{"id":1163,"date":"2023-03-09T09:41:17","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T07:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rivoniabb.co.za\/blog\/?p=1163"},"modified":"2023-11-01T10:06:43","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T08:06:43","slug":"rugby-kicks-off-rivonia-bb-in-1995","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rivoniabb.co.za\/blog\/rugby-kicks-off-rivonia-bb-in-1995\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rugby World Cup starts Rivonia B&B"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Rugby World Cup<\/a> starts Rivonia B&B<\/a>. 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…<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Jill and Tricia<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rivonia Premier Lodge and Business Center – from 3 to 45 rooms in 28 years<\/h2>\n

The back story \u2013 Gerard and Jill Marais<\/strong>
\n\"The
\nIn 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.
\nThe couple both came from small towns and loved the space and the property\u2019s central location. The house on the property was solid but needed a great deal of TLC.
\nHorses were still stabled at the end of River Road when they first moved in. Jill was teaching and Gerard owned a manufacturing company.
\nThen 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.
\nJill carried on working and employed a manageress to take charge of the 6 rooms that they\u2019d built. In 2001 Gerard, a mechanical engineer, joined his wife Jill in the business, full time.
\nThey researched accommodation establishments wherever they travelled, learning what worked and what didn\u2019t. They were starting from scratch, so they could custom build their Bed & Breakfast to suit their guests\u2019 needs.
\nBuilding operations sped up as demand grew…<\/p>\n

Time Line<\/h2>\n
\n
\n\"The<\/p>\n
1983 – Jill & Gerard\u2019s house in Rivonia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n
1983 – The family at 3 River Road<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n
1983 – The Marais family in their garden<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n
1998 – The same place \u2013 with 6 B&B rooms now situated where the family once stood<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n
2003 – The pool with a dining room and lounge<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n
2008 – The pool with a dining room, lounge, and an outside dining area<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n
2012 – Guest rooms being built<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n
2015 – The B&B before the Business Centre was built<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n\"\"<\/p>\n
2016 – Rivonia B&B is tops on Tripadvisor<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\"Rugby<\/p>\n
2017 – The Lapa is built<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n\"Rugby<\/p>\n
2017 – By this time the old house accommodated the Reception, the Business Centre, offices and two Superior rooms<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\"Rugby<\/p>\n
2023 – Grown from a small B&B to a lodge with 45 rooms. Here guests can enjoy peace and tranquillity amidst the hustle and bustle of Sandton.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n\"Rugby\n<\/div>\n
\n\"Rugby\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1995 was the year South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup. 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. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1165,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,60,51,53,62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-from-rivonia-bb-to-rivonia-premier-lodge-a-brief-history","category-functions","category-group-accommodation","category-history-of-rivonia","category-rivonia-premiere-lodge"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Rugby World Cup starts Rivonia B&B - Rivonia Premier Lodge Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Rugby World Cup kick starts Rivonia B&B. Rivonia Premier Lodge started as a dream during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. 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