Ntebo Lesetla-Peri, the CEO of the Jezreel Group which owns the Loliwe Tourism Train concept, is taking aim at the billion-rand tourism industry.
Now in its fifth year, Loliwe Tourism Train has become synonymous with some key annual social events, including the Vodacom Durban July, Macufe Festival, Metro FM Awards and the Tourism Indaba.
What started out as an initiative to promote rail travel has spun into a successful business model and along the way earned Lesetla-Peri laurels as an innovative pioneer of this tourism initiative. The trains are owned by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA, while she owns the Loliwe Tourism Train.
Lesetla-Peri says: "There is a demand for train travel . People enjoy it because it is safe and affordable and also allows you to see the beautiful landscape of the country.
"We work together with Prasa, [leasing] their premier class trains, which are very much five-star. We do get a good reception from the public and tourists from different countries."
Lesetla-Peri, who previously worked as a journalist for 14 years with the SABC, credits her mother, who owned supermarkets and a taxi business, as the person who inspired her to enter the business world.
"I started this concept 12 years ago, back then it was [called] the Fun Train, but it faded out a little bit because of the challenge of access to funding. I stopped it a bit and then I revived it in 2011. And since then it keeps growing and booming."
The concept is specifically designed to give customers the full experience of travelling by rail.
The Vodacom Durban July round trip as one of the main calendar events costs R8800, which includes hotel stay, food and entertainment and entrance to various marquee tents at the premier racehorse event.
Another concept that is a hit for the company is the Boardroom on Wheels offered to companies for excursions and team-building exercises.
The premier class of Boardroom on Wheels operates three different routes - Johannesburg to Cape Town, Johannesburg to Durban and Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth.
Travellers can also board the train with their own vehicles so that they can have the freedom to explore on their own. This costs R3270 for a normal car and more for a 4×4 vehicle.
"We have plans to increase routes and [for] reaching out . to places like North West."
Asked why she took on such a demanding challenge, Lesetla-Peri said: "Starting a business like a B&B would have been the easy way out. But I am a dreamer, I wanted something big."
Her expansion plans also include buying luxury coaches for a shuttle service and one day even buying her own trains.
The versatile Jezreel Group includes Jezreel Media, Production & Marketing, Jezreel Logistics & Transport, Jezreel Leisure & Travel, Jezreel Training and Jezreel Properties.
The group has a full staff complement of 18.
"As a group we continue to grow. The other divisions in the group are beginning to also grow," Lesetla-Peri said.
khumelaj@sowetan.co.za
Full steam ahead
Ntebo Lesetla-Peri, the CEO of the Jezreel Group which owns the Loliwe Tourism Train concept, is taking aim at the billion-rand tourism industry.
Now in its fifth year, Loliwe Tourism Train has become synonymous with some key annual social events, including the Vodacom Durban July, Macufe Festival, Metro FM Awards and the Tourism Indaba.
What started out as an initiative to promote rail travel has spun into a successful business model and along the way earned Lesetla-Peri laurels as an innovative pioneer of this tourism initiative. The trains are owned by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA, while she owns the Loliwe Tourism Train.
Lesetla-Peri says: "There is a demand for train travel . People enjoy it because it is safe and affordable and also allows you to see the beautiful landscape of the country.
"We work together with Prasa, [leasing] their premier class trains, which are very much five-star. We do get a good reception from the public and tourists from different countries."
Lesetla-Peri, who previously worked as a journalist for 14 years with the SABC, credits her mother, who owned supermarkets and a taxi business, as the person who inspired her to enter the business world.
"I started this concept 12 years ago, back then it was [called] the Fun Train, but it faded out a little bit because of the challenge of access to funding. I stopped it a bit and then I revived it in 2011. And since then it keeps growing and booming."
The concept is specifically designed to give customers the full experience of travelling by rail.
The Vodacom Durban July round trip as one of the main calendar events costs R8800, which includes hotel stay, food and entertainment and entrance to various marquee tents at the premier racehorse event.
Another concept that is a hit for the company is the Boardroom on Wheels offered to companies for excursions and team-building exercises.
The premier class of Boardroom on Wheels operates three different routes - Johannesburg to Cape Town, Johannesburg to Durban and Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth.
Travellers can also board the train with their own vehicles so that they can have the freedom to explore on their own. This costs R3270 for a normal car and more for a 4×4 vehicle.
"We have plans to increase routes and [for] reaching out . to places like North West."
Asked why she took on such a demanding challenge, Lesetla-Peri said: "Starting a business like a B&B would have been the easy way out. But I am a dreamer, I wanted something big."
Her expansion plans also include buying luxury coaches for a shuttle service and one day even buying her own trains.
The versatile Jezreel Group includes Jezreel Media, Production & Marketing, Jezreel Logistics & Transport, Jezreel Leisure & Travel, Jezreel Training and Jezreel Properties.
The group has a full staff complement of 18.
"As a group we continue to grow. The other divisions in the group are beginning to also grow," Lesetla-Peri said.
khumelaj@sowetan.co.za
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