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Satpack Travel's radically different approach to supporting visitors to South Africa has generated considerable international television and newspaper coverage.

DR Udland Programme, Danish National Broadcaster (DENMARK), 17th March 2010

[This is edited. Full version available as a free podcast on iTunes under DR Udland.]

DESTINATIONS OF THE WORLD NEWS, May 2010

Time to celebrate (Alice Haine)

It's Africa's maiden attempt as a World Cup host and the 370,000 fans expected to attend the globe's biggest sporting event are waiting with bated breath for the kickoff on June 11.

The month-long tournament will see 32 teams compete in 10 stadiums in nine cities around South Africa. But in a nation still emerging from the shows of apartheid, the international community has been hotly debating the nation's security, transportation and hospitality efforts, and asking - is South Africa really ready?

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke believes it is. "We are confident," he says. "On security we have done the maximum we can do. When you are organising an event, you are waiting for the end, for the final, for July 12, when you can say, 'Gosh, it's over'." Valke may be wishing for the final fireworks, but for the legions of football fans set to descend on the Southern African nations, trepidation about what to expect is at a maximum. And they have every reason to be concerned as South Africa has an average murder rate of 50 a day - that tranlates into 37.3 for every 100,000 citizens per year, compared to 0.88 for the last host of the World Cup, Germany. Add in the political tensions, that saw the highly publicised murder of a white supremacist last month and it's easy to see why security is the top of the agenda.

Dr Johann Burder, a senior researcher at the Institute of Security Studies, recently carried out a study on potential security issues at the World Cup, identifying vulnerable areas such as violent, opportunist or organised crime. However, it also highlighted a low terrorism threat and the successful conclusion of several major sporting events in 2009 such as the Lions Tour and the Indian Premier League.

"The continuing high levels of violent crime such as a street robbery and other forms of aggravated robbery, if not addressed, may become a source of national embarrassment," say Burger. "However South Africa has hosted 146 major events since 1994, without major incident, and the international plan for the World Cup is more comprehensive than ever before."

South Africa has been quick to better its poor international reputation, investing US$175 million (R1.3 billion) alone in security ahead of the event. Whilst half of the 88,000-strong police force is set to patrol the stadiums and transport links, the other is assigned to public areas and 45,000 stewards will provide support.

Each of the 10 stadiums will also be home to sophisticated control centres complete with water cannons, helicopters and additional cars to combat hooliganism as well as petty crime. And the tournament will have the largest ever deployment of Interpol officers at any global event with 20 to 25 countries providing additional manpower. As well as security, the government has also made a huge investment in transport ahead of next month with US$1.5 bn (R11bn) spent on road building, airport expansions, rail links and 1,000 new buses.

Despite this effort, travel operators still advise their clients to steer clear of public transport, and with tourists in the habit of wandering off on their own, policing their movements out of the designated fan zones is a poblem.

Rob Maclean, managing director of Satpack Travel, says: "We do no recommend self-driving, public transport or local mini-bus taxies to games because of safety issues, not just because of crime, but also the high accident rates and lack of insurance. We are strongly urging clients to be more organised - you can't 'walk home', you can't hitch, you can't rely on catching a taxi and you can't leave the policed areas."

Catering to high-end clients, Maclean's travel agency offers added extras to keep clients as safe as possible, such as a satellite navigation preloaded with safe and scenic driving routes. The device is also a phone with e-mail and internet access to that the agency can keep in touch during the trip, but more importantly to allow tourists to get help during an emergency.

"It's a bit like a virtual concierge with a GPS that will keep them away from dangerous areas.," add Maclean. "The device has its own panic button, which sends us an alert that they they are in trouble as well as their location. While we don't want to scare our clients - we believe South Africa's reputation for crime risk is far worse than the reality - we do provice a list of tips before they come."

Maclean's travel packages target tourists who want to combine their love of fooball with a South African adventure holiday, but for die-hard fans flying in purely to catch some of the action on the pitch, there are still a number of reasonably priced options in the luxury sectory.

In Cape Town, one of the main cirites on the event's agenda with four out of five fans expected to visit, the city's tourism leaders have signed a Code of Responsible Pricing to combat the damaging international perceptions of South Africa as an overpriced destination. "The code is important," says Mariette du Toit-Helmbol, Cape Town Tourism CEO. "The industry is eager to enure that Cape Town's good reputation is not spoiled by greedy individuals out to capitalise on a few weeks at the expense of a responsible sector. We realise that scamsters and opportunists are going to try and make a buck out of the World Cup. To avoid ending up with fake tickets of becoming the victim of a booking scam, we advise people to make sure they booked through an accredited source."

The City will host eight games in its brand new US$592m (R4.4bn) Cape Town Stadium, including a semi-final, and will offer numerous transport options including special shuttle buses, pedestrian-only fan zones and four viewing areas during the games.

But despite their concentrated efforts and worries of accommodation shortages, not all of the city's luxury hotels have reached maximum capacity for the games. "We did a snap survey of 10 of the leading hotels in greater Cape Town and found that three of the properties are fully booked for the duration of the World Cup," says du Toit-Helmbo. "These properties are located within walking distance of Cape Town Stadium and in most of the cases have been contracted for the FIFA family. Other luxury hotels report a strong trend towards being fully booked over match days."

At One&Only Cape Town, an urban waterfront resort, which boasts restaurants by celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsey and Nobuyuki 'Nobu', general manager, Tony Lee Rober, says preparations are complete and they are on track for 100% occupancy. "Our staff compliment during the tournament will meet the levels required to operate at 100 per cent room occupancy," says Romer. "The majority of guest staying during the World Cup have bought all-inclusive tour packages via Match (the official hospitality organisers for the World Cup), which include transfers to and from the airport and fames with authorised tour operators."

There is similar news from the Hilton group who also report high booking levels. At the Hilton Sandton in Johannesburg, staff are preparing to host the Dutch National Team, however, the high-profile guests to not faze general manager Axel Houser. "As the Hilton Sandton runs at high occupancy throughout the year, the hotel is always fully prepared and ready for their guests," he explains. "The only difference with the team arriving in June is that the culinary team at the hotel are working closely with the Dutch team nutritionists to ensure that the dietary requirements of the Dutch National team are met."

But travel agent Maclean says luxury hotels aren't being entirely upfront with many of their last-minute clients. "There is plenty of accommodation still available, especially in the luxury market and this includes Cape Town and Johannesburg during very popular games," he says. "In fact there is more availability now than six months ago because many hotels thought they had sold all their rooms to Match, FIFA or large tour operators, but these organisations recently gave many of their rooms back. The market has been flooded with unsold rooms and the initial attitude of many hotels of increasing prices for the World Cup, some would say profiteering, has back-fired because they are now left with distressed inventory at the same time as everyone else."

Unsold rooms and conerns over security and transportation are all big issues but how will South Africa gains from bosting such a contentious event? "The World Cup is an important catalyst for economic growth, but also for marketing our country and building civic pride," add du Toit-Helmbol. "We have focused on in-destination activations to ensure that visitors to the World Cup have unforgettable experiences and leave our country as brand ambassadors."

So is the nation excited?

"So much of the international coverage South Africa has been so negative, unjustifiably and, in some cases, almost slanderously so, that the vast majority of South Africans cannot wait to demonstrate their hospitality and prove everyone wrong," says Maclean.

And to all those doubters whol are still apprehensive about the tournament, FIFA President Joseph Blatter has one message: "We're not going to war. This is a celebration we're talking about."

THE DAILY EXPRESS (UK), 3rd December 2009

World Cup Chaos (Adrian Lee)

......Rob Maclean, 32, Briton based in Johannesburg where he runs Satpack Travel, a bespoke tour company [says] "there is no doubt that crime is a concern but the perception is a lot worse than the reality" he insists. "The vast majority happens in poor, under-privileged neighbourhoods, although some of the stadia are in quite nasty areas. You certainly shouldn't wander around - there are frequently no pavements for one thing - and there are places you shouldn't drive. For safety resons I wouldn't put a client on an inter-city train. Driving is a better option, but the distances between World Cup venues are huge. Cape Town to Johannesburg is a 15-hour drive. There are budget airlines but the flights will be expensive". For the World Cup he's offering customers satnav devices which will guide fans away from the dangerous routes. Maclean insists: "People should come to South Africa. The whole country is excited about the World Cup and visitors will be warmly welcomed".....

THE SUN (THE UK'S LARGEST SELLING DAILY NEWSPAPER), 24th October 2009

Touring southern Africa by car just got easier - thanks to new concept called "satpacking" (Lisa Minot)

Specialists Satpack Travel's new service combines satellite navigation technology with local expertise to offer personalised trips on a pre-programmed device.

Rob Maclean, of Satpack Travel, said: "Southern Africa's great road network lends itself perfectly to exploring by car. However, the region's reputation for high crime levels has made many travellers wary.

"Our easy-to-use handset gives security-conscious travellers confidence to get away from the major highways and overpriced tourist hotspots to explore the real South Africa."

Prices for the full Satpack Travel service - including itinerary booking and advice before and through the holiday - start from £15 per day (£17 including insurance).

Click here to see the full article.

www.discountvouchers.co.uk. 10th September 2009.

New Sat Nav technology to modernize car hire in South Africa (Natasha Redman)

UK travelers planning a trip to South Africa can now experience a whole new dimension in their car hire sat nav.

Satpack Travel has introduced a new satellite navigation technology that brings a new edge to exploring South Africa by rented vehicle.

By combining regular sat nav operations with travel information and advice, the ‘Satpacking’ system offers travelers an opportunity to enhance their travel experience by discovering options and attractions they otherwise might have missed.

Travelling with Satpack will be akin to having a personal tour guide on board, with a wealth of local knowledge at hand every step of the way. With this system, customers have the advantage of discovering this beautiful country at their leisure, while also having expert guidance to steer them out of any problems they may encounter.

Satpack Travel ensures that the system is constantly updated so travelers have the most updated, relevant information. The company also offers tailor-made programmes to suit the interests of the individual customer.

Satpacking should prove a boon to the many football fans heading to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup.
Demand for car hire during this time is likely to skyrocket, and the satpack system will come as a major help to visitors wanting to linger in favourite spots, steer off the beaten track and explore the country in a more personal way.

Click here to see the full article

www.limobroker.co.uk. 10th September 2009.

Car Hire in South Africa gets a boost from new technology

Those looking for car hire whilst holidaying in South Africa may be in for a pleasant surprise. One car hire company has engineered a new form of satellite navigation system with a twist which will enable customers to experience all this fascinating country has to offer.

The technology, known as Satpacking, was introduced by the owner of Satpack Travel and has been fitted in a selection of their hire vehicles. The device uses a combination of customary satellite navigation technology with some travel tips and advice gleamed from the inventor’s extensive local knowledge. It will offer car hire customers a greater range of opportunities during their travel and enable them to make discoveries they otherwise wouldn’t have. The Satpack is designed to be like having your own personal tour guide on hand at all times.

This vast country is best explored via car hire. Visitors can enjoy the freedom of the open road but at the same time, have the Satpack system which offers assurance should a customer encounter difficulties. With the Football World Cup 2010 fast approaching South Africa is bracing itself for a huge influx of visitors. Demand for car hire is likely to be high and the Satpack technology is guaranteed to enhance the car hire experience.

The Satpack system is continually updated to ensure its information is current and relevant. The team at Satpack Travel even offer to create a bespoke programme to incorporate points of particular interest to an individual customer. Instead of taking the fastest route, take the scenic route and make the most of your car hire in South Africa.

Click here to see the full article

www.121carhire.com. 10th September 2009.

Electronic tour guide fitted in rental car (Michael Bond)

Of all the new gimmicks offered now when customers hire cars, satellite navigation systems are always a good call if people are not familiar with the area. Wrong turns can always lead to arguments within families, which is not always the best way to start a holiday. However a sat-nav is not always great when you are trying to find a tourist attraction and sometimes beautiful sites can be missed just because people were not aware they were there.

A possible worldwide first is occurring at one car hire company in South Africa that have introduced their own unique navigation system. The new gadget is called Satpacking and is the brain child of Satpack Travel in South Africa. It encompasses the current satellite navigation that most use, but has the added extra of an onboard tour guide without taking up valuable space in the car.

The machine will give travelling tips to the people in the car as well as letting them know when they are coming close to something they may want to see. All the knowledge has been inputted into the device by the inventor who has hoards of information just itching to get out. With the 2010 World Cup gearing up next year this could be the perfect time to launch such a service to give the fans something to do between matches and let them explore a lot more than just the football grounds.

Click here to see the full article

www.comparecarhire.co.uk. 8th September 2009.

South Africa Pioneers new Satpack Hire Car technology (Wes Lane)

Tourists who hire cars in South Africa are set to benefit a new navigational system known as Satpacking, which provides an extra layer of security for those on self-driving holidays.

The brainchild of local operator Satpack Travel, the innovation uses personalised travel tips, local knowledge and satellite navigation technology to allow the driver the best information and route maps to make their trip to the republic a memorable, and safe, one.

Though the rental car market in South Africa has declined in line with most nations so far this year, the 2010 Football World Cup will see unprecedented numbers of arrivals, and car hire demand looks set to explode. For anyone considering making the trip to see the event now is a good time to begin making inquiries and doing some research.

South Africa has an extensive road network and is one of the best countries to explore by car or van. It’s huge range of natural parks, notorious recent history and bustling cities are a drivers dream, albeit one that is traditionally etched with danger.

The country, football aside, features eight world heritage sites and tourist hot-spots such as Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The game reserves also attract scores of travellers each year, most however, wary of the high crime rate in the country which has proved such a deterrent for car travel in the past, which is where Satpack hopes to corner the market.

The Satpack technology combines up-to-date information provided by the travel agency arm of the company to create personalised itineraries for hirers, and the team at the agency is always on call by email or phone. The local knowledge of the staff enables destinations to be planned whereby tourists can see the most on offer, rather than the traditional fastest route approach. Satpack staff claim the fastest route from A to B is normally not the most scenic or safest.

Staff can also assist with restaurant bookings and road information ahead, reducing stress which has long been a major cause of accidents.

Staff have claimed that they represent the new hire car philosophy of becoming a virtual concierge.

Click here to see the full article