In line with Tsogo Sun’s commitment to effective talent management across all employee levels, the company recently hosted the first Slots Host Championship competition ever to be held in South Africa.
Based on the format of the Tsogo Sun National Dealer Championships, which has been running for two years in its present format and is now held in all 14 properties around the country, the Slots Host Championship was held in August and will be an annual event on the Tsogo Sun calendar. Says Steve Hight, Director of Gaming for Tsogo Sun, “We took the decision to hold an annual Slots host Championship in recognition of the great value that slots hosts bring to the company through their attentive interaction with visitors in what is invariably the busiest area in the casino.”
A total of 18 finalists, represented by two slots host staff from each of the four big casino units and one from each of the smaller casino units, were flown to Tsogo Sun’s Hemingways casino in East London to participate in the competition, where customer service, dispute resolution and technical skills were evaluated by technical and non-technical judges in a series of simulated scenarios.
The eventual first place winner was Siyabonga Ntshekazi from Montecasino, who won R10 000 tax-free (Tsogo Sun having paid the tax portion) and was described by the judges an “inspiration who lives excellent customer service”. Second place went to Jay-Jay Bouwer from Emnotweni, who won the R5 000 cash prize and third place to Refilwe Tsubella from Gold Reef City, who won R2 500. Two runner-ups each won R1 000 in prize money.
“This competition is designed to encourage excellence and professionalism throughout the slots host ranks and to build spirit among them; it’s one of our initiatives to ensure that our staff are recognised for the value they bring to the group and the significant contribution they make to the overall success of our casinos,” says Annemie Turk, Tsogo Sun Gaming Manager. “It is a privilege to reward them with their own national championship competition that identifies the very best of the best. We heartily congratulate every slots host who made it into the national finals and urge each one to continue striving to be the best representative of Tsogo Sun they can be in their respective casino environments.”
Steve Hight, Danny Monareng, Siyabonga Ntshekazi (Montecasino – first place), Jay-Jay Bouwer (Emnotweni – second place), Refilwe Tsubella (Gold Reef City – third place), Mariette Palmer-Pilgrim and Molebogeng Letlape