Bernard Cassar joins BON Hotels International West Africa as Executive Director.
1 June 2015 saw the launch of BON Hotels International West Africa (BHIWA) founded by a formidable board of directors who strongly believe that the “survival of Africa by Africans’ is the only way to go. They are a group of individuals who understand the culture, the people, the trading environment, the productivity and daily challenges, who thrive in this environment – they are Africans who have done it all before. One such seasoned advisor on the board, Bernard Cassar, Executive Director of BHIWA, is excited about being a part of this new African hotel group and the opportunities it presents.
With a career in the industry that spans some 35 years, Bernard is regarded as one of the most successful hotel industry pioneers in the African market. Semi-retired since 2008, he continues to consult part-time to the University of Cape Town and the hospitality space in general. Much of his career was spent rising through the ranks at Protea Hotels, starting out as a hotel management trainee, then moving on to sales, rooms division manager, front office manager and national sport manager. He was also General Manager at Mabula Lodge, Protea Hotel Hazyview, Piggs Peak & Casino and The Ritz before moving up to Director of Protea Hotels Africa and of New Developments for the group.
Bernard originally hails from Malta but grew up in Cape Town. He matriculated from Christian Brothers College and went on to obtain a National Diploma in Hotel Management from the School of Toursim & Hospitality, University of Johannesburg. Over the years he has also studied at the University of Cornell, USA, at the centre for professional development in hotel administration, and tackled The Disney Approach to Quality Service at the Disney Institute. Sporting many awards and honours, Bernard is less about the accolades and more about changing lives, adding value, living life to the fullest, making significant change and having fun doing it all.
The African sky is the limit and BON Hotel International West Africa is on the rise, even more so with the experienced Bernard Cassar on board.
