Stephen Maritz · Kamberg, KZN Midlands
Owner to owner.
I'm Stephen Maritz. I own and run Qambathi Mountain Lodge in the Kamberg and co-own Fresco in Nottingham Road. Maritz & Co is how I help other owners of lodges, guesthouses, small hotels and restaurants run better businesses.
- Owner-operator since 2019Running Qambathi Mountain Lodge, every department.
- Award-winning sustainabilityQambathi won the Sustainability award at the Gastronomy Tourism Awards 2026.
- 100% off-gridA R3.5m solar system installed in 2023 replaced about R30,000 a month of Eskom.
- 20+ years of consultingIncluding as a Director at Deloitte UK.
Who I work with
Practical help for independent hospitality businesses
Country and mountain lodges, guesthouses and B&Bs, small hotels, restaurants and delis, wedding and event venues, and the people behind them: owners who live away, new buyers, investors and lenders.
I'm based in the KZN Midlands and work across the Midlands, the Drakensberg, the Battlefields and the rest of South Africa, on site or remotely.
Services
How I can help
Operational audit
A structured health check of rooms, food, guest experience, revenue, costs and staff, with a scored report and a 30- and 90-day plan.
From R18,500
DetailsMystery guest and diner
An unannounced meal or overnight stay, scored touchpoint by touchpoint.
Meal from R3,900. Overnight from R6,500.
DetailsOutsourced and interim management
Monthly oversight, part-time management or a full-time interim General Manager.
From R18,000 per month
DetailsReservations and revenue
PMS and channel manager set-up, OTA listings, rates, and monthly management if you want to hand it over.
Set-up from R14,500
DetailsNew property set-up
From an idea and a building to opening day: concept, budget, systems, people, suppliers and SOPs.
From R65,000
DetailsRescue and turnaround
A fast, honest diagnostic and a 90-day plan for properties losing money, guests or staff.
Diagnostic from R24,500
DetailsAll prices are starting prices in rand, excluding travel. Every engagement is confirmed in a written scope and fixed quote.
Why an owner-operator
Advice from someone who carries the same risks you do
Most consultants tell you what to do. I do it every day. At Qambathi I deal with the same things you do: staff and rosters, guest reviews, kitchen margins, the booking system, the power and the water. In October 2026 I moved Qambathi's property management system from InnStyle to RoomRaccoon and set up the channel connections myself.
Before hospitality, I spent more than 20 years in consulting and systems implementation, including as a Director at Deloitte UK. I've brought that discipline home: a clear scope, a fixed quote, and a report you can act on on Monday morning.
The proof is my own lodge
Qambathi Mountain Lodge in the Kamberg runs 100% off-grid on solar, with a gravity-fed spring water supply and local sourcing at the heart of its kitchen. In October 2026 it won the Sustainability award at the Gastronomy Tourism Awards 2026.
How it works
Simple, written and fixed
- A free 30-minute call. Tell me what's going on. I'll have looked at your listings and reviews beforehand and will bring three quick wins.
- A written scope and fixed quote, usually within two working days.
- The work, on site, remote or both. Your information stays confidential, including from my own businesses.
- A report you can act on, with quick wins first and a close-out session with you.
Let's talk about your property
The first 30 minutes are free and there's no obligation.