Customers and surrounding communities of Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom in Durban will not be surprised to learn that General Manager, Virath Gobrie, was named top GM for the Sun International group in 2024.
Since taking on the role two years ago, Gobrie has been busy. He has “pestered” Sun International to approve budgets so he could transform a tired, 20-year old casino into a refreshed, contemporary entertainment and hospitality space surrounded by lush new landscaping, and powered by an impressive solar project. He has won back customers by enforcing a philosophy of service excellence, has significantly increased casino market share and repositioned Sibaya in the conferencing market by completely renovating those facilities. He introduced new food and beverage concepts and also stepped up the rollout of meaningful community projects.
Before announcing the winner at a glittering award ceremony held at Time Square, Sun International’s Chief Operating Officer, Graham Wood, said their chosen GM of the year had not had an easy leadership journey, but he had transformed his property by ”Encouraging executives to stretch themselves, inspiring them to lead their teams with focus and energy. Our GM of the year stuck to his principles and insisted on driving customer service, and he never stops thinking about how he can improve his unit. It has been rewarding to see him grow as a leader.”
The announcement came as a surprise to Gobrie, however, “Before my name was called out I had no expectation of being the top GM because my colleagues at other properties all work equally as hard. It didn’t sink in immediately and I had to pinch myself.”
Gobrie’s award includes an educational trip to Las Vegas, where he can observe and understand how casinos and resorts operate in another environment.
Describing the accolade as a dream come true after many years of tirelessly working long hours, Gobrie said the award is not his alone, “When I got to King Shaka airport in Durban I was surprised to see the management team were there to greet me. When we got to the entrance to Sibaya I was deeply touched to see the staff lined up along the boulevard to the casino, singing and dancing for me, and once inside the casino even customers were singing. And to top it off there was an enormous cake waiting for me inside the staff restaurant.
“I thanked all the staff and told them, this award is not for me – it’s for us, because you all stepped up to make me look good. In this industry it’s our people that make this business.”
Image: Virath Gobrie
The industry is one that the KZN Midlands-born Gobrie joined 20 years ago when he was appointed as an accountant at Sibaya Casino which was all of two months old then, “This place is special, this industry is special and Sun International is special. The past 20 years have flown by and I have honestly never considered working at another company or in another industry, and I still have so much more to give and to achieve.”
Back in 2005 when Sibaya first opened it was just a casino on a hill between Umhlanga and Ballito, with no neighbours to speak of. Twenty years on and the property now boasts two hotels, a number of thriving restaurants, entertainment and conferencing facilities along with solar infrastructure, all of which has attracted investment to the Sibaya precinct – and neighbours!
After honing his financial experience by working his way around the Sun International group, he settled in Johannesburg as Sun International’s Commercial Manager for Hospitality, overseeing hotels and resorts. In 2022 the KZN-born Gobrie was asked to return to his roots to take on the responsibility of turning around Sibaya’s fortunes.
Gobrie points out that no day is average in the gaming and hospitality industry, but a day generally includes providing operational oversight across all departments including gaming, hospitality and support services such as marketing, maintenance, security, IT and human resources. He is responsible for monitoring the performance of the business, dealing with people issues and ensuring compliance and governance is maintained, especially in the highly regulated gaming space with its strict gaming regulation and licensing requirements.
But Gobrie’s day would still not be over as he is also responsible for developing and implementing business strategies, ensuring customer satisfaction and growing the customer base in a competitive market. He approves budgets, controls costs and analyses financial reports and manages any and all crisis at the property which could vary widely from attempted fraud, to security breaches or public relations issues.
The main focus now is ensuring that all refurbishments including Prive gaming areas , are completed in time and on budget and constantly monitoring the property for upgrades that are needed. With the private gaming rooms now complete, work has begun on the Prive.
The biggest project for Sibaya since opening has been the installation of a R54-million solar plant, which includes increased safe parking and additional lighting. Sibaya Casino has spurred development with more than R23 billion development planned to be spent in the surrounding Sibaya Precinct.
“When I returned in 2022 there were a number of governance issues to bed down. The property was on the downslide, customers were not happy and staff morale was low. I was suddenly responsible for leading and energising a team of 1 350 employees. My management style is not to micromanage but to get people to think for themselves as then they will grow. Obviously I am always there for them if they need direction, but I encourage them to think, be accountable and take ownership. I will always count the growth and development of staff that I have witnessed over the past two years as a highlight.”
Gobrie is particularly proud of the increased community engagement over the past two years and bringing a R10-million gender based violence project to fruition. Sibaya has built 28 park homes around KZN which will form centres for GBV with holding rooms to look after victims. The rooms have been built on SAPS property but are independent of them. Sibaya has also upgraded other shelters around Durban.
Sibaya also won the Sun International Group award for Sustainability. Gobrie emphasized that the increased focus on environmental management and commitment to preserving our planet for future generations led to us achieving this award.
“Sibaya is a home to me and all the staff, and our customers and our community are our family and friends so we want them to love every moment they spend with us. My vision for the property is to become the best entertainment destination in Durban and to grow and expand our offering as the Sibaya Precinct develops.”
