My Career

After completing my Bachelor of Business Administration through the University of South Africa in mid-2004, I kicked off my professional journey with a brief stop in human resources at Arebbusch Travel Lodge in Windhoek. While it was a solid starting point, I quickly discovered that my real passion lay elsewhere – in marketing and sales, where things were starting to get really exciting.

This was the early 2000s – just as websites, smartphones, the internet, and social media began to reshape the way we connect with customers. It felt like a digital frontier was opening up, and I knew I wanted to be part of it. That shift wasn’t just about flashy online campaigns either – what really fascinated me was the technology that powered hospitality businesses behind the scenes.

I became involved in designing and refining our hotel tech stack – linking everything from our property management system and channel manager to booking engine, global distribution system, reputation management tools, and more. There’s something very satisfying about getting all those moving parts to sync up and actually work together. For me, systems design and development isn’t just a means to an end – it’s an integral part of any solid marketing and sales strategy in hospitality.

Around this same time, online travel agents (OTAs) began to make waves in the industry. They brought opportunities – but also challenges. Suddenly, acquisition costs were rising as more intermediaries entered the market. I’ve always enjoyed the puzzle of keeping distribution costs under control while still driving bookings – and it’s a challenge I continue to thrive on today.

As hospitality tech evolved further and big data became more mainstream, so too did the concept of revenue management. This was a natural progression for me – and here’s where marketing and revenue management started to overlap in interesting ways.

Revenue management and marketing are closely intertwined. Marketing drives demand – but revenue management ensures that demand is captured at the right price, at the right time, through the right channel. Without a strategic marketing approach, you might not have the demand you need; and without solid revenue management, you may not be optimising the value of that demand. The two functions feed into and amplify each other – and both are critical to any hotel’s success.

By 2019, I began to take on more formal revenue management responsibilities. What started as an interest quickly grew into a core focus area – and today, I lead the revenue, marketing, and sales department. It’s a dynamic space that challenges me daily and keeps me curious, analytical, and creative all at once.

In late 2024, I earned my Revenue Management Executive Certification (CRME) through the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) – a milestone I’m proud of. And recently, I’ve taken things a step further by enrolling in a Revenue Management course through Cornell University, which continues to sharpen my strategic thinking.

I genuinely believe the hospitality industry is at a crossroads – facing big topics like sustainability, AI integration, and workforce challenges. But I’m optimistic. I think the companies that are curious, adaptable, and forward-thinking will not only survive – they’ll lead the way.

I’m fortunate to be both a Namibian citizen and a South African permanent resident, which gives me the flexibility to live and work in both countries – something I value as I continue to grow both personally and professionally in the region.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my journey so far. Feel free to reach out if you’re working on something interesting in the hospitality or travel revenue, marketing or tech space and you would like to share some ideas – I’d love to connect!