Carla ONeill

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey  is already one of the most talked about films of the year, but if you haven’t brushed up on your Greek mythology lately, you might be wondering what all the fuss is actually about. Based on Homer’s ancient epic, the film follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he attempts to make his way home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. What should be a journey home becomes a ten year odyssey involving monsters, mythical creatures, dangerous encounters and some very complicated questions about war, loyalty and what we owe one another.  And somewhere in the middle of all that is an ancient Greek principle that feels surprisingly relevant to modern South Africa. It’s called xenia, or Zeus’ Law. At its heart, xenia was a sacred code of hospitality governing the relationship between hosts and guests. Strangers were supposed to be welcomed with food, shelter and protection before their identity or intentions were even established. Guests, in turn, were expected to show gratitude and respect. This wasn’t simply good manners. In the world of The Odyssey, hospitality was a moral code, with Zeus regarded as its protector. Breaking that sacred trust could have serious consequences.  Universal PicturesChristopher Nolan’s The Odyssey explores an ancient Greek code of hospitality known as xenia. So what does an Ancient Greek rule have to do with this? Quite a lot, actually. One of the things that makes Nolan’s The Odyssey so interesting is the way it turns xenia i

Durban's hospitality sector is getting a major boost as Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani explained the R250-million refurbishment programme during the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) National Annual Conference Gala Dinner on Monday.   Hosted at the iconic Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani on Durban's Golden Mile, the gala dinner marked the conclusion of three days of networking, collaboration and conversations around the future of South Africa's conference and events industry.  Opening the evening, SAACI Chief Executive Officer Glenton de Kock described the occasion as less of a gala dinner and more of a "family dinner", a fitting way to conclude the conference while celebrating a unified approach and shared narrative of everything South Africa has to offer as a business events destination.  Representing Durban Tourism, Deputy Head Winile Mntungwa highlighted Durban's position as a premier ‘bleisure’ destination, where business seamlessly blends with leisure, making the city an attractive choice for conferences, corporate events and extended stays.   READ: Radisson is bringing serviced apartments to Umhlanga Olivia Pedler on UnsplashThe Golden Mile is getting a glow up with refurbishments to this iconic landmark. Big plans for this iconic landmark A highlight of the evening was shared by Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani General Manager Lettisha Singh, who announced the start of its R250-million refurbishment and upgrades set to be completed o