De Villiers Heymans has been appointed as the General Manager of Pretoria’s popular Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! by Marriott Menlyn, taking the reins at just 28. Hailing from the Free State, he joined the Protea Hotels by Marriott group 10 years ago.
Heymans first entered the industry in Clarens, subsequently moving to Gauteng where he gained extensive experience in the food and beverage side of the hospitality industry. This solid background set the stage for his move into senior management roles, including most recently almost three years as the Deputy GM of the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! by Marriott Melrose Arch.
With its distinctive brand elements, not every capable hotelier is suited to the Fire & Ice! style – quirky, trendy, and clearly tapping into the mood of the young-at-heart South African – so his immersion into its unique approach in Johannesburg will no doubt stand him in good stead in his new role.
