This veteran in the hospitality industry and owner of the popular Tzaneen Country Lodge, says that she did not know anything about the industry when she started. “But my love for serving people motivated me to pursue this dream.” Her dedication has earned her multiple business awards and the respect of the international tourism community. Adri says she never thought that she and her late husband, Faan Kruger, would end up with one of the best hotels in South Africa when they bought an old house in Tarentaalrand. It all started by accident, she told the Herald.

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She says she one day had an idea to start a bed-and-breakfast because of the great location of the house and tourists passing by on their way to the Kruger National Park. “I did not know anything about running an establishment in the hospitality industry. I educated myself by reading books which taught me about the hotel industry, front-desk, how to run a kitchen and waitering. “Running a successful business takes hard work, I mopped the floors, I used to work 18-hours a day, often to the detriment of my family. “I put my heart into the lodge and it has now paid off,” she said. The hotel started with 22 rooms and it now has 61 rooms, a spa, three swimming pools, a chapel, restaurant and a bar amongst the many facilities.

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Some of her accolades include 2014 Sanlam/Business Partners South Africa Entrepreneur of the Year Award, chairperson of the Southern African Tourism Services Association in Limpopo, the Tzaneen Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year in 2005 and 2012, the first female president of the Tzaneen Chamber of Commerce, the South African ambassador for the African Tourism Board, a member of Skal South Africa and committee member for the Sustainability Committee for Skal International. The lodge also has won numerous awards including the AA Best Country Commercial Hotel in South Africa (2003, 2005 and 2007), 2015 winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and finalist at the Luxury Hotel Awards International and overall second place in the World Luxury Spa Hotel Awards voted by tour operators in 2008.

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Adri has excelled in several other businesses too, but her passion lies with the hospitality industry, creating jobs and uplifting her community. She has a special place for the upliftment and emotional well-being of women. “Women should reach for their dreams no matter how impossible it may seem and never allow anyone to tell them that they can’t achieve something because they are women,” she said. She concluded by thanking her family, daughter Philipa van Zyl, grandchildren Erin and Joshua, siblings, employees, clients and the surrounding community for always supporting her. Visit Tzaneen Country Lodge at www.tznlodge.co.za.