“Conserving a Vanishing Way of Life”
The journey of Mantis began back in 1992 and was founded by its current chairman Adrian Gardiner. Although the group existed during those years, the name, “Mantis” was only conceived in the year 2000. The name stems from the Praying Mantis, a tiny insect with an uncanny ability to survive in even the harshest conditions by having the utmost respect for its surroundings; such is the mantra of the group. Today the group consists of five star boutique hotels, game reserves, eco experiences, luxury yachts and extraordinary rail journeys. The group has its origins in South Africa and now has a presence in the United Kingdom, Europe, The Americas, Antarctica and Africa. The portfolio is currently made up of over 40 properties around the globe with plans to further grow this to over 100 properties within the next 5 years.
To think that this all began with one man’s vision a mere 21 years ago. Adrian Gardiner began his journey with the purchase of an insignificant abused, eroded and spiritless piece of land measuring a mere 2000 hectares in size. From studying many old manuscripts and photographs detailing the history of the area, Adrian was shocked to discover that this sterile landscape was previously an area where wildlife was abundant and the landscape rich. This inspired him to conceptualize the world renowned Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa, which today measures 25 000 hectares in size and has seen the re-introduction of all the game that once roamed the wilds of the Eastern Cape 200 years ago. Shamwari now hosts visitors from all over the world, and proudly displays how Mantis re-established these wild lands and single handedly put the Eastern Cape Province on the world tourism map. Several years later, Adrian and his wildlife team emulated this model at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the Western Cape, near Cape Town and today they continue to mentor many other reserves and national parks all around the world with their re-wilding strategies, planning and ultimately, development.
When prospective holiday makers or adventure travellers research one of the Mantis hotels, lodges, luxury yachts and/or rail journeys, they have a multitude of experiences to choose from; from enjoying the sumptuous pleasures at the luxurious private mansion called Cap Estel on the Côte d'azur, or the charm of the elegant Draycott Hotel in the heart of Chelsea in London, to gorilla trekking in the Parcs de Volcans of Rwanda or dog sledding in search of the Northern Lights in the High Arctic. Mantis has something for everyone and aspires to become one of the
World’s leading hotel brands. At its heart, Mantis represents a new type of luxury. It seeks to celebrate and preserve the unique spirit of each location, the culture, the gastronomy and the landscape without compromising on delivering the highest standards of quality and service. This makes each Mantis experience totally unique and they plan to continue to seek out some of the world’s very best travel experiences in the years to come.
Today, the Mantis Group is not solely a hotel group; two decades on, the group comprises of five business divisions made up of the following units: Mantis Hospitality Management, Mantis Development, Mantis Conservation, Mantis Marketing and Mantis Education. On a regular basis, Mantis receives requests from wealthy individuals or groups that range from them requiring assistance developing a lodge in a remote part of Africa, to requests for Mantis to manage a boutique hotel for them in a wine region of France. The Group can thus offer a prospective client or investor a truly world class “one stop” service, taking a project from conception and feasibility through to planning, detailed design, construction, and eventually onto management and marketing.
The Mantis Hospitality Management division has a wealth of expertise when it comes to the management of five star boutique hotels, lodges, luxury yachts and trains, offering effective operational and management services to all the five star establishments under its umbrella.
Through many years of developing lodges and hotels the Mantis Development division has the capability and know-how to develop almost any hotel or lodge a client approaches them with. Recent projects include the Delaire Graff Estate in South Africa, the Plantation Club in the Seychelles and Ellenborough Park Hotel in the United Kingdom. Their very latest venture is the development of new build five star boutique hotel on the historical site where Nelson Mandela’s fellow comrades were captured in 1963, which ultimately lead to them being imprisoned on Robin Island for many years during the Apartheid years of South Africa.
“Nurturing nature today for tomorrow” is the mantra within the Mantis Conservation division. The success of Shamwari Game Reserve has resulted in the establishment of this unit, and today the team consults and assists in the development and re-wilding of vast tracks of land globally, in order to bring them back to their former glory and of course to make them economically sustainable. The team has undertaken projects in Scotland, Morocco, Abu Dhabi, Africa and more recently The Wilds in the USA.
Without guests, none of these properties would be successful or sustainable for that matter and it is for this reason, that the group established the Mantis Marketing division. This unit has offices in the USA, the UK, South Africa, Germany and France and offers a full suite of marketing related services and activities that include sales, public relations and media marketing (web, social media etc).
Education has always been recognized as an important facet to the growth and ultimate success of the world’s youth, hence the establishment of the Mantis Education division. The unit has aligned itself with several important partners who include one of Europe’s largest hospitality schools, Stenden University located in Holland, and South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Mantis Educations’ newest partner includes Johnson and Wales University in the USA, with plans to introduce many of their students to aspects of lodge management in Africa. Mantis also operates a “Gap Year” program whereby students are placed at various conservation and community projects around the world. “Vets Go Wild” is a program that places vet students on tailored veterinarian courses at Shamwari Game Reserve. Mantis also has a Game Ranger training facility at the game reserve, assisting in the training and placement of South Africa’s most experienced wildlife guides. Should any property within the Mantis Group require in-depth research in certain disciplines i.e. sustainable energy, statistics, marine and environmental work, these strategic partners undertake the research on behalf of the Mantis Group.
As part of Mantis’ growth strategy Mantis realizes that as a group they cannot act independently and thus have aligned themselves with key Strategic Alliance Partners who include the world-acclaimed Born Free Foundation, The Wilderness Foundation and America’s top wildlife ambassador and TV personality, Jack Hanna.
In reply to a need for fresh and innovative experiences, the group has recently launched a Mantis Specialist Guides program, to optimize the guest experience within their unassailable collection. The Specialist Guides are available throughout Southern Africa, Antarctica, Europe and South America, complimenting the diverse experiences that make up the collection. With icons that include the likes of Bear Grylls, Ben Fogel, and Oliver
Steeds and many other highly experienced individuals, and access to some of the world’s most remote wild lands, Mantis promises to deliver the trip of a lifetime.
“Going forward we plan to expand our collection of properties to all 7 continents of the world” says Adrian Gardiner. “We wish to attach a five star hospitality component to some of the world’s must-see wonders, including the Great Barrier Reef, the Amazon Jungle, the tigers and mystical palaces of India and the towering mountains of Nepal. This growth will follow the underlying philosophy of our Group’s mantra “Conserving a Vanishing Way of Life” and as we expand into these key regions, it will be carried out in a responsible and ecological manner, supporting the local environment through community development projects, conservation of wildlife and the natural resources of the region” he goes on to explain.
The group is the proud recipient of several global awards some of which include; the World’s Leading Conservation Company at the World Travel Awards, the Condé Nast Traveller Choice Award, the American Society of Travel Agents Environmental Award, the Audi Terra Nova Award, the Global Nature Fund Award for Best Conservation Practice, the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award, the DRV German Travel Agents Association Worldwide Tourism and Environment Award and the Travel & Leisure Magazine US Top 100 World’s Best Hotels Award.
Adrian Gardiner has received awards for the Environmentalist of the Year - Nick Steel Memorial Award (SAB Miller Environmentalist of the Year Award) and the Tourism Business Leadership - African Hospitality Investment Award.
The Mantis Group is a proud member of the Preferred Boutique™ Hotel Group.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Nicky Arthur: +27 21 407 0754 / email nicky.arthur@mantiscollection.com
OR
Kirsten Lovemore: +44 207 594 4793 / email kirsten.lovemore@mantiscollection.com
Note to editors:
Mantis is a proud member of Preferred Boutique™ Hotel Group.
The Mantis Group is a private collection of award winning, privately owned, five star properties located around the World. Divided into 3 distinct groups, our specialist areas include Boutique Hotels, Game Reserves & Eco Lodges. All of the properties are unique and celebrate the culture, gastronomy, architecture and nature of the locations in which they are found. Privately owned Boutique Hotels, Game Reserves & Eco Lodges for the discerning traveler
Boutique Hotels: Located worldwide on land and on water these intimate hotels, rail journeys and luxury yachts present the highest standards of personalized service offering lavish havens of comfort and privacy. Sumptuous pleasures on land and on water.
Game Reserves: These world renowned game reserves are dedicated to conserving local ecosystems with the full diversity of plant and animal life native to each area. Enjoy exceptional accommodation with unprecedented encounters with nature. Enjoy exceptional accommodations and signature features, among others, the Born free Foundations at Shamwari Game Reserve and the free roaming White Lions of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Nurturing nature today, for tomorrow.
Eco Lodges: With a strong commitment to conservation of the environment and exploration, the eco lodges are an eclectic collection of luxurious yet responsible travel opportunities. In Keeping with the Mantis philosophy of conserving a vanishing way of life, these experiences all boast unparalleled green credentials and a dedication to the preservation and sustainability of their respective environments. Responsible adventures for a sustainable future.
Visit: www.mantiscollection.com
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