Seventh Sense Travel

Placement organization

Name of organization: Seventh Sense Travel
Town/city: Cape Town
Country: Zuid-Afrika
Website: http://www.seventh-sense.co.za/

Name of student: Elizabeth Clark

Specialist area: ITMC
Placement period: 2014-2015

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Destination Management Company (Tour Operator )
Organization’s activities: 7th Sense is divided into 2 departments: MICE and FIT. MICE is an abbreviation for four different activities: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events. Tasks include conceptualisation of the event theme, budget management, venue selection, supplier procurement, registration and planning, arranging transportation, logistical support and on and on site management. FIT (Foreign individual / independent traveller) on the other hand deals with leisure travel and is aimed at free independent travellers. Within this department a complete tailor-made trip is designed for the client from start to finish. Tasks also involve itinerary design, bookings, and management of logistics.
Target group of the organization: international MICE and FIT companies – mostly french, belgium and polish
Company culture: Informal with open plan office and a small degree of hierarchy. Managers are more knowledgeable and delegate tasks
Number of employees: 7
Dress code: casual
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? yes

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working? MICE Department (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events)
Brief description of your daily activities: The majority of my time I design itineraries and budgets for Polish and one French clients. This also involves contacting and making bookings and special requests for the hotels, venues and transport companies.

Brief description of your company assignment: Marketing Assignment

1. Special Interest tours – Cape Town Gardens: I collect market data and contacts for special interest groups that focus on gardening, in order to promote tailor-made garden tours within Cape Town. I researched and gathered a data base of almost 120 contacts and have sent out promotional emails attached with a brochure that I designed.
2. Canadian MICE Market: Seventh Sense wants to expand into the Canadian MICE market, and find outbound tour operators as well as a marketing representative (similar to GODWANA DMC’s). I completed desk research which contains statistics and informative data on the Canadian Market. I have also been in contact with government agencies and tourism marketing companies.

Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: My supervisor (Margeaux Burger) is very knowledgeable about the travel industry of Southern Africa and I have learned a lot from her. She is very busy and so sometimes I have to wait before she answers me, or evaluates my work but for the most part if I need something she will help me.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? Independent, flexible, stress proof, no 9-5 mentality
Additional company requirements for this placement? Outlook, Power point,
English: Advanced
Spanish:
French: Advanced
German:
Italian:
Other languages: I think it would be wise to have a good working knowledge of the French language. It isnt necessary, but I think it would be better

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: Plane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? Myself – got a friend who lives in CPT to check it. I used this company: Was awesome. http://www.southernambitionafrica.com/
How did you go to work every day? Scooter

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? I am South African so didnt need one
Do you need a work permit? N/A
How did you arrange the necessary documents: N/A
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents? N/A
Did you need certain vaccinations? No
How long in advance? N/A

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? French

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 20 – 25 euros a month to work and back 5 days a week
Accommodation (monthly): € 290
Local transport (monthly): € 25 euros (depending where you live) I was around 10kms away from work
General costs of living (monthly): € excluding rent = 200 – 300 euro a month
Costs of visa: € N/A
Costs of work permit: € N/A
What did the company pay for/to you? R1500 = +/- 100 euros

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
I am South African, so didn’t really prepare.
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? Not really

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: clarkelizabeth15@outlook.com

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: Dont walk alone at night, keep your bag close, dont use public transport at night, do explore, hike, eat and drink at all the trendy hotspots and cocktail bars.
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: http://www.capetownmagazine.com/

Anything you need to know about what to do, whats on in Cape Town and what to see you will find it in that website.

Dont forget to go to the Township Party at Mzolies and I suggest try surfing and shark-cage diving!

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link