Inter-Hotel Challenge South Africa 2025

A Celebration of South African hospitality, heart, and homegrown excellence!

Cape Town, August 6th, 2025: People are just as important a part of South African tourism, as are the breathtaking landscapes, world-class hotels, and celebrated cuisine. The warmth of our people, the pride in our cuisine, and the artistry of our service are the badges of ambassadorship that we wear.

The 13th edition of the 2025 Inter-Hotel Challenge seeks to elevate these standards by spotlighting the next generation of chefs, wine stewards, pastry innovators, baristas, and concierges who define and shape the soul of the industry.

The 2025 programme commenced on the 6th August by bringing together 31 leading hotels and conference centres across the country and more than 150 young professionals entering the industry. The Challenge spans workshops, mentorship, cook-offs, service evaluations, and regional engagement events, which are all designed to offer hands-on learning, real-world feedback, and meaningful industry exposure.

Regional Orientation & Launch Dates:
WESTERN CAPE
August 6 – Skills Exchange & Training Workshop at Southern Sun Newlands
August 7 – Launch at The President Hotel, Cape Town
Keynote: Lindo Mandela Founding Member | Director | Mandela Legacy
August 21– Launch at Southern Sun The Cullinan, Cape Town
Keynote: Jacques Stoltz Director Tourism Department of Economic Development & Tourism Western Cape Government

GAUTENG & NORTH WEST PROVINCE
August 15 – Skills Exchange & Training Workshop at Southern Sun Rosebank
August 16 – Launch at NH Johannesburg, Sandton
Keynote: Gugu Ndebele Director Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls

KWAZULU-NATAL
August 18 – Skills Exchange & Training Workshop at Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani, Durban
August 19 – Launch at Durban ICC
Keynote: The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Honourable Arthur Thamsanqa Ntuli

WESTERN PROVINCE
Taj Cape Town & Backsberg
The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa with Simonsig Family Vineyards
Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town & Boschendal
The Silo Hotel & Avontuur
The President Hotel & Brampton
Cape Grace & Bellingham
Southern Sun Cape Sun & Anthonij Rupert Wyne
Southern Sun The Cullinan & Ernie Els Wines
Southern Sun Newlands & Van Loveren Family Vineyards
The Oyster Collection & Fryer’s Cove
Century City Conference Centre & Hotels & Cederberg
The Vineyard Hotel & Old Road Wine Company

GAUTENG & NORTH WEST PROVINCE
Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel & Bellingham
InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo & Backsberg
Sandton Sun & Towers & Avontuur
54 on Bath & Old Road Wine Company
Southern Sun Rosebank & De Wetshof
Sun City Convention Centre & Kleine Zalze
Sun City The Cascades & Simonsig Family Vineyards
Sun Time Square & Kleine Zalze
Southern Sun Katherine Street & Jordan Wines
NH Johannesburg Sandton & Anthonij Rupert Wyne
Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa with Ernie Els Wines

KWAZULU-NATAL
Beverly Hills & Fryer’s Cove
Durban ICC & Van Loveren Family Vineyards
Sala Beach House & Jordan Wines
Southern Sun The Edward & De Wetshof
Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani & Fryer’s Cove
The Oyster Box & Boschendal
Radisson Blu Umhlanga & Brampton
Sun International Sibaya & Cederberg Wines

“Tourism is a people-powered industry. Each and every person from the kitchen to the concierge desk has a role in shaping the guest experience. The Inter‑Hotel Challenge reminds us that our greatest asset is not just our natural beauty or luxury offerings, but our people.”

— Chania Morritt‑Smith, Co-Founder, Showcook

Cook-Offs & Service Assessments:
October 17 & 18 – Capsicum Culinary Studio, Salt River (Cape Town)
October 22 – Capsicum Culinary Studio, Rosebank (Johannesburg)
October 23 – CTIA Chefs Training & Innovation Academy (Durban)

Final Awards Gala:
December 8 – Southern Sun Cape Sun, Cape Town

Building Talent, Shaping Futures
The Inter‑Hotel Challenge is proudly committed to upskilling early-career professionals in the hospitality sector, across six key disciplines:

Hot Chef of the Year
Pastry Chef of the Year
Baker of the Year
Wine Steward of the Year
Barista of the Year
Concierge of the Year

Participants benefit from mentorship by industry leaders, regional training, and the opportunity to win life-changing prizes including international internships, bursaries, equipment, and academic opportunities.

Since its founding, the programme has impacted over 2,150 participants, playing a vital role in strengthening the hospitality pipeline and elevating service standards across the country.

“It is important and a real life skill to learn the art of saying a gracious thank you and acknowledging those that made it possible for you to be here.You will find that this attribute will stand you in good stead throughout your life – we give thanks to the following for making a difference”

— Annette Kesler, Co-Founder, Showcook

This year’s program of the Inter-Hotel Challenge was made possible through top-tier partners whose dedication to providing quality ingredients plays a pivotal role in the competition’s success.

Partners and suppliers to the Inter-Hotel Challenge;

Wines & Spirits – Acqua Panna, Anthonij Rupert Wyne, Avontuur, Backsberg, Bellingham, Boschendal, Brampton, Cederberg Wines, Cocchi, De Wetshof, Ernie Els Wines, Flor de Caña, Fryer’s Cove, Kleine Zalze, Jordan Wines, Old Road Wine Company, S.Pellegrino, Sanpellegrino Italian Sparkling Drinks, Simonsig Family Vineyards and Van Loveren Family Vineyards

Ingredients – Bio-Wheat, Ciao, Clearworld Suppliers, Früt SA, Italian Deli Online, Khoisan Sea Salt, Lancewood, LemonGold, Lurpak, Polli Marinated Italian Vegetables, Rio Largo Olive Oil, Tastic Rices of the World and Tiger Brands Food Service Solutions

Coffee: Avanti Coffee

Technical support from VenueTech, Selby’s Productions and InHouse Venue Technical Management

Transport logistics MLT Car Hire & Tours and Dragonfly Africa

Accommodation: Southern Sun & all the participating hotels