Bad Ball Ballistics

Several players are going all out against the new World Cup ball, with more than one comparing it to those bought at a supermarket.
And this time it's not only goalkeepers who are complaining. Strikers, defenders and midfielders are also lashing out at the Adidas ball just a few days before the month-long tournament is to begin.
The ball is called Jabulani, which means 'to celebrate' in isiZulu, but not many are celebrating it so far.
It's hard to find a player who is happy with it, and those who don't like it are not saving adjectives to describe their feelings.

SOCCER BALL CAR in Hermanus

Nissan Overberg have a stunning "soccer ball" car - Well Done, guys, this is what the World Cup "GEES" is all about.

We hope all businesses in the Cape Whale Coast will celebrate the Soccer World Cup with us and have FUN while they decorate their offices and cars.

Watch this space for more Soccer GEES!

Challenge : Best Dressed World Cup Business

Southern Stroll Marketing Challenges all the businesses in the Cape Whale Coast to show their World Cup GEES.
We look forward to seeing the SA Flag (and the 31 others) adorn your buildings, cars, etc.

Calling businesses from Kleinmond - Hermanus - Stanford - Gansbaai : We are looking for the Best Dressed World Cup Business in the Cape Whale Coast!

Let's celebrate the World Cup 2010 and have FUN, FUN, FUN so we can tempt the world that are watching, to visit us very soon!

Best Pitch We Have

Cape Town Stadium has the best pitch of all the 2010 soccer World Cup venues, Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke said on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the ceremonial handover of the 68 000 seater stadium to the world soccer body ahead of the start of the tournament.

"It's definitely the best pitch we have during all this World Cup, if you compare with all the other stadiums," he said. "I'm sorry for the other stadiums, but it's a fact."

Jabulani, As Unique As Us

Dubbed Jabulani the ball forms part of a growing pedigree of World Cup footballs that now spans four decades.
The ball consists of an outer polyurethane coat and three inner layers, which mutually complement one another with their different ‘Adicron’ structures. These are intended to ensure the ball’s resistance, ability to retain its shape and its waterproof properties.
Responding to Engineering News questions, a FIFA spokesperson says that Adidas is the undisputed technology leader when it comes to official match balls. The sports equipment firm has introduced innovations such as the use of colour, syntactic materials, new panel shapes and seamless bonding for many past World Cups.

Eleven different colours are used in Jabulani because it is the eleventh Adidas World Cup ball. These colours also represent the 11 players in every team, the 11 official languages of South Africa and the 11 South African tribes that make the country one of the most ethnologically diverse countries on the African continent.
The final game in Jo’burg will have a unique ball for a unique event called Jo’bulani. It looks like Jabulani, but the pattern colour is gold because Johannesburg is the city of gold.

Floating Hotels Snubbed

The two luxury cruise ships, Noordam and Westerdam among the most luxurious in the world, were to have docked in Cape Town during the 2010 world cup. The idea was to use them as floating hotels and dilute the Cape's tourism income. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for us locals these plans have been cancelled due to a lack of interest and bookings.

Accommodation on the ships would have cost up to R71 000 per person sharing a five-night package.

Landlords Are A Tenacious Lot

The centrepiece of a R66-billion complex intended to redefine the Las Vegas resort experience, opened Monday 17th May 2010 with a lavish private party and fireworks.
Aria is the glass-sheathed Cesar Pelli-designed 4,004 room hotel at the heart of CityCenter, a 67 acre complex of hotels, condominiums and retail on the Las Vegas Strip.
President Barack Obama is tentatively scheduled to tour the complex on December 23 en route to his Christmas holiday in Hawaii.
Still, MGM Mirage faces other challenges with CityCenter, which adds about 6,000 new hotel rooms to a market that already has 141,000 and has seen occupancy reside in the low 80% range for most of 2009.
The Las Vegas economy has suffered its worst downturn since gambling was legalized in the 1930s. Visitation slumped to 35 million in 2009, down from a record 39,2 million in 2007 and the destination's lowest count since 1999.
Room rates now average R718 per night, 23% lower than the 2008 average, according to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. And 2008 was 10% below 2007.

So, it is quite evident that the hospitality industry is taking strain, and South Africa is no exception. All the more reason to have a profesional marketing campaign up your sleeve.

Talking to a few local guesthouse owners and hotel managers recently, it is evident that they are a tenacious lot and are optimistic about occupancy rates for the near future.

"Bring them on, I say."

Is There Life After 2010?

Sebb’s circus has come and gone, your bottom line is not looking as rosy as what you anticipated and you’re fatigued. The medical term for this ailment is: Post FIFA Stress Syndrome or PFSS… Like a deflated party balloon. Whilst not being an ailment that is fatal, irritate me once more and it might just prove to be so.

Many South Africans will be licking their financial wounds and wondering why on earth they over-capitalized on this single major opportunity to make the quick buck. Spare a thought for those who approached their friendly bank managers with this ‘dead-cert’ or those who forfeited their annual holiday to have costly renovations done to their properties in order to cash-in on this cash-cow.

So, where to from here are you asking? Let’s lift ourselves up, dust ourselves off and press on. And it goes without saying, “Always look on the bright side of life.”

It’s going to be the end of July and it will be the perfect time for you to plan your attack while the rest of South Africa is recouping from the dreaded PFSS. Now is the time to call in the marketing specialists to give a candid report on your establishment’s marketing health and how to improve that bottom line.

And ponder: ‘The old girl did need that lick of paint now didn’t she?’

Is there life after 2010? You Betcha.

Rent A Local Friend

Live the local spirit with a local friend!
Experiencing a new town with a local friend makes us feel at home. It brings us the confidence of making the right choices, so we can relax and enjoy the local spirit.

Now, if you don’t have a local friend at your travel destination, you can always rent one!
Your local host will design and propose a personalized itinerary based on cool and charming places to visit, according to your personal interests.

We Are Ready

When South Africa was chosen to host the 2010 World Cup and Cape Town needed a new stadium, a group of Fifa officials flew over the city, pointed to a golf course on Green Point and said: “Build it there.”
Two years later, the golf course has been moved and the new Cape Town Stadium is ready for action.
Built in natural colours to avoid sun-bleaching, its backdrop is Table Mountain and you have to admit, FIFA bigwigs got this one spot-on. If there’s a better setting for a football stadium anywhere in the world, then I’d love to see it.

Praises Heaped On Fairest Cape

The international press is singing South Africa's praises ahead of the World Cup and most of the bouquets are directed at Cape Town.

All the major international media outlets are featuring World Cup stories every day, focusing on South Africa as both a travel and a football destination.

Crime is a concern for many tourists visiting South Africa, but the Sydney Morning Herald this week wrote that despite 50 murders per day, British tourists had "a greater chance of becoming hospitalised in Thailand, Greece, Egypt or India".

Good to hear some positive feedback for a change and keep it up...

Argus, Sunday edition.

Top 10 Trips In South Africa During World Cup

Weighing in at #3 on the UK Daily Mirror Top 10 list is Hermanus.

Football fans seeking off-pitch action will find lots to do.. from whale-watching to wine-tasting.
There is nowhere better for whale-watching than Hermanus, at the eastern end of the Garden Route.
A cliff path winds from one side of the town to the other and whales come so close they can be seen in the small bays. They begin arriving in May and can be regularly seen until late autumn.

Take Your Shirt Off

Show your enthusiasm for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ by wearing a football shirt to work, school or college every Friday. Join with other companies to get employees excited about the biggest sporting show on earth.

Bafana Bafana A quick history.

Vuvuzela SA's football trumpet.

Makarapa SA fans' crafted mine helmet.

Not too sure on whether I want the R97 shirt or do I take the shirt off my back to purchase the R1200 jobbie...

Tourism Tsunami Travels to Hermanus and CWC

A giant wave of excitement is about to break over us soon.

The towns of the Cape Whale Coast area have been warned to brace themselves for another ‘first’ experience.

A unique ‘GeoCache Treasure Hunt’ is being planned specifically for tour operators and travel agents.
These leaders of the travel industry will be introduced to our tourism hot-spots in the most exciting manner imaginable, in order to showcase our ‘treasures’.
More on this giant wave of adventure soon.

We Survived INDABA 2010

Southern Stroll Marketing enjoyed participating at INDABA once again in Durban. After 4 days of appointments, renewing old friendships (and having some fun), we are pleased to be "back in the office".

We would like to thank all our loyal and supportive tour operators, travel agents and corporates that have contributed to a great year during such a difficult financial period. We look forward to working with you all again during 2010 / 2011.

See you all at INDABA in 2011!

Learn The Moves

Fly The Flag and Find the Rhythm

Play the interactive Diski Dance game at www.southafrica.net/2010 Click on 'Find the Rhythm' and you will be hooked.

Let The Games Begin

Every cent of invested in the infrastructure ahead of the 2010 World Cup equips the South African economy to grow into the future, says Monhla Hlahla, CEO, ACSA. Read more.

INDABA Daily News, 10 May 2010

Indaba To Be Blown Away

Indaba will come to a loud standstill on Monday, May 10 at noon when about 10 000 delegates are set to gather outside the Indaba precinct to blow vuvuzelas, fly South African flags and celebrate a month to kickoff of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The mass celebration of the tourism industry will take place outside the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban.

Delegates will begin gathering from about 11h30. Each will be given a temporary tattoo of the South African flag to apply to their faces. A limited number of flags and vuvuzelas will be handed out. At the stroke of noon, delegates will blow their vuvuzelas, wave their flags and celebrate the imminence of the World Cup, and the significance of the event for destination South Africa.

Diski Dance 'Til We Drop

Experience the vibe of South Africa.

A World Cup like no other and never again.

Appreciate the extravagance our country has generously bestowed upon us and ponder...

'If I dance, will I have food on my plate tonight?'

It's Good For You

Our local Spar franchise has gotten into the spirit of World Cup 2010. And about time too...Now how about the rest of Hermanus following suit.

Grant Thornton is trying to put a positive spin on the tourism benefit of the World Cup, by claiming that the average length of stay now is 18 days as opposed to 14 days as estimated originally, and that the average spend per trip would be R 30 200 as opposed to the originally estimated R 22 000. On average, international soccer fans will watch 5 World Cup matches, as opposed to the 3 previously estimated.

Like I've said before, "As long as the tourists don't soft footie past the Cape Whale Coast."

Go Green You Greedy Global Giants

We've all seen the outrageous images: a monstrous oil spill is gushing 200,000 gallons of crude a day into the Gulf of Mexico. Before the spill, U.S. President Obama and Congressional leaders were planning to ramp up offshore drilling. Now, with the spill, the politics have shifted - and an opportunity has opened for the world's biggest historical climate polluter to shift away from oil and towards climate-safe energy sources.

In other words: Hands off any sensitive area we care for.

Porter Plans a Party

The BIO DIVERSITY FESTIVAL 2010 is a collaboration between Birdlife Overberg, SANBI, Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa, National Biodiversity Institute, Birding Western Cape and the National Botanical Harold Porter Gardens and many other orginisations - this is set to be a VERY big treat.
Filled with beauty, science, walks, hikes, lectures, talks, displays, natural wonder, animals, birds, fauna and flora, food, great people, botanical nursery and thirst quenchers - It is just jammed packed with lots and LOTS of interesting stuff!! And for these two days only, entrance into the Gardens will be for FREE !!

Start Time: Friday, May 28, 2010 at 8:30am
End Time: Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 4:00pm
Location: Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens - Betty's Bay

Let Us Show You How...

Shark Alley Shows Us How

Jaws gaping with razor-sharp teeth bared, the great white shark launches after the tuna bait and smacks into the metal cage holding a row of wetsuit-clad tourists.
The group surfaces with whoops and a few stunned expletives, after the giant hunter circles away in the chilly waters known as Shark Alley off Gansbaai, 160 kilometres from Cape Town.
The small town tags and pride's itself as the world's great white shark capital, with an adrenaline-fuelled cage diving industry that is reporting doubled bookings during the month-long World Cup, which starts on June 11.

Playing Disc Jockey...

Playing DJ today to get Joan-Anne's CD's burned, labeled and ready for Indaba.
Burn, Baby, Burn...

Why You Should Attend INDABA 2010
As we continue to say over, and over again – this year’s INDABA is going to be an incredible event where product-owners get to showcase their products to the international media in a big way AND where the media will get all the inside info on SA’s hot new attractions, establishments and experiences.
Representatives from South African Tourism are hugely positive about this event for many reasons. Sugen Pillay, SAT’s Global Manager for Events says, ‘INDABA is our flagship travel trade show and Africa’s top travel show. It hosts approximately 12 000 international visitors from the trade, media and consumer so it is the principal communications platform in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.’ Read more.

Whale Hunting To Return?

Recently a proposal was unveiled that could legalize commercial whale hunting for the first time in 24 years. The fate of the proposal will be determined largely by the world's immediate reactions to it - and according to insiders, many governments are planning to stand aside and allow commercial whaling to resume. An outcry is needed now to ensure they stand strong to save the whales.
Avaaz has launched a last-moment petition to show our leaders their people want to protect whales, not hunt, kill, and sell them. The petition will be sent to the delegates to the International Whaling Commission every time we raise another 100,000 signatures.
To register your signature, visit - http://www.avaaz.org/en/whales_under_threat_5/?vl

Hermanus, The Adventure Capital

Our eager participants were treated to archery lessons and the only tree top gliding track in the Western Cape. The longest span being more than 110 metres. Just look how this little kiddie is watching her bigger sister aim the arrow. Too cute for words...

GeoCache Goes Gaga

Hermanus Wine Village kindly hosted the start and end points for our 2010 Autumn GeoCache Adventure Day. The fortunate participants were treated to a day jam packed with adventure from start to finish. So packed with fun that a few teams had to return to the Wine Village without completing the entire course. A huge Thank You goes to all who sponsored and helped on the day.