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We’ve just ticked past 230 days of lockdown, and last night brought the news that our borders are now open to visitors from around the world.

Ironically, with the United Kingdom and large parts of Europe being swept by the COVID-19 pandemic’s second wave during South Africa’s high tourism season (October to March), prospects for sightings of European tourists on Cape Town’s beaches are looking bleak.

Some good news for locals: less international tourism means we can enjoy being tourists on our home turf. From Cape Town tourism’s R15 billion+ annual income, 10% is attributed by local travellers, and the city has more than 4 000 tourism enterprises, including more than 2 700 guest accommodation options.

The tricky situation brought by the last stretch of 2020 and festive season countdown, is the lack of time for local travel enthusiasts to make the most of their year’s travel plans while remaining cognisant of lockdown regulations.

Thankfully, Ideas Cartel conveniently combines inner-city and beachside exploring for business and leisure travellers wanting to seal their 2020 travel bucket list with the ultimate Cape Town venture.

Its three coworking and hospitality establishments, The Old Foundry (Green Point), 113 Loop Street (CBD) and Casa Labia (Muizenberg) are ideal hotspots for the rising digital nomad and holiday seeker alike.

Each venue offers a hybrid of the key elements of Cape Town’s international appeal: professional networking, gastronomy, fitness, leisure, nightlife and entertainment.

In addition, The Old Foundry and Cartel House Hotels (113 Loop Street) offer boutique five-star rooms just a few floors or flights of stairs from its communal coworking spaces.

The Muizenberg location’s refurbishment is underway and will offer oceanside hotel accommodation, come summer 2020.

Since the height of the lockdown, Ideas Cartel has been offering innovative ways for individuals to remain productive, keep fit and enjoy coliving – albeit virtually via the Cartel Connect app – until they could again open their multifunctional spaces to the public.

Ideas Cartel was the first establishment in South Africa to open guaranteed COVID-19 free, and glass-sealed workout ‘pods’ to the public. The ‘FitPods’ are private five square meter spaces kitted with all the equipment required for a full-body workout.

While public gyms were closed, the FitPods were a solution for struggling personal trainers, professional athletes and anyone who wanted to retake their fitness schedule in a safe indoor exercise space.

Ideas Cartel’s all-rounder experiential packages and social events give vacationers and working individuals a myriad neatly lined-up opportunities to fulfil their Cape Town travel plans.

Through the app, Ideas Cartel also offers discounted benefits and club memberships. Memberships are tailored for individual preferences and include tiers for FitPod memberships, coworking to private office use, virtual benefits, wine club, family dining (deliveries only), and a cocktail club.

The Travellers’ Club membership outlines the ideal jet-setters’ package. It includes discounts on accommodation, access to all coworking locations and private Founders’ lounges, uncapped WiFi, virtual webinars, discounts on private meeting rooms, unlimited gym access, discounted personal training and special offerings from Ideas Cartel’s furniture and décor partners.

For more information about Ideas Cartel’s Club Memberships and to book facilities and services, download the app (App Store and Google Play).

For direct event bookings, contact cartelconnect@ideascartel.com.

For accommodation bookings, contact info@ideascartel.com.