Zesty Zeiss takes tourism far and wide

FOR years entrepreneur Santa Zeiss has walked the extra mile for tourism - literally.

Owner of Brochure Management South Africa, Zeiss, has covered thousands of kilometres distributing more than 20 million brochures and pamphlets, since she started out on her own in 2000 when she bought the rights as a franchisee, serving the Eastern Cape region.

She is this month’s Walking the Extra Tourism Mile nominee.

“It brings me a lot of joy to see another woman as passionate about promoting Nelson Mandela Bay as I am. Santa has made her name in tourism, starting off with one franchise and making it in the big league. What makes her so deserving of the nomination, is that she has never forgotten or failed to be an ambassador for the city,” said Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) chief executive Mandlakazi Skefile.

Walking the Extra Tourism Mile is an NMBT initiative that acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of people and organisations in the industry.

Zeiss’s passion and motivation towards tourism is unflinching. Imvaba caught up with her in her Richmond Hill office,  “Working with like-minded individuals who share my passion for the city, the province and tourism is what inspires me. That is besides the beauty of our city.

“Having travelled fairly widely, I can honestly say that Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape are the best places in the world. Tourism, be it business, international, medical or special interest tourism, is the best way to encourage visitors to share all our city and province have to offer.”

Brochure Management SA, a member of the International Association of Professional Brochure Distributors, is the country’s leading brochure distribution company, and, thanks to Zeiss the national company is now based right here in Nelson Mandela Bay. In 2009, Zeiss bought Brochure Management South Africa, which consists of 16 franchises throughout the country.

The staff complement has grown from her working alone to the current nine employees throughout the Eastern Cape.

Zeiss’s daughter, Angela Newton, joined the team in 2011, “I love sharing my passion for tourism with her and she has extensive experience in marketing and product life-cycle management. She is also strong on customer relationship management.”

Nominate someone
If you know of people or organisations in the tourism industry in the region who, like Zeiss, go beyond the call of duty, then let NMBT know so that they can be considered as nominees in the Walking the Extra Tourism Mile initiative.

Candidates must be nominated before the 20th of each month. A winner will be selected who The winner will receive exposure in the Imvaba newsletter, syndicated to over 2 000 readers, on the NMBT Facebook page and are in the running for the overall title, announced at the final NMBT membership meeting

Send all Walking the Extra Tourism Mile nominations to Reuann Smith at membership@nmbt.co.za or phone 041 582 2575 before the 20th of each month.