Managing Director - Red Carnation Hotels
Jonathan Raggett has worked in hotels since leaving Westminster College with a Higher National Diploma in Hotel Management. Jonathan joined RCH in 1998 as General Manager of The Rubens Hotel. In 2000 he was promoted to Managing Director, overseeing the rapid expansion to the 14 award-winning luxury boutique hotels and a country inn which RCH now operates. In November 2009, Jonathan Raggett was delighted to be named Hotelier of the Year at the world-renowned Hotel Catey Annual Industry Awards organised by the Caterer & Hotelkeeper.
"We are a family run small collection of five- and four-star hotels who fight the big chains for business. We will never have the same Sales and Marketing spend as these players, so it is my belief that we need to make an even better job of taking care of our guests."
jonathan@rchmail.com T: +44 (0)207 514 5633
Executive Director - Red Carnation Hotels
Internationally acclaimed hotelier Terry Holmes, winner of the 2006 Caterer Tourism Award, joined Red Carnation Hotels in February 2006, bringing with him his incredible passion for the hospitality industry. His tremendous career ranges from a chef to Vice President in the luxury hotel business.
A much loved character at each of the hotels in the Red Carnation collection, his presence together with his expertise further strengthens our guests' experience.
tholmes@rchmail.com T: +44 (0)207 958 6923
General Manager
One of South Africa’s most well-respected hoteliers, Horst has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and has led many of the country’s most successful hospitality establishments. He joined the Red Carnation Hotel Collection in December 2010.
Born to German parents, Horst’s flair for languages - he is fluent in English, Afrikaans, German and French - have benefited his international career path. After completing his schooling, Horst studied hotel management in Germany and achieved two diploma qualifications.
Horst’s career has seen him working in Munich, Geneva, Namibia and South Africa. He was engaged as General Manager to open the five star Grand Roche Hotel in Paarl, a Relais& Châteaux member, and during his tenure the hotel received many notable industry awards, including the Five Star Silver Award for Exceptional Service Standards.
With a keen love for nature, wildlife and the great outdoors, Horst has held managerial positions at the Singita Private Game Reserve in the Kruger National Park and the Singita Grumeti Reserves, Serengeti, Tanzania. Under his management, the Sasakwa Lodge was established as a Relais& Châteaux member.
Before accepting his current managerial role at the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, Horst managed, since its establishment, the 36 room Asara Wine Estate & Hotel in Stellenbosch.
hfrehse@12apostles.co.za T: +27 21 437 9061
Deputy General Manager
Michael Nel’s journey with Red Carnation Hotels began nearly ten years ago. He started as a Reservations Agent at the Rubens Hotel in London and worked his way up the ladder in various hotels and positions within the Red Carnation family.
Today he is Deputy General Manager of The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town. Over the years he has gained valuable experience, having worked in both front and back of house areas.
His goal is to ensure that guests’ needs are not only met, but exceeded, and to make every single guest a RCH Ambassador through service excellence.
mnel@12apostles.co.za T: +27 21 437 9090
Room Division Manager
Abraham Mouton started his career in the hospitality industry in 1998, when he was part of the opening team of Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Orlando (Florida).
He returned from the US in 2000 and took up a position as Front Office Agent at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town. Five and a half years later, having held a variety of different positions including Front Office Manager, he embarked on an 18-month sabbatical in the UK.
Upon his return to South Africa in June 2007, he joined the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa as Duty Manager, and within a year he was first promoted to the position of Front Office Manager, and in July 2012, to Room Division Manager.
amouton@12apostles.co.za T: +27 21 437 9000
Executive Head Chef
At the age of 23 during his education in Engineering, Grobbelaar realised his real passion was with the science of seasoning rather than combining synthetic polymers. He swiftly changed his career path and started peeling vegetables for three years at the Erinvale Golf Estate in Somerset West under the leadership of Australian Chef Michael Bridgeman. There he soaked up the expertise bestowed by his mentor, leading him to win first place in the National Salon Culinaire Competition in 2004.
After a short stint catering for millionaire clients on their luxury yachts in the US, he returned to South Africa to train with legendary Garth Stroebel and Paul Hartmann at their Chef's Academy. As his love affair with food went into high gear, his skills became noticed with numerous awards and enviable posts including Sunday Times South Africa Chef of the Year 2009; San Pellegrino International Young Chef of the Year 2009; and nominated as one of the 35 Men of Influence by GQ Magazine South Africa 2009.
During The 2010 FIFA World Cup he held the position as Executive Chef overseeing ten stadiums, where over 660 VIPs at each game enjoyed one of his seven rotational menus. If serving soccer lovers and legends wasn't enough, he was then awarded another sporting position in 2010 as Team Captain of the South African Culinary Olympic Team.
hgrobbelaar@12apostles.co.za T: +27 21 437 9000
Food & Beverage Manager
Gavin Ferreira started his career in the hospitality industry in 2001, as Chef at Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey, England. He gained much experience here, combining fine French cuisine and old English traditions.
He spent four years in the UK, where he held hospitality positions that included Management Trainee at one of Red Carnation Hotels’ properties, Summer Lodge in Dorset.
On his return to South Africa in 2008 he started at Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa as Banqueting Floor Manager, before he was promoted to Banqueting Manager. Two years later, in April 2010 he was promoted once again, and appointed as Food & Beverage Manager.
gferreira@12apostles.co.za T: +27 21 437 9034
Sommelier
Gregory is a diploma graduate from the Cape Wine Academy. Mutambe was named by the academy’s principal as one of the most talented students in his class. Mutambe started his career working as a cellar-hand in a Zimbabwean winery, after which he trained and worked in a Johannesburg restaurant and, most recently, as the Sommelier at the Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Cape Town. He will be advising diners in the Twelve Apostles Hotel’s Azure Restaurant on the ideal wine pairing during meals, working closely with Executive Chef, Henrico Grobbelaar.
sommelier@12apostles.co.za
Reservations Manager
Lisa joined the Red Carnation Hotel Collection in 2007 as a Reservations Agent for the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa.
In July 2008, she was promoted to Reservations Manager for Bushmans Kloof where she gained valuable experience in understanding the importance of creating a lasting impression and exceeding guests' expectations.
Since May 2010 Lisa has occupied the role of Reservations Manager for both the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Bushmans Kloof.
lisa@rchmail.co.za T: +27 (0) 21 481 1860
Spa Manager
Identified as an eager learner since her early days in the beauty industry, Rene Baatjes began her career at The Arabella Hotel and Spa. While working as a hostess she was sent on a Nail Technician course, which inspired her to further her career in Spa Management and complete her Management Diploma with the Kleinmond Altira Spa group and shortly after this she was promoted to Front Desk Manager and acting Nail Technician.
Baatjes started in 2006 with the Sancuary Spa Group, as the assistant Spa Manager. She was soon promoted to Spa Manager, and later the Group Director, overseeing nine spas at four and five star boutique hotels.
In May 2011, Baatjes joined the Red Carnation Hotel Collection family as Spa Manager at The Spa at The Twelve Apostles a Leading Spa of the World. Baatjes’ key focus remains people – growing and empowering them – which she maintains is one of the keys to her successful career.
spamanager@12apostles.co.za T: +27 21 437 9266
General Manager Sales - Red Carnation Hotel Collection South Africa
Sally has extensive experience in the hospitality and travel industries, having spent the past 20 years, in various capacities, working within the Thompsons Travel Group. Most recently she has held the position of General Manager: Global Sales for Thompsons Africa and brings a wealth of skill and experience to developing both the international and domestic travel markets on behalf of the Red Carnation Hotel Group portfolio. She is integrally involved in the day to day running of the business, from formulating strategy, to the building of the brand, establishing and maintaining relationships with Clients. Based at The Oyster Box in Umhlanga, Sally is responsible for the Sales of all the Red Carnation Group’s South African operations.
sally@rchmail.co.za T: +27 31 514 5000
Sales Manager
Nicole, who has been with The Red Carnation Group for the past ten years, brings both operational and sales experience to her new role as Sales Manager. In May 2008 she was promoted to Guest Relation Manager of The Twelve Apostles Hotel, specifically looking after in a sales capacity, the Key Consortia Relationships with large corporates such as Virtuoso and American Express, before becoming Assistant Sales and Marketing manager at The Twelve Apostles Hotel in 2009. In 2010 Nicole was appointed as Sales Manager for the Red Carnation Hotel Collection over seeing all sales activities for both The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa and Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat.
nsmith@12apostles.co.za T: +27 21 437 9092
Marketing Manager - Red Carnation Hotel Collection South Africa
Jill Wagner started her career in hospitality with Southern Sun after completing Hotel School in Johannesburg at the Witwatersrand Technikon.
She joined the Southern Sun sales team in 1988 and was promoted to Regional Sales Manager/Director of Sales Inter-Continental Hotels in 1996. In 1998 she was appointed by Halcyon Hotels as Group Sales Manager in 1998.
Jill became part of the Bushmans Kloof family in 2000 as Sales and Marketing Manager, where she represented the lodge for 10 years and in 2010 she was promoted to Marketing Manager for The Red Carnation Hotel Collection South Africa.
jill@rchmail.co.za T: +27 21 481 1863