Fireside Chats at The Last Word Franschhoek

This week, our 'Fireside Chats' series of 'Q&A' whisks us off to South Africa's gourmet capital, Franschhoek. The series is an excellent way for you to stay connected with our 'beyond boutique' experiences that await you. Also, they help you get to know our lovely team at The Last Word despite the distance. Join us as Nicky Coenen, our Group General Manager, catches up with Conrad Flatow, General Manager of The Last Word Franschhoek.

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"Since our head office is based in Cape Town, we are fortunate to have the beautiful Cape Winelands as our 'backyard'. Spring is a particularly enchanting time to explore the winelands. The crisp, clear mornings are filled with the scent of woodfire smoke unfurling from cosy farmsteads' chimneys. The dramatic Franschhoek Mountains baking in the warm Spring sunshine hug the expansive vineyards; rows and rows of perfectly planted symmetry wink in the sunlight at passers-by. We celebrate the promise of the expected harvest as new shoots of bright green pop against the awakening vines. Sipping on fine wines paired with some of the most beautiful food in the world, complemented with jaw-dropping views comes standard in the valley," says Nicky, smiling, a faraway look in her eye.

NC: Hello, Conrad. It's so good to be back in beautiful Franschhoek. How long have you been welcoming our lovely guests to our beautiful boutique hotel as General Manager?
CF: Good morning, Nicky. Yes, it's always lovely to see you here. I've been with The Last Word Franschhoek for more than ten years now, and I appreciate it more than ever!

NC: What is your favourite time of day here at the hotel?
DD: That's an easy one. Interacting with the guests. I love listening to travellers' tales.

NC: Conrad, have you had any guests who didn't ever want to leave?
CF: All the time, but if they don't end up staying longer, they almost always end up as return guests.

NC: What does 'beyond boutique' mean to you and your team?
CF: Nothing is ever too much trouble.

NC: Which quality is The Last Word Franschhoek best known for?
CF: Most definitely, our proximity to world-class restaurants and surrounding top-notch vineyards. Have you heard the great news, Nicky? The much-anticipated Restaurant Week has been stretched to the entire month of October. Visit Restaurant Week XXL for more details or better yet, ask me!

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Our lovely team has a finger on the pulse of what makes this little village with a big heart tick. Aside from dining at our country's finest restaurants, wine-tasting at world-class wineries, there's so much to do.

For a virtual exploration of our serene sanctuary, The Last Word Franschhoek, we invite you to view this short clip on our YouTube channel.  A reminder, please have a look at our exciting promotions. Reach out to our friendly reservations team who are on standby for you.

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