By Lynn Bolin

Southern Sun Hotels, South Africa's largest black empowerment hotel and gaming group, has signed a management contract with the Pezula Group for a multimillion rand luxury resort hotel to be located in Knysna at the Pezula private estate.

Announcing the agreement, Southern Sun and Pezula said the deluxe boutique hotel would feature 80 suites and a presidential unit, as well as a gourmet restaurant, indoor and outdoor pools and a conference facility and business center.

Southern Sun Hotels MD Helder Pereira said the new Pezula Resort Hotel would be the flagship of the group's new luxury collection.

Southern Suns' first luxury collection hotel, The Winelands Hotel and Wellness Centre, opened in the winelands near Paarl in September.

Southern Sun operates more than 80 hotels with over 13,000 rooms in Africa.

Chairman of the Pezula group Keith Stewart said 50% of all properties sold at Pezula to date was to foreigners, including well known figures such as Nick Price, Roger Federer and Thomas Johannson.

The new Pezula Resort Hotel will be the first 5 star luxury hotel in Knysna, and we hope to open in December 2004," he said.

"We want to create a world-class luxury hotel and are confident our partner South Sun Hotels will create the exclusive lifestyle resort that we are envisage."

I-Net Bridge