Our President and Founder

This year we celebrate 100 years of hospitality, as one of the 42 family-owned and run TTC travel brands. 

The Red Carnation story began in 1952, when a beautiful young woman called Bea caught the eye of a distinguished young hotelier named Stanley, who was known for wearing a red carnation in his lapel. They shared their first dinner together at the famous Oyster Box Hotel, where Bea tried an oyster for the first time, and spat it out at the table. This must have left a lasting impression on Stanley, as they married in 1954 and later started Red Carnation Hotels. In 2006, Bea and Stanley purchased The Oyster Box and together they continued to build on the generous hospitality, service and values for which the Oyster Box was renowned for, and today the hotel is recognised as the very best hotel in Africa.

That love story is still at the very heart of our ever-growing collection of hotels across the world. Our Founder and President, Beatrice Tollman, embodies the generous hospitality and warm, passionate service for which we are renowned. She is the creative mind behind our beautifully designed hotels, the daily inspiration for our Executive Chefs and the benchmark for our teams' exacting standards.

Discover how Beatrice inspires the Red Carnation family each and every day...