South Africa has seen a boost in its tourism, thanks in part to the Tollman family, native South Africans who are in the travel company and hotel business, owning several landmark hotels and successful hotel management companies around the world. Their keen business management and hotelier know-how has helped South Africa rebuild its blossoming tourism industry into a global force to be reckoned with. Founder and Chairman, Eighty-year old Stanley Tollman, the Tollman family patriarch.
Stanley Tollman recently celebrated his 80th birthday at The Travel Corporation’s International Sales Conference for 2010. The weeklong October event was attended by more than 350 delegates, managers, salespeople, executives working for The Travel Corporation, Tollman’s large travel company overseeing over 25 brands. The event was a giant leap forward for South Africa with the introduction of a two-year alliance to develop marketing and promotion for TTC’s Destination South Africa, a program developed to further grow the tourism industry in Tollman’s native region.
Tollman’s attendance was a meaningful contribution to the conference because of his knowledge and experience in the travel business and his commitment to South Africa.
A devoted giver, Tollman capped off the significant success of the conference held in his homeland for the first time by making generous donations to five distinct South African charities including the ‘Make a Difference Foundation’, run by Francois Pienaar, former captain of the team that won the Rugby World Cup in 1995.
At least three generations of Tollman’s family are involved in the hotel business, which has seen more and more success since Tollman’s parents owned their own hotel in Johannesburg in the Forties. When Tollman began building up his own hotel, he brought his wife Bea into the mix and she managed the hotel’s five-star restaurant. Later, Bea would go on to run The Travel Corporation’s Red Carnation company, which owns hotels across the world in areas like South Africa and Geneva, Switzerland.
Stanley Tollman founded The Travel Corporation, an international travel management company made up of over 25 brands including Red Carnation, Trafalgar Tours, Contiki Holidays, African Travel, and more. While TTC provides tour options, leisure vacations and other tourist opportunities throughout five continents, in South Africa alone, the corporation owns one of Capetown’s premiere hotels The Twelve Apostles. The business also encompasses some of South Africa’s best companies for tourism including Thompson’s Tours, Thompson’s South Africa, Pentravel, Manex.
The 2010 TTC conference, which broke ground for South Africa tourism, also gave out awards to leaders from their companies, who made an impact through their specific travel organization led by The Travel Corporation. Already considered a pioneer in tourism, Stanley Tollman had his own award. The Stanley Tollman Award is for a leader who exemplifies Tollman’s vision of a successful travel business with poise, passion, and devotion. “He is a reflection of everything The Travel Corporation stands for,” Tollman says. Upon winning the award, John Boulding, President and CEO of Insight Vacations said he used Tollman’s spirit and hard work as the fuel to inspire him. For Boulding, Tollman and his family is the reason behind Insight’s business success.
Further Reading:
Stanley Tollman - Founder and Chairman of the Travel Corporation
