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Debbie Nortje

Innovation In Travel

What's new in tourism? Debbie Nortje, the co-founder and MD of Treedom Villas and Vardos in Wilderness, shares her thoughts on innovation in travel.

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Debbie Nortje is a woman of many talents, all of which she’s harnessed to create Treedom Villas and Vardos in Wilderness. An award-winning veteran of the events industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge of, and instinct for, creating memorable experiences to bear on all aspects of Treedom.

Debbie is also an alumnus of the Silwood Kitchen where she completed a one-year Cordon Bleu chef course, a tour guide registered with FGASA (Field Guide Association of SA) and she holds a skipper’s licence.

 

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10 Tasty Bites 

Below is a preview of what you can expect to learn in this recipe. 

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About This Recipe

 

When people entrust your establishment with their hard-earned holiday savings and their precious two-week annual vacation time, you have to deliver the best possible experience. This is the attitude Debbie Nortje, co-founder and MD of Treedom Villas and Vardos in Wilderness, brings to everything she offers her guests.

This recipe is a masterclass in hospitality, the use of social media, and the true entrepreneur’s ability to spot and leverage opportunities. From micro-weddings in the forest to creating a 4:20-friendly environment and an adventure centre, Together with Marc - her husband and co-founder - Debbie has a knack for creating experiences that wow her guests and increase their spend on the Treedom property.

Judging by Debbie’s story, innovation in travel and tourism is alive and well, and remains the key to unlocking entrepreneurial success.

What You'll Learn

 

Delivered with exuberance, Debbie’s recipe reveals:

  • How to work with municipal officials and neighbours (play nice and be persistent).
  • The importance of innovation in the tourism industry, and what it looks like in practice.
  • The difference a commitment to being weird and wonderful can make.
  • The social media approach that works so well for Treedom.
  • Why you should invest as early as possible in the business you want to create.
  • How to get your guests to spend more of their money with you.

Learn

Learn from someone who speaks from a position of real authority, perspective and experience.

Do

Implement practical tips and techniques learned in the trenches - doing, rather than talking.

Share

Join a cohort of like-minded entrepreneurs in our growing community and share your learnings as you go.

Get Learning

This entrepreneurial micro-course will take you only a few minutes per day (or you can binge if you want to). Feel free to skip around and please let us know what you think. 

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Deep Cuts 

Love this recipe? Here are some additional videos to delve even further into the topic.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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