The Hotel

On December the 11th 1962, South African Airways made an experimental flight and landed at Sal.

Once the necessary repairs were made to the landing field, a regular flight began between Johannesburg and Frankfurt, with a stop-over at Sal.

In 1967, Mr. Bonenberg, an SAA mechanic living in Espargos asked Mr. and Mrs. Vynckier if they could rent him 2 rooms.

The Hotel (Continue)

Over the years the demand kept on rising along with the number of stop-overs from the airline that made Sal its major stop-over worldwide. This way Morabeza became a 140 room hotel, lodging also TAP, TAAG, Cubana and Aeroflot.On November 1986, President Reagan refused landing rights to SAA on American land.

The People

Baudhuin Baert, of Belgian origin, took office in 1969. He was the technical leader of Morabeza and during more than 30 years made sure that all of the construction works went smoothly. In collaboration with 2 woodworkers from Gand – the De Zutters – and his Cape Verdean team, Mr Baert completed the facilities and assured the functionality of the technical elements.

The People (Continue)

Patone Lobo was hired in 1974 and in that same year began working with Mme Vynckier. Shortly after the independence he became director of the Hotel. Mr. Lobo left us in the year 2000 to establish his own inn.

Sophie Vynckier - Marcellesi, the daughter of Georges and Geneviève has been working at the hotel since 1997. And since Patone’s departure, she’s managed the establishment.

The Staff

The majority of this extremely dedicated team is from Santa Maria village. Presently there are 150 employees working at the hotel, 5 of which are European.

Some of our human resources are the grandchildren of our first collaborators.