SOUTH African businesswoman Liz McGrath, one of very few women in the world to own three hotels, all of which are members of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux group, has died.
Ms McGrath’s death on Saturday morning was conformed by a spokeswoman for The Collection, comprising The Plettenberg in Plettenberg Bay, The Marine in Hermanus and The Cellars-Hohenort in Cape Town.
Ms McGrath’s funeral service is to take place at Rosebank Catholic Church, Johannesburg, on Friday, and a memorial service is planned for St Bernard Catholic Church in Newlands, Cape Town, on February 3. Details are on The Collection’s website.
McGrath began The Collection with The Plettenberg in 1988, after extensive alterations and refurbishments, according to a profile on The Collection’s website.
Two-and-a-half years later, the hotel was invited to become a member of the Relais & Châteaux. This was after her husband, Gerald McGrath died suddenly from a heart attack.
Four years later, prompted by a newspaper advert for the sale of a nine-room guest house in Constantia, Cape Town, McGrath bought the property, opening The Hohenort Manor House — an amalgamation of the first property and the manor house’s property, adjacent, after that.
A media release issued by The Collection notes that McGrath termed decor, food and gardening her “addictions”. Proof of her hospitality industry and gardening acumen came with several awards. In 2008, McGrath received The Woman of the Year Award in Washington, during the annual Relais & Chateaux congress. In 2010 she received the Relais & Chateaux Garden Trophy, an award for The Cellars-Hohenort’s nine acres of beautiful gardens.
She was instrumental in bringing the annual Relais& Chateaux Congress to SA in 1996, and again in November 2010, when The Cellars-Hohenort hosted a gourmet dinner — a spectacular event, hosting many of the world’s Grande Chefs, who together were the proud possessors of 72 Michelin Stars, The Collection said.
“Executive chef Peter Templehoff and his team received a standing ovation from these prestigious chefs, including Michael Roux, Raymond Blanc and Patrick O’Connell from America. As a result of the amazing food served at this event, Peter Templehoff was awarded Grande Chef status. He is the third chef to receive this award in South Africa. It was Liz’s ultimate achievement in her hotel career,” said The Collection spokeswoman Marina Smithers, McGrath’s granddaughter.
In October 2013, McGrath and her team took over the management of Matjiesfontein’s hospitality experiences and entered into a five-year management contract with the Rawdon family, owners of the iconic hotel. She and her team had been involved in a small upgrade of the property.
She is survived by her three children, Lesley, Susan and Michael, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren
Past accolades also include the following:
• In April 1997, in Paris, McGrath was named “Woman to Watch” by The National Foundation for Woman Business Owners and Fortune Magazine. In 1998, she became an honoree.
• In December 2000, during the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to SA for his award’s scheme, McGrath was the vice-chairwoman of the committee to welcome the Duke and Prince Edward.
