Stellenbosch launches Stay Stellenbucks reward for overnight guests
· 3 min read
- Stellenbosch rewards staying guests* with free Stellenbucks to spend at restaurants, wine farms or on experiences.
- Guests staying two nights or longer can redeem coupons to the value of 20% of their accommodation at a range of participating merchants.
Stellenbosch is launching its Stay Stellenbucks campaign, modelled on the hugely successful Support Stellenbosch campaign which it first pioneered in 2020 to drive the recovery of the town’s travel and tourism industry.
Inviting visitors to stay longer and experience the town’s array of heart-warming winter experiences and events like a local, Stay Stellenbucks will reward visitors who stay two nights or longer* in one of the participating accommodation establishments with Stellenbucks coupons to the value of 20% of their accommodation bill (to a maximum of R1200). Guests can spend their Stellenbucks at any participating winery, restaurant, experience provider or accommodation establishment.
“June to September is our lower season traditionally, which affords us an opportunity to extend visitors a great incentive to stay and play in Stellenbosch,” says Jeanneret Momberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch.
“We also have an exciting line-up of events and we encourage visitors to go beyond the half day to experience Stellenbosch and surrounds like a local. These events are being hosted under the themes of art and culture, music, outdoors concerts, social justice events, bespoke culinary festivals, walking tours, and of course, ample wine tasting attractions, including the annual Wine Town Stellenbosch.”
Stellenbucks for good
Previously, the Support Stellenbosch restaurant campaign, comprising a rewards-based system of redeemable Stellenbucks vouchers, reportedly injected R7 million into the local economy, boosting consumer confidence, job security and collaboration between the tourism industry and locals in the face of tough lockdown restrictions.
“Similarly, our Stay Stellenbucks campaign aims to create and safeguard jobs, while increasing the appeal of winter travel to our town. For Capetonians, in particular, Stellenbosch is a 45-minute drive offering something to suit the needs of every type of traveller, making it the perfect overnight destination,” Jeanneret says.
Read campaign terms and conditions in full here.
WATCH: South Africa: Visit our Winelands
ALSO READ: Support Stellenbosch campaign kept town afloat
The Bureau for Economic Research (BER) at Stellenbosch University has compiled a report on the Support Stellenbosch campaign, which ran from 5 September to 16 October 2020 (phase 1) and 23 October and 20 November 2020 (phase two) to help support participating restaurants and establishments hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.
Presented in partnership with SnapScan, Support Stellenbosch was a rewards-based campaign where locals and visitors received a voucher to the value of 50% of what they spent at an establishment (provided that they spent at least R200). The vouchers, called Stellenbucks, were capped at R400 and were redeemable through SnapScan at any participating restaurant within the campaign period.
The campaign was underpinned by Visit Stellenbosch’s Restaurant Recovery Fund, which covered the costs of the Stellenbucks and raised R1 770 000, thanks to generous donations from corporates, local businesses and private individuals.
In this way, the campaign hoped to encourage residents and visitors to experience the Covid-safe, Stellenbosch Ready protocols, to support local eateries, and to promote return visits. But did it work?
In order to evaluate the impact and outcome of the campaign, BER used various Stats SA data to quantify the devastating impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on the restaurant industry as a whole; an online survey to determine the realities faced and experiences of participating restaurant owners (including business activity before, during and after the campaign); and a SnapScan analysis of transactions during the campaign period.
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