ANEW Hotels: Hospitality experts lead with a personal touch

Tenielle Pienaar’s involvement in the hospitality industry was accidental. Tenielle originally planned to work as a nanny in the United States after graduating from high school, but after a 10-minute conversation with her mother, she changed her mind.

During the discussion, she revealed that she was a year too young to take care of herself and her mother rejected the option of “doing nothing” for a year. In those 10 minutes, she decided to study International Hotel Management at University College as her mother encouraged her to choose any course from the brochure she gave her. Little did she know at the time, this impromptu decision would not only allow her to enjoy a year at University College, but also mark the beginning of her career in the hospitality industry.

Her career took a turn when she moved to the United States to work as a nanny, but she later returned to manage one of the largest hunting companies in Hluhluwe. After the tragic death of her uncle, Tenielle joined the then Premier Hotels & Resorts, starting as a receptionist and eventually becoming the General Manager of the Splendid Inn Bayshore.

Her dedication enabled her to quadruple the hotel’s revenue within a few months! She later moved to a regional role at Premier Hotels & Resorts before being lured to join the group by ANEW Hotels & Resorts CEO Clinton Armour in 2017. Since joining in 2018, she has played a key role in the company’s growth from two hotels in 2018 to 19 hotels just six years later.

Tenielle’s Blueprint for Success

Tenielle prides herself on being a trusted industry figure that clients follow, not just the brand. She highlights her success in turning an underperforming hotel into one that quadrupled revenue, stressing the importance of focus and hard work to achieve the impossible. Tenielle’s leadership style revolves around building a team of strong people, which makes her more than just a coach. She values ​​open communication and ensures her team is comfortable handling personal issues. Her leadership style is characterized by fairness, creating a stress-free work environment for herself and her team.

The power of connection

Openness and honesty are the pillars of the positive team culture that Tenielle fosters. She builds personal connections with each team member, demonstrating a genuine concern and interest in their lives. Regular weekly communication meetings provide a platform for all sales team members to develop a mutual understanding and sense of value.

Tenielle stays on top of industry trends through extensive networking, travel market tracking and attending international trade shows. Her team relationships and her active presence on various platforms keep her well-informed. She particularly delves into international markets, leveraging the team’s insights into local markets.

Tenielle currently lives in Centurion, Gauteng with her family and enjoys exploring her local neighbourhood on the weekends. Having spent her entire career in the hospitality industry, she still loves to travel and thoroughly enjoys discovering new and exciting cuisines. You will rarely see her in front of the TV, but instead you can find her solving the biggest, most complex and trickiest puzzles, especially in her free time. Retail therapy and pedicures are her go-to treatments for a challenging day!