Blog - CedarWoods of Sandton

CedarWoods 2020 learnership

2019-12-17T00:00:00+02:00

It’s time for our 4 year paid learnership intake! CedarWoods is offering young people who are interested in the hospitality industry the chance to be selected for a 1 year induction followed by a three year learnership with us.

We will shortlist 10 applicants, who will be given an aptitude test (arranged and paid for by us). The 6 most suitable candidates will then be chosen to benefit from a 1-year induction period at CedarWoods.

This induction will include rotation through the various hotel sections, including the bar and restaurant, the kitchen, reception, housekeeping, sales and banqueting. At the end of the year, successful candidates will be enrolled to study towards a diploma in Hospitality Management or Professional Cookery, which is a 3 year learnership

To apply, you must be:

Younger than 21
In possession of a matric certificate
A South African citizen
Passionate about hospitality

To apply, please email the following documents to learnership@cedarwoods.co.za:

CV
Letter of motivation
Matric certificate

Applications close on 31 January 2020.

Host your halaal wedding at CedarWoods

2019-05-16T00:00:00+02:00

CedarWoods of Sandton now hosts halaal weddings among its many other offerings!

Conveniently located just a stone’s throw from Johannesburg’s business hub of Sandton, CedarWoods has long catered for celebrations of all kinds, and now we can also make your perfect halaal wedding happen.

We’ve teamed up with experienced event planner A Muizz from Decadent Events to ensure that your wish is our command on your special day! Since it is one of Muizz’s specialities to organise every aspect of halaal weddings – from décor, flowers, catering and set-up to arranging lighting and live performers – you won’t have to spend the weeks before your wedding stressing about practicalities.

Want a violinist or saxophone player for your wedding? Muizz will discuss your needs and wants with you, and can handle everything – whether you prefer a buffet, plated meals or traditional food, vegan, fusion or more, he will draw up the timeline for your big day, help arrange the ceremony and anything else in between. (And he doesn’t stop at halaal weddings – if it’s a Hindu union or any other celebration you’re after, Muizz will bring that on, too.)

Muizz and the CedarWoods team will stay in the background throughout your special day to ensure all runs smoothly.

A smooth operation

CedarWoods deputy general manager Marielle Du Toit has welcomed many happy couples to the hotel’s wedding venue. “We refer couples who require halaal weddings to Muizz as it is much easier for a bride to deal with one supplier who handles everything than to deal with multiple people,” she explains. “Every halaal wedding is tailor-made to suit the couple … each wedding is unique.”

She adds that CedarWoods is “really flexible” – not only when it comes to halaal weddings, but also when the hotel hosts other types of weddings, banquets and events. “We understand that each couple has different things that are important to them. Whatever it may be, we’re willing to work with them and bring their ideas to life.”

Marielle concedes that CedarWoods was initially reluctant to bring in outside catering, but the many enquiries for halaal weddings and realisation that there is a shortage of venues with the capacity to host them were decisive factors.

“Our condition was that such weddings are handled by one supplier we trust, and who we knew would take exceptional care of our clients,” she says.

Dream setting

Muizz explains that CedarWoods is a great wedding venue, because of the privacy it offers, the abundant parking available and the fact that the venue is extremely secure. Wedding couples also appreciate its beautiful, expansive gardens – perfect for pictures to be cherished forever.

“It’s not overly stylised either, which gives me a lovely clean palette that I can decorate as I please, and the soon-to-be-married couple can decide what they want the venue to look like. CedarWoods also keeps guests comfortable with air conditioning in all the rooms and venues,” he adds.

Marielle agrees that the venue is special. “CedarWoods has a certain energy to it. I think it has a lot to do with our team and the fact that we’ve become a family, so we treat CedarWoods as our home,” she says.

“This is not just a building or a business to us. Couples wanting to get married at CedarWoods get a personal touch – it doesn’t matter if they have 50 or 450 guests. We love having clients return to us, so we ensure their day is as special as it could possibly be, so that we’re part of their fond memories forever.”

CedarWoods is located at 120 Western Service Road, Woodmead, Sandton.

For more information on halaal weddings and other offerings at CedarWoods, contact the hotel on +27 (0)11 804 3777, email info@cedarwoods.co.za or visit www.springnest.cedarwoods.com. For more wedding inspiration, visit Muizz’s Instagram page at muizz_decadentevents.

You can also send a query through the CedarWoods website contact page at https://cedarwoods.springnest.com/contact/contact-us/.

CedarWoods 2019 learnership

2019-01-10T00:00:00+02:00

To apply, you must be:

Younger than 21
In possession of a matric certificate
A South African citizen
Passionate about hospitality

To apply, please email the following documents to learnership@cedarwoods.co.za:

CV
Letter of motivation
Matric certificate

Applications close on 31 January 2019.

We’ve come far as the CedarWoods family

2018-08-27T00:00:00+02:00

When our establishment opened in 2002, we had no idea that we would grow into the family we are today.

Once upon a time, we went by the name of Cedar Park Hotel & Conference Centre and had a much smaller team under the leadership of our current general manager, Randy Moniez. The team has grown, but many of our staff have remained with us since.

A few years into our operation, in 2014, we realised there was a need for change. We put a lot of thought and effort into ways to freshen up our brand – it was time for the transition to a brand-new look and feel.

With the change came the need for a new name. We invited guests and members of the public to offer their suggestions with a fun competition that involved lots of prizes and gifts.

On 1 September of that year, just in time for spring, we launched our new name and image, reflecting a fresh, contemporary new look while keeping our values as a close-knit family.

Our mission to help bring about positive change in the community around us has always been a defining factor for us and this has remained consistent throughout our existence. We’ve made a concerted effort to hire staff from the community, specifically focusing people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

We’ve also taken part in a number of community initiatives, including helping to cultivate gardens. We are also very proud of our green policy which focuses on making our operations as environmentally friendly as possible.

Today, CedarWoods of Sandton is a thriving hotel and conference centre serving both local and international guests. We offer a range of accommodation options in four different themes: “country style” for comfort and sophistication; “modern single” for individual travellers; “king leisure” with king-sized beds and en-suite bathrooms; and “superior deluxe”, ideal for couples on honeymoon.

Our conferencing centre also caters for various needs. We can host a spectrum of events – from a company board meeting to a team-building outing – and are able to host up to 700 delegates for exhibitions, product launches and other events. Our banqueting services can accommodate gala dinners, weddings and matric dances, too.

We’ve experienced many highlights over the past decade. These include when our conference centre achieved a four-star rating in 2017, when our deputy general manager Marielle du Toit won a Top 40 Women in MICE award in 2016 and we've been awarded TripAdvisor service Excellence awards for 3 years running.

We’re looking forward to more growth and many more years of CedarWoods of Sandton being your home away from home.

What to get up to in Sandton

2018-07-16T00:00:00+02:00

Famously known for being the “the richest square mile in Africa”, Sandton is more than just a retail and business hub. The area offers a wide range of interesting and diverse venues, regular events, attractions and historical sites. Here are some options to explore on your next visit:

Browse through a market

There are a number of regular markets in and around Sandton, offering great food, entertainment and craft. One of the most prominent is the Bryanston Organic & Natural Market, which was established back in 1976 and has remained a holistic haven in the area with its focus on organic and natural products.

Look forward to wholesome food, art, sculpture and fine handcraft, quality clothing and jewellery, entertainment and children’s activities. Also look out for a number of health and wellness stalls, accessories, stylish homeware and much more.

So whether you’re looking for healthy organic products, a tranquil break from the city’s bustle of a coffee and sweat treat, this is the place to be.

The market, at 40 Culross Road, Bryanston, is open on Thursdays, Saturdays and selected public holidays from 9am until 3pm.

Pop out to a nature reserve

When you think Sandton, you inevitably think skyscrapers and congestion. While nature reserves are probably the last thing on your mind, did you know that the Rietfontein Nature Reserve is a quick 20-minute drive from this commercial hub? The 24ha reserve in Paulshof is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including antelope, mousebirds and Southern masked weavers, and offers amazing views of the city.

There’s a walking trail suitable for everyone, including kids. The Friends of Rietfontein is a group of volunteers who help to protect, preserve and promote the reserve. Check their page online for Johannesburg City Parks contacts if you’d like to arrange a special event in the reserve.

The reserve is open daily from 6am to 6pm and entrance is free.

Take a step back in history

Some of South Africa’s most significant historical sights are in Johannesburg. A stone’s throw from Sandton is Liliesleaf farm in Rivonia, which played an integral part in the liberation struggle against apartheid.

Liliesleaf served as an operations base and safehouse for freedom fighters for almost two years in the early 1960s and was the site where six of the 10 accused in the infamous Rivonia Trial were arrested for planning to overthrow the apartheid government.

Today the farm is a heritage site, operates as a museum and has an onsite café.

Liliesleaf is open daily for self-guided and educational tours, unless the venue is closed for a function. Groups of 10 or more need to book their visit in advance. For more information and opening hours, click here.

Nelson Mandela Square

When all is said and done, there’s a reason why Sandton is known for glitz and glamour, so you can’t visit Johannesburg without actually experiencing it. Few areas exemplify the dazzle and excitement more than Nelson Mandela Square.

Refurbished and renamed in 2004, the square is dominated by a huge, striking bronze statue of former president Nelson Mandela. The statue is usually surrounded by tourists and locals grabbing the opportunity to be photographed with their icon.

The square is located adjacent to the landmark Sandton City shopping mall, and boasts exclusive shopping, upmarket restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating, and the Theatre on the Square for those wanting to take in some culture.

The space is also home to the Sandton Library, a tranquil three-storey public building housing more than 92 000 books, newspapers, audiobooks, videos and more.

Shop until you drop

Looking for contemporary, hassle-free shopping? Woodmead Retail Park along Woodmead Drive offers more than 80 retail stores, restaurants and service outlets, such as optometrists, car-wash services, a vet and a travel agent.

Whether it’s fashion retail therapy, grocery shopping, coffee with friends or a stylish evening out you’re after, the centre has what you’re looking for – as well as ample safe parking.

Once you’ve checked out some of the country’s biggest retail brands housed in the centre, head to the News Cafe cocktail bar next door, a stand-alone addition to the retail park.