By Sibongile Mkani and Lauren Haworth

Bed and breakfast facilities and guest houses are becoming more popular than hotels as the elite opt for the private and personal feel.

One of the elite’s favourite B&Bs in East London is 14th Green Guest Lodge in Bunkers Hill, which recently hosted ANC president Jacob Zuma and DA leader Helen Zille.

The guest lodge’s marketing manager Leon Delport said their customers prefer the convenience of smaller spaces, as opposed to being in busy hotels.

“Most people, quite simply, want privacy, the personal touch and a place that looks and feels like home,” said Delport.

He said some of their guests included former president Thabo Mbeki, Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni, European Union consultants and the leading executives of Daimler AG from Germany.

Delport added that their guests also enjoy one-on-one interaction with the owners and managers, who take it upon themselves to make sure the guests are satisfied.

“It is easier for a guest to approach the owner of a guest house when the element of ‘home away from home’ is evident,” Delport said.

Tidewaters B&B in Gonubie has experienced a similar popularity, primarily when large events were held in East London .

Manager Antoinette Gerber said most of their guests were more comfortable with the B&B set-up because it offered them privacy and security.

“B&Bs offer that personal touch and guests feel like they are at home,” said Gerber.

She said they were fully booked for an entire week during the ANC manifesto launch, and again during the week of the Africa Golf Open.

Buffalo City Tourism’s managing director, Peter King, said B&Bs were generally cheaper than hotels. “One has more flexibility and personal attention, and you get to know the people of the area better. They are often more convenient for business travellers,” he said.

King confirmed the B&B owners’ opinions regarding the increasingly diverse yet simple guest preferences.

“The customer has more privacy and personal space, and therefore more security. A VIP can secure the whole B&B, but he cannot secure the whole hotel,” said King.

Delport said aside from the fact that B&Bs now offer everything that a hotel does in the same grading criteria, they also create an environment where friendships are created between guests and the owners.

Although occupancy in hotels has not declined in fact there has been growth a wider variety of people prefer the privacy and peace found in smaller luxury establishments.

Garden Court Guest Lodge assistant general manager Trevor Philander said they had a 95 percent occupancy rate during the work week, and generally the beachfront was fully booked from Monday to Thursday.

“Our business has remained stable throughout December, January and the whole economic crisis,” Philander said.

Source: Daily Dispatch