CUSTOMER SERVICE NETS NATIONAL AWARDS FOR THE PLANTATION

The team from The Plantation with their awards

Popular Port Elizabeth wedding venue and NMBT member, The Plantation, was the recipient of two prestigious awards during August, having scooped the top place in the People’s Choice Elite Wedding Venue category of the 2015 Top Vendor Wedding Awards, as well as a Diamond Arrow award from PMR Africa for companies doing the most in their sectors to stimulate economic growth in the Eastern Cape.

The Top Vendor Wedding Awards is a national competition, which recognises excellence in the wedding industry. The Plantation was the only PE finalist among South Africa’s elite wedding venues.

Sarah Dirsuwei, co-owner of the Plantation attributes the venue’s success to their absolute dedication to exceeding their customers’ expectations. “The Plantation is so much more than a beautiful looking venue – our philosophy is to treat every person coming through our gates as royalty, and we ensure that our weddings and functions are a success by making sure that every guest has a good time, from start to finish.”

“We also dedicate a lot of time and effort to assisting our brides in planning their weddings. Many of our clients are not from Port Elizabeth, and travel to The Plantation specifically for their weddings. It can be very stressful to plan your big day from afar, and we make sure they enjoy the process by assisting them every step of the way.”

Thousands of guests travel to PE to attend weddings at The Plantation, and this boosts the local tourism industry with the need for accommodation, dining, transport and entertainment. It also uplifts the wedding industry with brides needing dresses, cakes, photographers, musicians, beauty treatments and honeymoons.

PMR Africa’s annual awards recognise companies and institutions for their brand awareness, corporate governance and contribution to the local economy. The Plantation was awarded a Diamond Arrow in the Wedding Venues category, for being rated first overall and scoring an outstanding result during PMR Africa’s survey of 115 business owners, company directors and managers and senior local and national government officials based in the Eastern Cape.

The Plantation is a family owned and run business that has hosted thousands of weddings and functions since opening in 2006, and has been the recipient of multiple awards over the years, including being voted as SA’s best wedding venue for four years running in the Bride’s Choice Awards and being awarded a prestigious Welcome Award from SA Tourism. It is renowned for its magical forest setting, elegant ballroom, fine food and superb service.

“We are so grateful for our fantastic customers and incredibly talented and dedicated team of staff, and look forward to continuing to delight our guests, and attracting more business from around South Africa and internationally”, concludes Dirsuwei