Orion Group Information

The Orion Group was founded by the CEO, Franz Gmeiner in 1991, with the purchase of an 11 storey office tower in downtown Johannesburg. A steady flow of acquisitions resulted in the 1996 purchase of the Devonshire office tower and hotel complex, in the Braamfontein precinct of Johannesburg. In March 1999, the hotel operations of Hotel Devonshire were taken over from the tenant, and this was the beginning of the current Orion Hotels portfolio of 14 hotels, resorts and lodges. Orion Group is a team-based organisation, and prides itself in building and developing strong, motivated, productive, but above all, engaged colleagues. Each team participates in formal team coaching sessions at least 10 times per annum under the expert guidance of trained and accredited business coaches. Orion Group has a division (Orion Business Solutions), which coaches most of the teams. It also provides coaching training for various levels of managers. This coaching philosophy is equipping our management teams to cope with the fast pace of change in our industry, as well as with economic challenges, and the cultural diversity in South Africa.