AGP Executive Report

Reality TV & Travel: Tropika Island of Treasure is back for Season 12, sending eight South Africans to Réunion Island for a mix of physical and mental challenges, with celebrity partners and a shot at R1 million. Contestant Spotlight: Ahead of launch, viewers get to meet the new Smoooth Fans, including a final-year Bachelor of Education student and personal trainer (Andile Khuluse), a pharmacist and runner/musician (Anke Coetzer), plus others from fields like radio, education, finance, entrepreneurship, sport, and environmental science. Local Buzz: Actress, entrepreneur and presenter Leandie du Randt is also gearing up for the show with a holistic prep plan—rigorous conditioning, mindset work, and strategic adaptability—while keeping her goals in sight and staying ready for any outcome.

Reality TV Spotlight: Tropika Island of Treasure returns for Season 12, bringing contestants to Réunion Island for high-pressure physical and mental challenges, with a R1 million prize on the line. Meet the Players: Viewers will get to know eight new South Africans joining the Smoooth Fans, from a final-year Bachelor of Education student and personal trainer (Andile Khuluse) to a pharmacist, runner and musician (Anke Coetzer), plus others from finance, entrepreneurship, sport and environmental science. Celebrity Prep: Actress, entrepreneur and presenter Leandie du Randt is also gearing up, focusing on a holistic approach—rigorous conditioning, mindset work, and strategic adaptability—while sharing her vision for the competition and her mindset for handling any outcome.

Reality TV & Tourism Spotlight: Tropika Island of Treasure is back for Season 12, bringing eight South Africans to Réunion Island for high-pressure physical and mental challenges, with a shot at R1 million and a mix of Smoooth Fans plus celebrity partners. Contestant Watch: The latest line-up includes fresh faces from radio, education, finance, entrepreneurship, sport, and environmental science—ranging from a final-year Bachelor of Education student and personal trainer (Andile Khuluse) to a pharmacist, runner and musician (Anke Coetzer). Local Celebrity Build-Up: Actress, entrepreneur and presenter Leandie du Randt is also gearing up for the Réunion leg, focusing on a holistic prep plan—rigorous conditioning, mindset work, and staying adaptable if things don’t go to script.

Island Spotlight: Actress and entrepreneur Leandie du Randt is gearing up for the return of Tropika Island of Treasure on Réunion Island, blending fitness work with mindset training as she prepares for competition next month. Mindset & Travel Prep: Du Randt says she’s using visualization and a “vision board” to picture winning moments, while also building mental toughness for any outcome—“what if I go home first?”—so pressure doesn’t take over. Local Tourism Feel: With her focus on swapping home comfort for the island’s challenges, the story leans into Réunion as a destination for adventure, personal growth, and memorable experiences.

Entertainment & Tourism Spotlight: Actress and entrepreneur Leandie du Randt is gearing up for the return of Tropika Island of Treasure on Réunion Island, framing the show as both a personal challenge and a travel draw for viewers. Mindset & Training: She’s combining rigorous physical conditioning with mindset practices like visualization and a “vision board,” while also stressing mental toughness—being ready for any outcome, including the possibility of going home early. Local Appeal: With the season set to start next month, du Randt’s build-up is turning Réunion into a must-watch destination, blending competition energy with the island’s natural setting.

Island Tourism & Culture: Actress and entrepreneur Leandie du Randt is gearing up for the return of “Tropika Island of Treasure” on Réunion Island, blending fitness with mindset work as she prepares for the show’s challenges. Travel Inspiration: Du Randt says she’s using visualisation and a “vision board” to picture big moments on the island, while also training mentally to stay calm if things don’t go to plan—an approach that’s likely to resonate with visitors looking for adventure, resilience, and a taste of Réunion’s unique island energy.

Island Spotlight: Leandie du Randt is gearing up for the return of Tropika Island of Treasure on Réunion Island, blending fitness with mindset work as she prepares for the show’s challenges. Mindset & Pressure: The actress, entrepreneur and presenter says she’s using visualization and a vision board to picture big moments—like driving away in a Suzuki Jimny after the final—while also training herself to stay calm if things don’t go to plan. Travel & Tourism Angle: With the season set to kick off next month, the story leans into Réunion as a destination for adventure, competition and “island magic,” giving viewers a fresh reason to plan a trip around the island’s outdoors and experiences.

Island Tourism & TV Spotlight: Actress and entrepreneur Leandie du Randt is gearing up for the return of Tropika Island of Treasure on Réunion Island, blending fitness with mindset work as she prepares for competition next month. Travel Inspiration: Du Randt talks about training, performance pressure, and even a “vision board” that imagines a big win—while stressing mental toughness and being ready for any outcome. Local Experience Appeal: With the show’s focus on island challenges, the build-up is already turning Réunion into a must-watch destination for viewers who love beach, adventure, and holiday-style escapes.

Island Spotlight: Leandie du Randt is gearing up for the return of Tropika Island of Treasure next month, mixing fitness work with mindset training and a “plan for every outcome” approach as she prepares to compete on Réunion Island. Trail & Adventure: In international running news, Ben Dhiman finally broke through after four years, winning the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in Chamonix and becoming the first runner under 19 hours for the 108-mile loop around Mont Blanc, with a dominant late-race push across France, Italy and Switzerland.

Trail Running & Tourism: American Ben Dhiman lit up Chamonix by winning the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and becoming the first runner to break 19 hours on the 108-mile loop around Mont Blanc, a route that draws huge crowds of hikers and trail fans each year. Sports Travel Buzz: After two tough years of not finishing, the 34-year-old surged through the night in Italy and held a decisive lead to clock 18:16:29, with 33,000 feet of climbing and a performance that beats last year’s winning time by about an hour. Reunion Angle: For Reunion’s outdoor crowd, the UTMB win is another reminder of how trail events can turn mountain regions into must-visit destinations for runners, walkers, and holidaymakers chasing big views and big challenges.

Trail Running Spotlight: American Ben Dhiman lit up Chamonix, winning the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and becoming the first runner to break 19 hours on the 108-mile loop around Mont Blanc, with a time of 18:16:29 after years of near misses. Reunion-to-Travel Trade: Réunion-linked Sir Edmond Gin is expanding its hospitality reach, securing a listing with Croatia’s Aminess group across hotels, resorts and restaurants—boosting its on-trade visibility in one of Europe’s busiest tourism markets, with the brand’s Bourbon vanilla gin made using vanilla sourced from Réunion Island.

Trail Running Spotlight: American Ben Dhiman delivered a breakthrough in Chamonix, winning the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and becoming the first runner to break 19 hours on the 108-mile loop around Mont Blanc, after earlier DNFs in 2023 and 2024. Tourism & Hospitality Spirits: Réunion-linked Sir Edmond Gin is expanding in Croatia after securing a listing with hospitality group Aminess, placing the Bourbon vanilla-infused gin across hotels, resorts, and restaurants—boosting its on-trade reach within one of the country’s biggest tourism networks.

Trail Running Spotlight: American Ben Dhiman delivered a breakthrough performance in Chamonix, winning the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and becoming the first runner to break 19 hours on the 108-mile loop around Mont Blanc, after earlier DNFs in 2023 and 2024. Tourism & Local Products: Réunion-linked gin brand Sir Edmond is expanding in Croatia, securing a listing with hospitality group Aminess across hotels, resorts, and restaurants—boosting its on-trade reach in one of Europe’s biggest visitor markets; the brand’s Bourbon vanilla-infused gin is produced with vanilla sourced from Réunion Island.

Trail Running Spotlight: American Ben Dhiman delivered a breakthrough in Chamonix, winning the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and becoming the first runner to break 19 hours on the 108-mile loop around Mont Blanc, after earlier DNFs in 2023 and 2024. Sports Tourism Angle: His winning push through France, Italy and Switzerland—covering about 33,000 feet of climbing—puts a fresh spotlight on the kind of high-end hiking and adventure travel that draws international visitors to the region. Local Spirits & Hospitality: Réunion-linked gin brand Sir Edmond is expanding in Croatia after securing a listing with hospitality group Aminess, placing the Bourbon vanilla-infused gin across hotels, resorts and restaurants in one of the country’s biggest tourism networks. Market Growth: The brand says it saw more than a 53% sales increase over May and June, and the Aminess rollout is set to boost visibility with international travellers across its 33-plus properties.

Trail Running Tourism: American Ben Dhiman lit up Chamonix, winning the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and becoming the first runner to break 19 hours on the 108-mile loop around Mont Blanc, a win that underlines how major endurance events keep drawing international visitors to the region. Réunion Spirits in Hospitality: Sir Edmond Gin is expanding in Croatia by securing a listing with hotel group Aminess, boosting its presence across hotels, resorts, and restaurants; the brand’s Bourbon vanilla is sourced from Réunion, giving the island a premium tourism-adjacent spotlight. Caribbean Culture & Travel Events: Tropicalfete, Inc. announced its fifth annual Caribbean Pop-Up Carnival in Times Square on Sunday, Aug. 30, a free family event featuring Caribbean music, dance, and performers including soca star Rupee—another reminder that culture-led events drive travel interest.

Trail Running Spotlight: American Ben Dhiman delivered a breakthrough win at the 2026 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in Chamonix, becoming the first runner to break 19 hours on the 108-mile loop around Mont Blanc, after earlier DNFs in 2023 and 2024. Hospitality & Drinks: Réunion-linked gin brand Sir Edmond expanded its Croatia footprint by securing listings with hotel group Aminess, boosting on-trade visibility across roughly 33 properties and venues in 12 destinations. Events & Tourism Culture: Tropicalfete announced its fifth annual Caribbean Pop-Up Carnival in Times Square, a free family-friendly day of Caribbean music, dance and art on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1:00 p.m., headlined by soca star Rupee. Culture & Travel Context: A commentary piece argues India’s “soft power” and heritage can support intercultural dialogue—an angle that ties culture to how destinations connect with visitors.