INTRODUCTION TO THE TEAM...

ALAN VELS
Age: 42
CEO, Three Cities Management Limited
Alan has been part of the hospitality industry for over twenty years and has been the CEO of the Three Cities Group for the last eight. Alan believes that the future education of the kids of South Africa is paramount to this country’s success and as such is dedicated to this project. Alan’s various interests include golf and cycling among other sports and, when questioned on his adventurous side, affirmed “Life is an adventure!"



ARTHUR COLLETT
Age: 44
Projects and Developments, Three Cities Management Ltd
Arthur graduated from the Wits Hotel School in 1987 and has been working in the hospitality industry since. Loving challenges, his reason for taking this project on is just that!! It is a challenge. It’s for a good cause and the preparation for the challenge leads to a healthier lifestyle. His hobbies include golf, cycling and a bit of woodwork When questioned on his adventurous streak he says that the most adventurous times of his life have been when he hiked the Fish Canyon and jumped off the Victoria Falls Bridge (attached to a bungee cord of course!).



ANDRE DE MOL
Age: 41 years
General Manager - The Royal Hotel
Andre has been in hospitality for sixteen years and is currently the General Manager at the Royal Hotel. Andre believes that the cause for this event is a good one as it will assist Three Cities employees children who would like to pursue a career within the hospitality industry. Secondly, the opportunity to cycle from Johannesburg is most definitely appealing to him as it tests endurance and lastly it will be FUN! He looks forward to good music, good wine and good music after a long day and also enjoys D.I.Y restoration. He has an adventurous streak and enjoys anything that causes him an adrenaline rush.



BRETT DUNGAN
Age : 38
Brett has been in the hospitality industry for eighteen years and has also been involved with industry associations such as FEDHASA. Brett looks forward to the downhill ride and believes in cycling for this great cause. With his fondness for building things, he believes the most adventurous thing he has done in his life has been building his family with his wife.



CAROLYN MCDOUGALL
Age: 50 – just!
National Traineeship Manager, The International Hotel School
Carolyn has been in the service industry for twenty years and has recently moved into education within the hospitality industry. Carolyn enjoys cycling and has decided to participate as this challenge is for a good cause. Currently studying towards her MBA, Carolyn does not have much spare time, however does enjoy birding, hill walking, spending time in the bush and reading romantic novels – a complete break from textbooks! The most adventurous time of her life has been white water rafting down the Zambezi River.



CHRISTIAN IUEL
Age: 45
General Manager: Marketing - Your Africa
Beginning his career in the hospitality industry six years ago, Christian is now the GM of Marketing for Your Africa. He has accepted this challenge as he has always wanted to cycle from Johannesburg to Durban and believes this project to be a worthy cause. Chris’s hobbies include running, mountain bike riding, adventure racing and is an avid birder when the opportunity arises. Chris has participated in the 2006 Uge 150 km adventure race held in Middelburg which runs over two days.



CLINTON MARLON BONHOMME
Age: 35
Pastry Chef
Clinton has been part of the hospitality industry for 15 years. He began as a chef and now specialises in pastry and lectures in the same field. He has strong conviction in the cause behind this project. His hobbies include swimming, cycling, basketball and tennis.



CRAIG TIBBIT
Age: 30
Food and Beverage Manager, Riverside Hotel & Spa
With nine years experience in the hospitality industry behind him, Craig began his career as a trainee at The Royal Hotel and is now the Food and Beverage Manager at the Riverside Hotel and Spa. His reasoning behind participating in the challenge is to help the Three Cities Group’s children to be educated by raising funds for them and to have fun doing it while getting fit!! He has never really considered cycling as a hobby, but all the training has him enjoying his new past time.



DEAN EDWARDS
Age: 26
Lives & Trains: Durban, South Africa
At the age of 9 Dean was introduced to cycling through his Father who was a social cyclist. Dean is team leader for Team House of Paint who are amongst the top 3 teams in the country. Dean is currently the South African 200m record holder on the track and is the KZN road champion. Dean enjoys a good social life, spending time after racing and training with friends and family.



DESMOND SHOBEDE
Age: 23
Second Year Trainee – Royal Hotel
Having just begun his career in the hospitality industry, Desmond is enjoying every second and looks forward to his future in this diverse and vibrant industry. He loves challenges this was the main reason he undertook this one and also because he understands the necessity for an educational fund and how people can truly benefit from a cause as fantastic as this one. He enjoys reading, watching movies and team sports and considers himself quite the adventurous guy!



ELLEN AUCAMP
Age: 38
Being part of the dynamic hospitality industry for 14 years, Ellen believes in giving back. She has undertaken this challenge,as she believes this is for a great cause. With a sense of adventure being part of her soul, she also wanted to participate, as this is not something she has done before. “It’s a feeling of giving back to the staff of this company,” Ellen says, “in a way that is inspiring – for both us and them”.



GLYN TAYLOR
Age: 34
Director of Operations, Three Cities Management Limited
Glyn began his career in the hospitality industry as a chef, 16 years ago. Through the Cycling Challenge, he has committed himself to bettering the future of the children of staff of the Three Cities Group. His background as a chef has ensured that his favorite past time is fine dining. Glyn’s sense of adventure is heightened when a competition is on the horizon. With seven Duzi Canoe marathons, one Comrades Marathon and the completion of the Fish River Canoe Marathon behind him, Glyn definitely has an adventurous approach to life.



JISCA DE BLAEIJ
Age: 23
Banqueting Co-ordinator - Peninsula All Suite Hotel
Jisca has been part of the hospitality industry for the past five years and has graduated from the International Hotel School The Hague in Netherlands. When approached to participate, she unquestioningly agreed to participate in a mission with such a commendable aim. Her hobbies include team sports, traveling and photography. The biggest adventure of her life was traveling across the globe to Paris for her first internship with 12 Euros in her bank account and no cash, not knowing anyone in Paris and not speaking French!



MARIUS EARLE
Age: 34
Chief operating Officer, uShaka Marine World.
Marius has served the hospitality industry for the past 15 years and has been exposed to many different elements of the business. Believing in the cause to further education of the kids of Three Cities staff, he has pledged his support of this challenge. Being an adventurous person, one of Marius’ greatest adventures was jumping off one of the highest cliff swings in the world –Graskop Mpumulanga! His other hobbies include golf, mountain biking and various sports.



PIERRE DE MARILLAC
Age: 38
I.T. Manager, Three Cities Management Limited
Pierre has been in the hospitality industry for the past 10 years. He feels that the cycling challenge has been initiated for a worthy cause and has committed himself to making it a success. His hobbies are surfing and spear fishing and he considers himself to be quite an adventurous guy.





RAVI NAIDOO
Age: 30
Financial Manager, Riverside Hotel & Spa
Having eighteen years experience in the hospitality industry, Ravi has been in the game for a long while. Believing in supporting a good cause, he is looking forward to the ride from Johannesburg to Durban. Being an accountant, he believes that he is not too much of an adventurer, but with his cycling attempt ahead of him, he has proven that he definitely is an adventurer at heart.


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