In 1935 Howard Hughes set an airspeed record, Amelia Earhart was the first person to fly solo, Monopoly was released and Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Luciano Pavarotti and Woody Allen were born.
It is also the year Hotel & Restaurant was launched.
Seventy-five years on, the oldest business publication in the country is not only cracking open the bubbly to commemorate three-quarters of a century of publishing, it is celebrating its success as a multimedia content provider with print sales into Africa and an international online audience.
“We are constantly looking for innovation, creativity and new touch points for our advertisers to get their message out and give readers new ways to access information. This is what has always held us as the most read and respected publication in the industry, and remains our objective as we celebrate this milestone,” commented publisher Bradley Kantor. “Our goal remains to secure greater reader loyalty by providing a range of platforms on which our readers can digest the Hotel & Restaurant brand.”
The brand’s technological efforts saw a versatile, interactive website go live last year, followed by the introduction of a jobs portal, digital editions of the magazine and weekly webletters and corporate mailers distributed on behalf of advertisers, while its profile was raised when it became the media partner for the annual trade expo, Hostex, two years ago.
Hotel & Restaurant’s diamond jubilee is a glittering affair, with gemstones and a silver-foiled bottle of bubbly UV-varnished on the matt cover. The contents include articles from the captains of the hospitality industry, including the Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Launched as SA Hotel Review, the magazine was bought by RamsayMedia in 1950, when it was renamed Hotel & Catering Review and subsequently Hotelier & Caterer, becoming Hotel & Restaurant in 1997.
Erratic movements behind computer screens, cries of elation or frustration and a steely determination to succeed are becoming noticeable in ad agencies across the country.
It’s all part of the buzz as media planners and strategists fight it out for top spot in a fun new interactive computer game from RamsayMedia. Ramsay Racer, a test of competitors’ gaming skills as they race for the fastest time in a variety of vehicles on different terrains, will see charities the ultimate victors. The company is donating R750 000 in advertising space to worthy causes – the chosen pro bono clients of three regional winners, who will also win R75 000 in brand-related lifestyle experiences for themselves.
The concept evolved from RamsayMedia’s desire to give back to the community as part of its social responsibility efforts. At the same time, the initiative allows the company to showcase its multi-platform advertising solutions – the touchpoints winners have available for their campaigns include print, website, webletters, social media, mobile and events.
The game allows competitors to learn more about the company’s brands and platforms in a fun way – time bonuses are earned for collecting brand icons and correctly answering multiple-choice questions along the way.
Participants may play as often as they like to improve their time, which is recorded on a leader board once they access the game at www.ramsayracer.co.za
The competition closes on 14 September, with the three finalists from each region invited to play-offs at RamsayMedia industry events later next month.
RamsayMedia sales executives are visiting clients and agencies to demonstrate how the game works. Early response has been so positive that the company is considering making the game available to consumers once the competition closes.
In the second strategic portfolio change in as many months, RamsayMedia has announced the appointment of Brandon de Kock as Group Content Director from August.
His new role will see him safeguard the editorial integrity of the RamsayMedia brands and develop new products and ideas, according to RamsayMedia’s Managing Director, Stuart Lowe.
“Brandon will drive content excellence and innovation across the company’s brands in both print and digital, working with the editors, designers and publishing teams to arrive at the optimum content mix and design across our platforms,” Lowe said.
Apart from ongoing creative review, de Kock will be responsible for exploring profitable new growth opportunities, content and resource sharing between the brands in the stable and identifying and celebrating editorial and design excellence within the company, Lowe added.
Commenting on his new portfolio, de Kock said: “The pace of change in global media has been frantic – and it’s only just started! For 77 years, RamsayMedia has survived and thrived on a foundation of excellent content and innovative thinking, so we’re perfectly positioned to lead the field. I am thrilled to be part of the core strategic team that will shape our future.”
Last month RamsayMedia announced the promotion of Simon Turck to Manager: Group Sales. The creation of the two key executive roles signals a focus on providing corporate sales and creative solutions to stakeholders across the brands.
De Kock, who has more than two decades’ experience in various media, including print, radio, TV and PR, recently spearheaded the establishment of RamsayMedia’s Edcom, an internal forum of editors to discuss mutual issues and ideas.
He relinquishes his role as editor of Compleat Golfer to Brendan Barratt. His experience won’t be lost, however – as editor-at-large, he will continue to contribute travel and instruction features to the title.
He also now joins RamsayMedia’s Executive Committee.
In another first for the company, RamsayMedia is to make digital editions of its titles available on iPad within a matter of weeks. The media house has signed an agreement with Zinio, global leader in digital publishing technology, to publish CAR and Getaway using Zinio’s iPad App platform.
The move is the latest development in RamsayMedia’s drive to deliver content to consumers using multiple touchpoints and means the company is the first to market in providing e-magazines to South African consumers using iPad’s innovative platform, said managing director Stuart Lowe.
RamsayMedia has moved vigorously into expanding its offering into new media channels since it rebranded as a multi-media owner in November 2008.
The availability of the August issues of CAR and Getaway on iPad – at less than the price of the print edition – was “an exciting new step for the company”, Lowe said.
Raul Suarez, Zinio’s managing director: international, said his company was delighted to welcome RamsayMedia to the Zinio family. “RamsayMedia is leading the way for South African content by leveraging our global reach and pay-once-read-anywhere Zinio Unity platform. New customers from around the world will soon be able to enjoy access the media house’s top magazines on an expanding range of devices."
Zinio is the foremost marketer of digital magazines and books globally. With over 60 000 titles available in its e-store, it is responsible for 90 per cent of digital subscriptions in the US and more than half of those worldwide.
The iPad’s touch-screen tablet computer is marketed particularly for e-book, -magazine and -newspaper reading, with graphics, music, games and production applications being high among its attractions. It has taken the world by storm since its release at the beginning of April this year, selling more than two million units in the first two months of its launch.
The Zinio App for iPad (available free, together with iPhone, though the iTunes store) allows readers to move easily between text, interactive graphics, animated illustrations and videos – enlarging photos, launching web pages and sharing articles with friends – all with a simple touch of the screen.
RamsayMedia has announced the promotion of Simon Turck to the key new executive role of Manager: Group Sales, a position that will see him formulate and activate a group sales strategy for the company. He relinquishes his role of Publisher of Compleat Golfer after 10 years with the brand.
RamsayMedia’s Managing Director, Stuart Lowe, said that Simon’s new role will see him work closely with the respective publishers and national sales managers to develop tailor-made multi-brand solutions for clients and advertisers.
“The creation of this pivotal portfolio will drive sales and service across the company’s brands and provide valuable support to the sales team while contributing to the ongoing expansion of RamsayMedia,” he explained.
Commenting on his new role, Simon said that, while still passionate about the Compleat Golfer brand, he was excited at the challenge of working across all the brands in the stable and bringing a more strategic approach to the company’s ad sales initiatives.
“While our brands have traditionally worked independently, even competitively, in the advertising arena, we have enormous collective strengths to bring to market. By leveraging the relationship each brand has with its consumers, we can potentially deliver a significantly better reach across all eight brands in the stable, as well as those of our growing Custom Publishing division.”
Simon hands the leadership of Compleat Golfer to Craig Wilson, whose joins the company from Upper Case Media, where he was business manager.
Harold Eedes, the late managing director of RamsayMedia and publisher of WINE, has been honoured by a trophy awarded in his name.
The Harold Eedes Trophy for the Best Chenin Blanc is one of the premier accolades at the annual Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, considered to be among the most prestigious wine competitions in the country and founded nine years ago by WINE magazine and Michael Fridjhon.
WINE, under Harold’s stewardship, played a pivotal role in creating awareness of Chenin Blanc and promoting excellence in the category through the Chenin Blanc Challenge, a competition now in its 15th year.
Rijk’s Private Cellar in Tulbagh was the winner of the inaugural Harold Eedes Trophy at the 2010 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show.
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