Primed for growth: Spier’s leisure business announces changes to sales team

Spier, the historic Stellenbosch wine farm renowned for its hospitality and conferencing offerings, has announced three changes to its sales team.

Comien Grobler has been promoted from Corporate Sales Executive to Sales Manager, Stefan Hugget has been promoted from Corporate Sales Executive to Senior Sales Executive and Marchelaine Uys has been promoted from Sales Coordinator to Office Manager.

“These internal promotions recognise the existing talent and potential in our team,” says Spier GM Joep Schoof. “We’ve got great confidence in these individuals’ commitment to, and understanding of, Spier’s business ethos and approach – which combines service excellence with positively impacting the environment and community.”

New Sales Manager Comien Grobler joined Spier in July 2018 after stints at Radisson Blu Hotel V&A Waterfront and The Kove Collection, a group of luxury hotels and restaurants in Cape Town.

“In the relatively short period she has been part of our Spier family, Comien impressed us greatly with her deep understanding of our values and what is required to bring this experience to the market across all segments we service,” says Schoof. “This, combined with an extensive network in the industry, her high level of integrity, as well as her spirited can-do attitude, will see her flourishing in her new role.”

Stefan Huggett, who has extensive sales and entrepreneurial experience, joined Spier early last year from The Collection by Liz McGrath.

“Raising Stefan’s role and scope within the sales team at Spier was a natural progression,” explains Schoof. “What stood out for us is his continuous energy and desire to tell the Spier story, making it relevant and compelling to his wide network of strong relationships. The new role will provide Stefan with a positive challenge of working across the various market segments that Spier is well-placed at accommodating.”

Marchelaine Uys has been with Spier since 2014 when she joined the team as Sales Coordinator. Before that, she worked at NH The Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West for 24 years in a number of roles.

“Marchelaine is meticulous about the care we take to build and maintain our relationships at Spier,” says Schoof. “Due to her growth since joining us, we will be entrusting her with handling all on-site client engagements; this will allow Comien and Stefan to spend most of their time on the road with our clients. Having Marchelaine managing the communication flow between the reservations, conference coordination, revenue management and sales teams will enhance our client engagement well before the actual Spier experience at the farm.”

Schoof says that, fuelled by the confidence Spier has in the future of South Africa’s hospitality industry, there will be an additional sales team member appointed in the coming weeks.