The Rugby World Cup starts Rivonia B&B. Two neighbours, Jill and Tricia of River Rd, Rivonia, felt they could make a small fortune renting out rooms to rugby fans who would stream in from all over the world. They readied 3 rooms at great expense. Excitedly they waited for the rugby fans to arrive. Their marketing was such that no one came. But it was a beginning…
Rivonia Premier Lodge and Business Center – from 3 to 45 rooms in 28 years
The back story – Gerard and Jill Marais
In 1982 Gerard and Jill bought a large property in Rivonia, a northern suburb of Sandton. Rivonia, at the time, was a village with a distinct rural feel.
The couple both came from small towns and loved the space and the property’s central location. The house on the property was solid but needed a great deal of TLC.
Horses were still stabled at the end of River Road when they first moved in. Jill was teaching and Gerard owned a manufacturing company.
Then in 1995 the idea of Rivonia B&B came to Tricia and Jill. When Tricia and her family left South Africa, Gerard and Jill operated the B&B on their property only.
Jill carried on working and employed a manageress to take charge of the 6 rooms that they’d built. In 2001 Gerard, a mechanical engineer, joined his wife Jill in the business, full time.
They researched accommodation establishments wherever they travelled, learning what worked and what didn’t. They were starting from scratch, so they could custom build their Bed & Breakfast to suit their guests’ needs.
Building operations sped up as demand grew…
Time Line
