Hidden Treasure The Nutting House Conference Centre

Ethel Shongwe, Product Owner

The Nutting House Conference Centre	<< Back

THE N4 is a top class modern highway that whisks travellers in comfort and safety from Gauteng to the Lowveld. Past Nelspruit, it sweeps past the Kruger National Park, all the way to the Mozambican capital of Maputo. As the highway descends the Great Escarpment, the scenery changes dramatically: from grasslands to dense Bushveld. Groves of subtropical fruit – bananas, avocados, citrus, papayas and nuts – start appearing. Approaching the outskirts of Nelspruit, the capital of Mpumalanga province, the land is given over to intensive agriculture, in one of the most scenic Lowveld settings imaginable. Were it not for the signs pointing it out, few would know that, just a short drive down a dirt turn-off from the N4, is The Nutting House, a tranquil stopover in such a spectacular setting that many “one-nighters” end up staying for much longer than they intended. Set in sprawling gardens and orchards, its biggest drawcard and most obvious attraction, the Nutting House’s name comes from the fact that, until the property was bought by Ethel Shongwe, it was a macadamia nut farm (the first sight that greets the visitor after driving through the entrance are rows and rows of nut trees). A highly qualified academic, Ethel lectured for 14 years before unleashing her creative side in the areas of interior and fashion design. Sewing clothes, she was tempted to try her hand at quilting, found she had a knack for it and was soon turning out duvets and then curtains. But such was her success at designing beautiful interiors that after a while Ethel gave up clothes and curtains for interior design. She has a business in downtown Nelspruit that employs six permanent staff plus casuals and which was recently so busy that it was operating 24 hours a day. Ethel, 49, is one of those serial entrepreneurs who is always turning her hand to something new. Recently she obtained a licence to market construction sand – but The Nutting House remains her greatest passion. In 2009 she brought her daughter, Buyi, a marketing executive, radio presenter and 2009 Miss South Africa second princess, into the business to give it, as Ethel says, “a younger touch”. The guesthouse, which opened in 2004, has rooms for 56 people sharing, all in en-suite luxury, and it has recently added a state-of-the-art conference facility for as many as 900 (although it has put on one conference that was attended by 1,200). During winter evenings, guests are drawn like moths to a flame by the roaring fires in the comfy boma entertainment area, or to prop up the cosy bar. During the day, however, the Nutting House’s location and open design entice everyone outside. The tinkle of running water from several fountains is the only sound to be heard other than the calls of dozens of species of bird. Wherever you choose to relax at The Nutting House you will never struggle to find one of the 22 staff eager to bring you a cool drink – or to whip up a tasty snack. Ethel is justly proud of her team and of the fact that she has successfully instilled in each of them her devotion to guest satisfaction. “I have a gift for getting to know people,” says Ethel. “I’m good at finding out what people want and making sure that they get it. This is something I’ve passed on to my staff. Everyone here takes our guests’ satisfaction personally.” Despite the sense the guest gets of being far from the madding crowd, the shops, restaurants and offices of Nelspruit are no more than 10km away. Even closer is the region’s brand new sports stadium, built specially for the Fifa 2010 football World Cup. The Nutting House is only a couple of minutes’ drive from the stadium and Ethel acknowledges that she will be overwhelmed by demand for rooms when the world’s biggest sporting event comes to Mpumalanga. For this reason she’s already planning tent accommodation (with hot and cold running facilities) in The Nutting House’s orchards for those who don’t mind a bit of camping but who will appreciate access to the guesthouse’s four-star facilities and the tempting output of its kitchen. In putting The Nutting House on the map, TEP, says Ethel, have been a great help. “As a standalone business it’s very difficult to market yourself. By putting us into the Nelspruit Hidden Treasures Cluster, TEP have enabled us to market ourselves locally and internationally. They’re always willing to hold your hand and help with areas in which you need help.” www.thenuttinghouse.co.za

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