PICK-A-PLACE EVENTS AND TOURS PUTS FUN IN TRAVELLING.

At just the age of 26, Matlhatsi Mokonyane is a successful and goal driven businessman. Matlhatsi started an events and tours company at the age of 23 back in 2016. His passion for travelling and events started in 2015 while he was working for a company that also provides the same services.

His company’s name is Pick-A-Place Events and Tours, which basically targets primary and high schools in terms of organising educational tours and school camps. Not only does Pick-A-Place focus on schools but also provide services such as sound hire, décor and catering, events management and group holidays for individuals and families. The company’s mission says “To serve our clients with enhanced travel experience by providing quality services that address their travel needs, through the most loyalty, superior financial results and excellent customary satisfaction can be achieved”.

Growing up, the young businessman had it tough as he had to repeat his matric four times before eventually succeeding.  “Like any young man I had dreams of going to university but when I finally completed my matric I was already tired, I wanted to go to university and do Graphic design” said Mokonyane. Just like any other business Matlhatsi’s company had challenges, he faced difficulties in obtaining start-up capital for his business but as a young man who knew what he wanted he saved money and asked his family for contribution.

His business is still facing challenges such as competitors but Matlhatsi is an eager and driven young man. “We approach schools 98% of the time to propose our business to them, I have three employees working for me in order to share responsibilities” added Mokonyane. Pick-A-Place is also contributing and giving back to the community in terms of hiring local unemployed youth.

His business is located at Ga-Rankuwa Zone 2, he chose the location because it is a busy area where lots of people pass by, making it good for marketing. He is renting the place which is also one of the challenges the business is facing. The company organizes over twenty events and trips in a year. One of the employees Boitshoko Matlou (21) Mothutlung expressed how working at Pick-A-Place has helped her “I am gaining so much experience, I get to work with people which is something I have always wanted and I get exposed to the tourism industry”.

Mokonyane said it is a challenge when hiring people because he wants people who share the same vision as him not those who are just there to work. “My work requires me to have passion for children so if you don’t have passion you will end up mistreating clients”.  

BY AMOGELANG RAMOTSHO.