SANParks have made a decision to enforce new terms and conditions for accommodation bookings in all of their parks. These new rules will affect everyone from the general public and pensioner clients to tour operators and donor clients.
According to Bheki Zwane, SANParks’ General Manager, the current terms and conditions allow customers to ‘hold bookings for longer periods and only decide at a later stage not to utilize such a booking. This often results in loss of sales and revenue.’
The new terms will therefore increase the short and long term availability of the accommodation. ‘The new terms and conditions will encourage full payment long before arrival and minimize no shows without payment,’ said Zwane.
The new rules will let visitors pay the first deposit 30 days after the booking was made and this payment will increase to 50% as compared to the current payment of 33%. The second deposit of the other 50% must be paid 60 days before arrival in the new rules, whereas in the past 67% payment had to be made 30 days prior to arrival.
‘This will minimize last minute dumping of inventory especially by the public and travel trade that leaves SANParks with reduced time and opportunity to sell unused accommodation inventory,’ said Zwane.
Reservations consultants won’t be able to change the date of the last deposit as the system will be programmed to only confirm the booking if the full amount was paid at the final deposit date. The booking will automatically be cancelled if the second deposit isn’t made 60 days before arrival.
These terms and conditions will come into play as of 1 January 2013.
