Built by someone who lived the problem.
Charnette Labs wasn't built by a technology company that discovered tourism. It was built by a tourism professional who discovered technology — and that distinction matters.
Graeme Watson has spent over 15 years at the heart of the global tourism industry. Starting in London as a franchise owner promoting South Africa to the UK travel trade, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as an Africa destination specialist for Cox & Kings and SITA World Tours — managing FIT itineraries, costing programmes and representing African product to the US market.
Returning to South Africa, he spent seven years as Key Account Sales Manager at Thompsons Africa — one of the country's leading inbound operators — managing approximately $15 million worth of accounts across the USA, UK and Ireland. He represented the business at WTM London, INDABA and USTOA, and was actively involved in multi-million rand tender negotiations and global ground handling agreements.
He served on the Board of Directors of SATSA (Southern Africa Tourism Services Association) and as KZN Chapter Chair — giving him deep relationships across Africa's DMC and lodge landscape, and a front-row seat to the challenges tourism businesses face in reaching the UK market.
"I built RepBud because I needed it myself. I built Charnette Labs because every tourism business I knew needed the same thing — technology that actually understands their world."
— Graeme WatsonIn 2021 he founded Kusa Connect — a UK-based tourism representation company — and began building the digital tools he wished had existed throughout his career. RepBud, the AI-powered CRM for travel industry sales professionals, was first. Charnette Labs followed: a technology studio dedicated exclusively to building websites, apps and push notification systems for the tourism businesses he knows and loves.
A holder of a BA Degree in Media and Communications, a wildlife photographer with a Canon EOS R7, a podcast host, and a traveller of over 65 countries — Graeme brings something no generic tech agency can offer: he has sat across the table from your clients, sold your destinations, and understood your margins.