Last evening the sun set on a relaxed crowd on the deck of 26 Sunset Avenue, Llandudno, where the clinking of champagne flutes and laughter mingled as Portfolio celebrated the launch of the 2008 / 09 Country Places Guide with friends from the media and tourism sectors.
The idyllic setting of 26 Sunset Avenue caused many a gasp of delight as guests were ushered out of the gusty wind and through the open plan living area which opened out onto the sheltered wooden deck overlooking a sparking Atlantic.
Guests mingled, wandered through the luxurious bedrooms with much ooh-ing and aah-ing ("Have you see the showers?" was an oft-overheard question), and availed themselves of the delectable snacks, while the champagne flowed freely.
At around 6 pm Liz Westby-Nunn (Portfolio Collection CEO) welcomed those gathered and urged all to enjoy the evening celebrating South Africa, pointing out that despite hard economic times for all there is still much to be positive about with the exchange rate encouraging foreigners to visit, and locals to take vacations closer to home. Liz also thanked the media representatives for all they do to promote the country and, specifically, the tourism industry. She spoke enthusiatically about the new Country Places Guide, making special mention of some of the new properties which have come on board in this latest edition.
Jean-Pierre Rossouw of Rossouw's Restaurants then shared about his new-look Guide which incorporates Gauteng for the first time. (more about that here)
Thereafter there was more eating, drinking and networking to be done as the sun slipped lingeringly into the ocean - a perfect end to the evening.
Liz Westby-Nunn, Portfolio CEO (far right) and Jean-Pierre Rossouw of Rossouw's Restaurants, raise glasses to a successful 2009 with Dale McNight and Sean Griffiths.
May and Mike Stedman (Eleven Sedgemoor Road)
Di Wemyss (Garden and Home) and Jolene Bertoldi (Portfolio Collection, Online Dep)
Leigh Taeuber and Christine Haralambous (Men's Health)
Elni Wasserman (26 Sunset Avenue) and Sarah Tompkin (Samara)
For more images of the Launch please see our Portfolio Collection Flickr Group - You are free to download and use images but please observe the rules of the group for attribution and linking.
Thank you!
(All images: Joy-Anne Goodenough. All rights reserved)
