind the work
There are dozens of people that make Thebe Tourism and its subsidiaries tick, but since it’s Women’s Month, we’ve decided to give you a peek into the lives of some of our lovely ladies.
Renate Baatjies | Deputy Manager, Cape Point
How long have you worked in tourism? 17 years
What do you love most about your job? I love meeting all the people that visit Cape Point, and, of course, the beautiful scenery I have daily.
If you could have tea with one inspiring woman, who would it be? Even though she isn’t around anymore, my choice would have been Diana, Princess of Wales. She’s always inspired me.
What will you be doing on Women’s Day? I will be spoiling the woman in my life (my mom) by taking her out for lunch.
Claire Kaplan | E-Marketing Manager, Thebe Tourism Group
How long have you worked in tourism? Almost 8 years
What do you love most about your job? Getting to visit many of our great attractions and seeing our beautiful country through the eyes of a tourist.
If you could have tea with one inspiring woman, who would it be?
Michelle Obama
What will you be doing on Women’s Day? I’ll be having lunch in Langebaan with some family
Minette Fourie | Marketing Team Leader & Senior Graphic Designer, Club Travel
How long have you worked in tourism? I have been in travel, one way or another, for 18 years
What do you love most about your job? That each day brings something new and different. That travel is dynamic and exciting and we get to help people realise their dreams!
If you could have tea with one inspiring woman, who would it be? Marina Abramović. She is a performance artist and came from very harsh and humble beginnings to be the top female artist. Her work is powerful and has amazing depth to it and I admire the way she sees the world and moves/interacts with it.
What will you be doing on Women’s Day? I will spend the day with my mother – she is my best friend and we have an amazing relationship.
Judiet Barnes | Marketing Manager, Thebe Tourism Group
How long have you worked in tourism? Nearly 6 years
What do you love most about your job? Meeting extraordinary people, seeing wonderful places, being able to dream up really big ideas, and seeing exciting projects come together after a lot of work went into the planning
If you could have tea with one inspiring woman, who would it be? Maya Angelou. She was an extremely strong woman with incredible wisdom. If it was someone lesser known, I would say my paternal grandmother. I never got to meet her but I’ve heard she was a force to be reckoned with – stood back for no one and knew how to say no to anyone – something I could improve on…
What will you be doing on Women’s Day? My twins are turning 7 this month, so some serious party planning to happen on Women’s Day! The three girls and I will probably end up watching a girly movie together during the day sometime, while in the quieter moments when the kids play on their own, I use the opportunity to catch up on work that I don’t typically get to during the week like long overdue email, reading through project memos, researching tourism products and making my never-ending lists of things to do 😊
Melissa Nortje | Executive Head of Development, Strategy and Marketing, First Car Rental
How long have you worked in tourism? 17 years
What do you love most about your job? The responsibility; I get to not only keep us ahead of the curve but to determine the curve with a few worldwide industry firsts on a technology front over the past 15 years.
If you could have tea with one inspiring woman, who would it be? I’m seeing my mom the third week in August; she’s an inspiring woman and we’re bound to have a cup of tea.
What will you be doing on Women’s Day? My girlfriend and I are taking our mountain bikes to explore the Kirstenbosch trail early Wednesday morning, the rest of the day should be no different to any other week day.