A movie about life inside a restaurant kitchen inspired Puleng Mvimbi to abandon her childhood dream of becoming a pilot and pursue a career in hospitality. Today, she owns three guest houses and has created 16 permanent jobs in Bloemfontein, Free State.
Mvimbi launched Altissimo in September 2026, her third and largest hospitality establishment. The facility offers accommodation, a 120-seat conference venue and a wedding venue, with sufficient land available for future expansion.
“I consider the opening of Altissimo my biggest achievement because it was a three-year journey.
Mvimbi’s other hospitality ventures include Melted Butter Lodge and Melted Butter on Milner.
Before entering the hospitality industry, Mvimbi planned to become a pilot, but her career direction changed while she was completing matric.
“One day, I watched the movie No Reservations. I loved what the characters were doing in the kitchen and decided that this was something I wanted to pursue as a career. I wanted to be a chef because I love food,” she said.
The decision surprised her family.
Mvimbi enrolled for a Diploma in Hospitality Management at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein and graduated in 2012.
She gained experience at various hospitality establishments. Her longest stint was at Protea Hotel, where she worked in sales and marketing for eight years.
Mvimbi opened her first guest house in September 2021 and launched her second establishment three months later. She later expanded the business into catering before beginning the Altissimo development in 2023.
Across the three guest houses, Mvimbi offers 32 rooms and serves breakfast, lunch and supper. The business employs 16 permanent workers and eight part-time employees. She said the expansion has been self-funded.
Providing reliable employment is among the most rewarding aspects of running the business.
“We pay our staff on the 27th day of every month and have never failed to meet that obligation. Coming from the Protea Group, where salaries were always paid on time, I have wanted to maintain that culture regardless of the challenges that arise. It is fulfilling to see the impact we are having on people’s lives,” she said.
Tourism Month
Free State MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism Ketso Makume attended the unveiling of Altissimo.
In a statement, Makume described the launch as a testament to Mvimbi’s vision, resilience and contribution to the provincial tourism economy.
“As we celebrate Tourism Month, we celebrate women like Puleng Mvimbi who continue to create opportunities, contribute to economic growth and put the Free State on the map,” he said.
Mvimbi hopes Altissimo’s track record will help the company secure government support for future expansion.
“Maybe then we will be able to approach government and say, ‘This is what we have done on our own. How can we be assisted?’” she said.
Her ambitions extend beyond the Free State.
“We are building a brand. When I look at other established brands, that is where I see us in the future. I see us one day becoming an international brand,” she said.
Discover South Africa
Meanwhile, as South Africa celebrates Tourism Month in September, Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille has encouraged South Africans to explore their own country.
“Tourism begins at home. Before we ask the world to discover South Africa, we must continue encouraging South Africans to discover their own country,” said Minister De Lille while speaking at the Tourism Month media launch in Durban recently.
This year’s Tourism Month theme is “Growing South Africa’s Tourism Sector in the Digital Era.”
Minister De Lille said provinces and cities should develop and promote experiences beyond traditional tourism routes.
She added that technology platforms should help tourism businesses become more visible and easier to discover.
According to the Minister, growing domestic tourism is not the responsibility of government alone. It requires collaboration across all sectors, with government creating an enabling environment for growth.
“The private sector must continue developing compelling, competitive and affordable tourism products,” she said. – www.vukuzenzele.gov.za
