| Thu 5 Nov 2009, 15:03 | | CLH - City Lodge Hotels Limited - Change to board - Hans Enderle - City Lodge |
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CLH
CLH
CLH - City Lodge Hotels Limited - Change to board - Hans Enderle - City Lodge
Hotels` founder - to stand down as non-executive chairman with effect from
August 1, 2010
City Lodge Hotels Limited
"City Lodge"
(Reg. No. 1986/002864/06)
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Share Code: CLH ISIN Code: ZAE000117792
CHANGE TO BOARD - HANS ENDERLE - CITY LODGE HOTELS` FOUNDER - TO STAND DOWN AS
NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN WITH EFFECT FROM AUGUST 1, 2010
Hans Enderle, the City Lodge Hotels group`s founder, announced at the company`s
annual general meeting held earlier today that he will stand down from his
position as Non-Executive Chairman with effect from August 1, 2010, exactly 25
years after the group opened its first hotel.
The group`s board of directors will over the next few months decide on a
successor to Enderle, who has held the position since 2003. He was Executive
Chairman between 1994 and 2003 and Managing Director between 1985 and 1994.
Swiss-born Enderle, who came to South Africa in 1966, founded the group in 1985
with the Mines Pension Fund as his major partner.
The first City Lodge - City Lodge Randburg (now City Lodge Bryanston) was opened
on August 1, 1985. Today, there are 44 hotels in the group offering 4,989 rooms
across the Courtyard, City Lodge, Town Lodge and Road Lodge brands. There are
currently eight new hotels under construction in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Port
Elizabeth and Bloemfontein.
"By the time August 1, 2010 comes round, these will have been the most exciting
and most rewarding 25 years of my business life," said Enderle, commenting on
his decision to step down as Non-Executive Chairman.
"After 15 years with Holiday Inns, where I ended up as Chairman and Managing
Director, I had the opportunity to launch this new concept of Selected Services
Hotels and naming it City Lodge, on August 1, 1985, Swiss National Day."
City Lodge Hotels has come a long way since 1985. In that year, its net profit
was R35,000 compared to R236 million in the year to 30 June 2009.
Under Enderle`s guidance, the group`s four brands have become well recognized
and are the preferred accommodation option for many business and leisure
travelers, both domestic and foreign.
"The group is in a very strong position today ably led by Chief Executive,
Clifford Ross, Financial Director, Andrew Widegger, and a strong and committed
management team and a very loyal staff," added Enderle.
"Our employees every day live and deliver our vision of "People Caring For
People" to our guests throughout South Africa."
Enderle also paid tribute to the group`s board of directors for continuing to
provide strategic direction and highlighted the group`s strong and innovative
Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment credentials which include share ownership
by the group`s staff and the University of Johannesburg`s School of Tourism and
Hospitality.
"The happiest period of my involvement with City Lodge was in 1995 when the
opening of the first Road Lodge was celebrated, the four-brand strategy was
launched through the purchase of Courtyard, and when 3.9% of the equity of the
company was allocated to all our employees through the 10th Anniversary Trust."
As the current biggest single shareholder in the group with 10.6% of its equity,
Enderle says he will remain "very interested" in the group and its progress.
Paying tribute to Enderle, City Lodge Chief Executive, Clifford Ross, said:
"City Lodge would be nothing today without Hans Enderle`s foresight, vision,
leadership and determination to succeed. The group and the country owes him a
huge debt of gratitude for what he has done for the tourism and hospitality
industries in South Africa."
"Hans has been my mentor, role-model and friend for the past 25 years and the
life lessons which have been learnt from him over the years will be part of the
ethos and culture of the City Lodge group going forward."
Bryanston
5 November 2009
Sponsor
JP Morgan Equities Limited
Date: 05/11/2009 15:03:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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