City Lodge Hotels marks 40th anniversary with B-BBEE Level 1 Status achievement

SOUTH AFRICA – City Lodge Hotels has reached a major milestone by attaining B-BBEE Level 1 status as of 4 March 2025, reinforcing its commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth.

This milestone reinforces the company’s commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth through transformation, diversity, and inclusion (TDI).

The achievement comes after City Lodge Hotels secured an impressive 92.95 total points and gained 1.5 B-BBEE levels, largely through its participation in the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.

The points were distributed across key measurement areas: 23.34 points in Enterprise Ownership, 14.65 in Management Control, 12.05 in Skills Development, 34.91 in Enterprise and Supplier Development, and 8.00 in Socio-Economic Development.

Additionally, the programme contributed to enhanced learner participation and absorption, achieving 1.5 times the YES target with a 5% absorption rate.

Detailed metrics include Black Ownership at 26.52%, Black Women Ownership at 12.13%, Black New Entrants at 6.67%, and Black Designated Groups at 5.31%.

Other statistics were Black Youth at 0.53%, Black Disabled at 0.45%, Black Unemployed at 0.06%, and Black People Living in Rural Areas at 0.09%, with Procurement Recognition reaching 135.00%.

In its 2024 Integrated Annual Report, City Lodge Hotels emphasized its dedication to equitable practices, noting that it has consistently ensured no salary disparity based on race, gender, or age.

The report highlighted that 45% of its Board members and over 35% of its Executive Committee are women, a figure the company is committed to increasing further.

Chief Executive Officer Andrew Widegger praised the TDI Committee, which meets quarterly to monitor the five pillars of transformation, and noted that diversity training, initiated by human resources, complements these efforts by aligning staff demographics with those of guests and the broader community.

Widegger expressed that achieving B-BBEE Level 1 is a proud collective milestone that celebrates the hard work and commitment of all employees.

He affirmed that this accomplishment sets a benchmark for the hospitality industry in South Africa.

The achievement reflects the core values and dedication of the team across the group’s 58 hotels and four brands – Courtyard Hotel, City Lodge Hotel, Town Lodge, and Road Lodge.

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