When Francine Zana takes the stage at the 4th Annual Township and Village Tourism Intra-Trade Conference, she will do so not only as a speaker but as living proof that resilience, vision, and determination can transform lives. Attendance is free, and interested participants can RSVP or register via Confspot: https://confspot.co.za/list/township-and-village-intra-trade-conference
Once a hotel cleaner at the age of 19, Zana has since built an award-winning hospitality business that empowers others to access opportunities she once fought hard to find. Her remarkable journey from humble beginnings to entrepreneurial success perfectly reflects the SATOVITO Conference’s 2025 theme — “Township and Rural Tourism Development.”
From Hotel Cleaner to Industry Leader
Zana’s story begins in South Africa’s hotel corridors, where she worked as a cleaner and learned the ins and outs of the hospitality sector from the ground up. Instead of accepting her role as permanent, she used the experience as a foundation to understand customer service, operations, and the often-overlooked dignity of cleaning work.
Years later, armed with perseverance and self-belief, she founded her own hospitality solutions company, providing professional cleaning and training services to hotels, lodges, and guesthouses. Today, her company has earned ten industry awards, serving as a bridge between jobseekers and formal employment in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Empowering Women Through Mentorship and Self-Belief
At the SATOVITO Conference, Zana is expected to speak on women’s empowerment, mentorship, and entrepreneurship within township and village tourism. Her message is clear and deeply personal: “I want cleaners to be recognised, just like CEOs are.”
She believes that no job is too small to lead to greatness — a lesson that continues to inspire young women in hospitality to embrace every role as a stepping stone, not a ceiling. Her success, achieved without external funding, also highlights the potential of self-funded entrepreneurship in building sustainable, independent businesses.
Aligning with SATOVITO’s Mission of Inclusive Growth
Zana’s participation reinforces SATOVITO’s commitment to creating practical pathways for growth and inclusion within South Africa’s tourism sector. Her work demonstrates how empowering people at the grassroots level — especially women — directly contributes to the country’s economic transformation.
As SATOVITO celebrates five years of impact this November in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, Zana’s story will serve as both inspiration and a call to action for tourism practitioners, policymakers, and business owners to invest in human potential as much as in infrastructure. Attendance is free, and interested participants can RSVP or register via Confspot: https://confspot.co.za/list/township-and-village-intra-trade-conference
A Voice for Recognition and Respect
Zana continues to advocate for the formal recognition of cleaners and hospitality workers as integral contributors to South Africa’s tourism success story. Her philosophy — that dignity and leadership begin with self-respect — challenges conventional notions of hierarchy in the workplace and calls for a more inclusive approach to economic growth.
Her voice at the SATOVITO Conference adds a powerful dimension to discussions around transformation, entrepreneurship, and opportunity within the township and village tourism landscape.
Leading by Example
Francine Zana’s achievements remind us that the path to success is rarely straight, but always possible with courage and conviction. Her participation in SATOVITO 2025 underscores the organisation’s belief that the future of tourism lies not only in big hotels and luxury lodges — but in the stories of ordinary South Africans who create extraordinary impact.
