Irene Country Lodge | Optic Impressions Photographys Blog.

Congratulations to the happy couple, from all at African Pride Irene Country Lodge!!

Cosmopolitan | Competitions.

Restful RetreatStand a chance to win one of two luxury getaways for you and your partner worth R28 000 each, courtesy of COSMO and African Pride Irene Country Lodge. We know you work hard and deserve a break in tranquil, serene surroundings where all your troubles will be pampered away. African Pride Irene Country Lodge combines relaxation and luxury in equal parts to take you from your busy schedule to the splendour of nature. Situated in Irene, near Centurion, the lodge is 25 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport and Johannesburg. This means you’re close to the city, yet far enough away to enjoy the country lifestyle. Work up an appetite by exploring the lush grounds that surround a private lake, then grab a bite to eat at the Irene Dairy Farm. Visit the Camdeboo Day Spa for an afternoon of indulgent treatments, before enjoying an intimate dinner in your room or at the lodge’s Meadow Green restaurant. Don’t turn in before you’ve glimpsed the sunset over the lake as you sip sundowners at the gazebo or the Lakeside Cocktail Bar. It’s country living at its best! EACH PRIZE INCLUDES: • Two nights’ accommodation in a deluxe suite for two people sharing • A fruit basket on arrival • A bottle of wine • Breakfast and dinner daily • One lunch for two at the lodge and one picnic lunch for two at the Irene Dairy Farm • Spa treatments • Return flights and airport transfers (if required) Terms & conditions of the prize: 1. The prize is valid for two people travelling together, on the same dates and sharing the same room. 2. The prize includes the items listed above only. All other incidentals are for individuals’ own account and must be settled before departure. Note: the hotel does not accept cash on the premises but accepts all major cards. 3. The prize is subject to availability at the time of booking. 4. The prize is valid for stays between April 2012 and September 2012. The prize validity cannot be extended. 5. The winner will receive a letter explaining the details, terms and conditions of the prize once his/her name has been drawn so he/she is aware of who to contact, by when, etc. 6. The prize includes domestic flights and airport transfers; however, travel insurance is excluded. 7. When claiming the prize, a minimum of two weeks will be required for the prize details to be finalised. To enter this competition, simply answer the question below: Closing date 30 April 2012

An historic piece of paradise..

Win a one-night stay for two adults and two children at the luxurious African Pride Irene Country Lodge, valued at R22 000! The Irene Estate, owned by the van der Byl family, has been around since the 1800s, with former Prime Minister General Jan Smuts having owned a third of it in 1908. Today the village is home to African Pride Irene Country Lodge and the famous Irene Dairy Farm. The Lodge offers five-star accommodation, breathtaking views, and fun activities for the whole family. A visit to the Irene Dairy farm is a must, as well as the Farm Shop which sells fresh milk and cheese. And be sure to try the Deck, Barn and Meadow Green restaurants. You can also visit the Smuts House Museum and Rietvlei Nature Reserve, take a trip to the bi-monthly Irene Market, play golf, or enjoy treatments at the Camdeboo Spa. Entertainment for kids is available from 9am to 5pm and the kiddies’ cinema runs on weekends and public holidays, giving you and Dad a blissful night off! African Pride Irene Country lodge now has a leisure all-in-one Family Fun package where children stay and eat for free when sharing the hotel’s accommodation with their parents. For more info, go to www.irenecountrylodge.co.za Now you can win a trip to this gorgeous lodge, with flights, accommodation, breakfast, dinner, kids’ entertainment and cinema, spa treatment, and a picnic at Irene Farm, valued at R22 000! For more information on how to enter see the March 2012 issue of Living and Loving Magazine. Competition expires on 31 March 2012

SACS 2012 7-11 May.

PROGRESS OF CHEMOMETRICS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The second convention of the South African Chemometrics Society, SACS2012, will take place at Irene Country Lodge, Pretoria, from 7 to 11 May 2012. Numerous developments regarding Chemometrics have taken place since the previous convention in December 2008 in Stellenbosch: Chemometrics is applied more frequently in industrial as well as academic laboratories, and in analytical, production, and manufacturing processes.

Progress in Chemometrics will be outlined by invited speakers during the convention: local experts will talk about topics including Chemometrics for biological materials (Prof. Marena Manley, Stellenbosch University) and application of Chemometrics in research and development (Prof. Ben Zeelie, NMMU, Port Elizabeth). Well-known overseas specialists will describe the optimization of multi-responses in analytical Chemistry (Prof. Roy Bruns, Campinas State University, Brazil) and representative sampling and validation (Prof. Kim Esbensen, Copenhagen, Denmark)

Developments in Chemometrics and the advancement of applications will feature at the convention – to be shared and discussed with delegates and fellow users of the discipline. We invite contributions covering all aspects of chemometrics and experimental design.

Two workshops are to be offered at the convention, both presented by well-known overseas experts: one dealing with a topic that is often overlooked, generally underestimated in significance, yet valuable and important as far as economy and efficiency of processes are concerned, namely Experimental Design. The other covers the importance of sampling procedures, and how sampling is performed correctly and representatively in industrial processes, namely process analytical techniques (PAT).

Irene Country Lodge is situated in tranquil surroundings outside Pretoria in Gauteng; it can be readily reached from Pretoria, Johannesburg, and OR Tambo airport. We are looking forward to welcoming you at the SACS 2012 at Irene Country Lodge.

Valentine Dinner @ Camdeboo

For my Valentine Accommodation Promotion

Camdeboo Valentine Promotion

Weekly Quiz:
As we have noticed you are learning all about our property we have decided to run a weekly quiz for our fans every Wednesday @ 15:00, where you can win a variety of wonderful spot prizes!
Please note we have a few minor T&C, the first person that answer the right question will win the prize which will have to be collected at our premises. No person under the employment of our property or affiliating properties to Irene Estate is allowed to enter the quiz or competition.
The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered to.

So good luck and hope you enjoy our quiz!
http://ow.ly/i/qDYR

PROTEA HOSPITALITY GROUP CLINCHES 6 PLACES IN AFRICA’S TOP 20 TRENDIEST HOTELS | Protea Hotels:

January 2011: TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2012 were announced yesterday and besides Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Cape Town clinching second place in the “Trendiest Hotels in Africa” category, five other Protea Hospitality Group (PHG) hotels also made the top 20 list.

Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Cape Town was also voted 11th trendiest hotel in the world.

The other PHG hotels to feature in the Trendiest Hotels in Africa list are:

1. African Pride Tribe – The Village Market Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya (5th)
2. Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Melrose Arch, Johannesburg (7th)
3. Protea Hotel OR Tambo, Johannesburg (9th)
4. African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel, Johannesburg (16th)
5. African Pride 15 on Orange Hotel, Cape Town (17th)

PHG chief executive Arthur Gillis said that in terms of hospitality, Africa was setting world trends, rather than following them.

“Being trendy isn’t only about being in a beautiful designer building; it’s about the feeling and the vibe. No hotel can hope to make this list if it doesn’t have the right atmosphere, which is by and large created by having the best STAFF and the best service,” Gillis said.

“We are particularly proud of having the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! ranked so high in the world and in Africa. It’s an exciting brand that plays on delivering the delightful and unexpected. It has a lot of talkability and travellers are clearly picking up on that.”

Gillis said the number of South African hotels, in particular, that had made the top list rankings was impressive. 15 of the top 20 hotels in Africa are located in South Africa, and 11 of them are in Cape Town, which was TripAdvisor’s City of the Year in 2011. “Cape Town has firmly established its place as one of the top global destinations because if its staggering beauty, friendliness, favourable exchange rate and service culture.

“Cape Town is a top leisure destination, but for those same reasons it’s also a top meetings and conferencing destination. Despite global economic challenges, I believe we’re looking at a relatively strong year ahead and another good showing of Protea Hotels and African Pride Hotels in the 2013 awards.”

SAVING THE PLANET ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME

January 2012: The Protea Hospitality Group has started a roll-out across South Africa of a purified water system that will replace bottled mineral water in their conferencing venues and ultimately save millions of plastic bottles from ending up in landfills.

Africa’s leading hospitality company has partnered with the international leader and originator of premium water systems, Vivreau (which sees to President Obama’s water needs in the White House as well as the finest Hotels and Michelin starred restaurants across Europe and America), to introduce a system of on-site bottling of purified water served in stylish glass bottles.

Protea Hospitality Group Operations Director William Ford said the roll-out was beginning this month and the initial phase would comprise approximately 20 hotels that include:

• Protea Hotels Fire & Ice! Melrose Arch and Cape Town;
• African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel;
• African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa;
• Protea Hotel Umhlanga Ridge;
• Protea Hotel Wanderers;
• Protea Hotel OR Tambo;
• Protea Hotel Vineyards Estate and
• Protea Hotel Victoria Junction

“We will be serving complimentary Vivreau water, purified on the premises in our conference rooms, rather than bottled mineral water as is the case now” said Ford, explaining the changes. “We will also be offering complimentary chilled Vivreau water in our receptions and to diners in our restaurants as well as in the bedrooms of hotels where we currently offer complimentary bottled water. We will of course continue to make available for purchase bottled mineral water for those of our GUESTS who would prefer to have this option.

“We have been given to understand that the material from which the plastic mineral water bottles we currently use is recyclable, however there is a lack of facility nationwide which is convenient and cost-effective for our hotels to expedite the recycling process and resulting in the majority of used bottles ending up in land-fill. Ford said it took between 3 and 7 litres of water to produce a 1 litre bottle of mineral water if one included the bottle manufacture and transport processes.

“The Protea Hospitality Group doesn’t view sustainability as an additional strategy or range of new activities, we have been sensitive to the environment and our responsibility in this regard for many years and are continually looking for ways to improve the environmental sensitive behaviour of our hotels and reduce the carbon footprint impact of our operations.  It is also about influencing all corporate strategies – creating integration and deepening our work to bring effect to profit (Prosperity), society (People), and environment (Planet). We recognise that this calls for a shift in the way we approach the very issues that face our business on a daily basis and that is what the move to Vivreau water is all about.”

Charles Tapanlis, MD of Vivreau Advanced Water Systems for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, said by providing an in-house purification system and endlessly sanitising and reusing the same glass containers, dispensing just 100 Vivreau bottles per day, would replace more than 73 000 plastic bottles in one hotel over a two-year period.

Citing a National Geographic report, he said in America alone some 30 billion bottles of water were consumed per year. In order to make those bottles, manufacturers used 17 million barrels of crude oil – enough to run 1 million cars for a year.

“Vivreau’s mission is to offer the highest conceivable quality alternative to bottled water, whilst eliminating the carbon footprint, ‘water miles’, landfill waste and Bisphenol A (BPA) linked to health concerns from bottled water.

“We are immensely excited to be partnering with the largest and leading hotel group in Africa on this project that will not only give GUESTS a premium water product, but also massively reduce their environmental impact.”

We realized that our tweets “did you know…” should have concentrated on our own facts, so watch this space for exciting facts about Irene…

Make this year’s final meal one to remember. Invite friends and family over for a dinner party for an Evening under the stars, with seafood delacacies that will leave your mouth watering for more. Click here for the menu…

   

African Pride Irene Country Lodge offers luxury accommodation in the heart of Gauteng, South Africa’s Economic Capital, the historical village of Irene, Centurion is known for the winding down oak-lined country lane where cows graze in green pastures, you will arrive at a haven of peace and tranquillity, and you will defiantly not think that this hotel is in Centurion, Pretoria or Gauteng for that matter!

Current Promotions: Sizzling Summer Promotions

With lakeside views to rival most paintings, African Pride Irene Country Lodge is a luxury upmarket hotel, this hotel boasts with 74 spacious luxury accommodation rooms, fine dining restaurants, conference, function and wedding venues, and also boasts with a luxurious upmarket day spa called Camdeboo Day Spa. View our Camdeboo Current Promotions…

Irene is a suburb of Centurion which is conveniently situated between Midrand and Pretoria. Making the travel to the Union Buildings in Pretoria a mere 15 min drive away and the travelling to Sandton in Johannesburg a 30 min drive, now with the new Gautrain, Gauteng’s new rail system for “People on the Move” these journeys are even more convenient, Centurion Gautrain station is situated at the Centurion Shopping Centre only a 5 min drive away.

Head on over to our website on Irene Country Lodge to read more about this amazing property!

Prunella Williams

WIN! Congratulations to Prunella Williams who has won a Christmas Lunch at African Pride Irene Country Lodge valued at R1,500.00 – the prize includes:

•Christmas lunch for 4 people (2 adults 2 children)

•Two soft drinks per person

•Gifts delivered by Santa Clause for the little ones

•Complimentary access to partake in the Kiddies entertainment and view Skydiving Santa.

Joburg.co.za – Skydiving Santa Clause is coming to Irene this Festive Season! – This year African Pride Irene Country Lodge will have their very own Santa Clause dressing up like Jolly St Nick and jumping out of an airplane to come and surprise the little ones on Christmas Day. ….

WIN! One lucky Joburg.co.za reader can win a Christmas Lunch at African Pride Irene Country Lodge valued at R1,500.00 – the prize includes:

• Christmas lunch for 4 people (2 adults 2 children)
• Two soft drinks per person
• Gifts delivered by Santa Clause for the little ones
• Complimentary access to partake in the Kiddies entertainment and view Skydiving Santa.

To enter, simply click here and press the “like” button to become a fan of Irene Country Lodge  on Facebook before 19 December and the winner of this amazing prize will be announced on Facebook soon after.
Terms and conditions: – Prize valid for 4 people only (2 adults 2 children). – Prize does not include accommodation – Competition closes on Monday, 19th December 2011. – Winner will be contacted via email and Facebook. – Prize valid for Christmas Day 2011 only.
For more information on the Sizzling Summer promotions or to make a booking at Irene Country Lodge, follow their contact links along the right hand side.

Irene would like to wish all road users a safe festive season on the road, do not think that it is not going to happen to you, please follow suggestions below to keep you safe on the roads of South Africa. Looking forward to your safe return.

Irene Dairy Farm  – Reviews – Johannesburg Live.

Enjoy the perks of farm-style living on this authentic farm without doing any of the hard work.

Think back to playschool and try recalling one of your favourite songs:  Old McDonald had a farm, with a moo moo here and a moo moo there and a chick chick here and a chick chick there. You will find all this at the Irene Dairy Farm where the farmer is not Old McDonald but Farmer van der Byl.

As the name would suggest, the farm is set in the picturesque village of Irene and a stone’s throw from the Irene Craft Market.  As you enter the farm gates you are greeted by a whole family of chickens happily and carelessly roaming around.

The farm boasts both a dairy shop and two great eateries to choose from: The Barn and Deck.

Interestingly, the Dairy shop is one of the last places in Gauteng that still sells ‘raw’ certified milk straight from the resident cows. People visit especially to purchase gallon buckets of farm fresh milk. The Dairy shop is also well known for its luxurious thick cream which is a must for any fresh scone and jam.

The two eateries’ speciality dish is always on the menu and comes highly recommended.  It’s ‘home-made chicken pie’. No wonder they need all the chickens!

If this is not for you then the Barn does a lunchtime braai with truly South African fare. However if it’s something lighter you are looking for the dairy shop has a great selection of lunchtime treats and then you can picnic outside on the lovely lawn amongst the chickens and the cows.

www.irenefarm.co.za
Tell:             012 667 2326       /             012 667 4822
E-mail: shop@ireneestate.co.za / barn@ireneestate.co.za

Travelwires.com | Irene becomes cashless

We all know the feeling; you’re filling up your car or purchasing refreshments from a corner café, when suddenly you realise you don’t have any cash. “Are you sure you don’t take any cards?” you desperately ask. A regretful “no” sends you frantically searching for the closest ATM with your tail between your legs.

But it is not just our society that’s becoming increasingly more cashless. All around the world, consumers prefer the convenience and relative safety of paying with plastic. Similarly, suppliers and shopkeepers enjoy reduced risk on many levels when their clients pay with cards.

In keeping with this global trend, and leading the way in the South African hospitality industry, African Pride Irene Country Lodge has recently announced that it has become a completely cashless operation. All payments at this elegant establishment are now made by debit or credit card only.

Located in the leafy village of Irene, just metres away from the famous Irene Dairy Farm, which has also adopted a cashless policy, Irene Country Lodge has established itself as a firm favourite among business and leisure travellers. A quick hop onto the R21 takes you from the Lodge to OR Tambo International Airport in just 25 minutes. And yet, when you’re at the Lodge, each one of your senses will tell you you’re in the heart of the countryside. But were the Lodge’s guests ready for such an innovative change? “Some visitors were somewhat sceptical at first, but our guests can only benefit from this new system,“ says Cecilia McKay, General Manager at African Pride Irene Country Lodge.

The Lodge is known for offering its visitors true comfort and convenience, and the new cashless system will prove no exception to this tradition. In addition to the ease of paying by card, this change also offers numerous safety advantages. That all corners of our country are affected by crime is an unfortunate reality and, subsequently, a cashless zone is a far safer zone.

This groundbreaking decision also makes sound business sense for the owners and operators of African Pride Irene Country Lodge. Not only will this transformation eliminate the need for issuing and locking away cash, therefore greatly reducing any risk of vandalism and theft, but it will also make for smoother internal operations. Practical, more reliable and wholly controllable, this progressive move truly sets African Pride Irene Country Lodge apart from its competitors.

An extensive roll-out plan has been put in place to ensure a seamless transition process. Guests who might have encountered problems before with their cards not being recognised need not worry, as all types of cards will be accepted. Upon check-in, guests’ cards are authorised, ensuring hassle-free transactions for the duration of their stay. Should a refund be necessary, this will be paid directly into the guest’s bank account (in the case of a debit card) or refunded directly back into the credit card.

“We are also looking at implementing a smartcard system, whereby guests can transfer money onto a card, which they can then use throughout the lodge,” Cecilia explains. “This card can then also be used for future visits.” A smartcard system would be of enormous benefit to the Lodge’s large number of regular guests.

While African Pride Irene Country Lodge is at the forefront of the South African hospitality scene, guests will find old-worldly standards of elegance and luxury are upheld at this establishment. Whether it’s fine dining, classy lodgings or just true tranquillity you’re after, the Lodge – with its sumptuous surroundings and soul-soothing country scenes – is an ideal choice.

African Pride Irene Country Lodge wishes to congratulate Nikiwe Malaka, who won the Spring into Summer Competition! We look forward to welcoming Her and Her family to our beautiful lodge.

Thank you to all the entrees to this competition, please note that we run monthly competitions and you may stand a chance to win the next month, so please keep an eye out for our December competition.

But if you don’t want to wait, book your festive break now at African Pride Irene Country Lodge, a haven of peace and tranquility, please follow our link to view all current promotions on offer…

Carols by Candlelight brought to you by SPAR – Jacaranda 94.2 live from Supersport Park – Centurion.

Come sing along with some of your favourite Jacaranda 94.2 presenters and artists at these great festive events.
Join Kurt Darren, Nianell, Romanz, Loyiso and the Holy Jerusalem Choir at the Jacaranda 94.2 Carols by Candlelight, brought to you by SPAR.

CENTURION  Date: Tuesday, 6 December 2011 Time: Gates open 4pm, show starts at 7pm Venue: SuperSport Park, Centurion

Not sure what to do with the kids, why not come to African Pride Irene Country Lodge and enjoy one of our suggested destinations:

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All- in-one Family Fun Getaway at African Pride Irene Country Lodge. African Pride Irene Country lodge has launched its leisure all-in-one Family Fun package where children stay and eat for free when sharing and experiencing the hotel’s luxury accommodation with their parents.

“We’ve taken the hassle out of planning a family getaway and made sure parents also get some downtime to relax, while the children are entertained with the fun-filled kids’ programme,” said operations manager, Mariette Beukes.

Part of the family package includes movie Fridays at the lodge’s on-site cinema which includes a buffet dinner and baby-sitting service, meaning parents can go and enjoy a romantic dinner or pampering at Camdeboo Spa.

Saturdays feature breakfast for the whole family followed by kids’ entertainment which starts at 09h00. “If you would like to explore off-site, we recommend taking a trip to the bi-monthly Irene Market, or taking a walk across the road to Irene Dairy Farm where you can have a picnic lunch under the giant, ancient oak trees,” Beukes said.

She said another highly recommended visit for the children was the cow milking at the dairy. “There’s a unique viewing gallery at the farm providing for an interesting afternoon of fun and learning.”

The on-site cinema also runs again on Saturday night, giving parents another blissful night off. On Sunday it’s family breakfast again with the kids’ entertainment available until 14h00.