Construction has begun on a new R68-million Sun International hotel adjoining the Golden Valley Casino site in Worcester in the Western Cape.

Due to open in Autumn 2008, the two-storey hotel will comprise 100 rooms including two suites and, in keeping with the neighbouring casino complex, will boast a Cape Dutch architectural theme, Sun International said in a statement on Tuesday.

The hotel complex will offer a compact business meetings facility, a lounge/breakfast room and a small swimming pool. It will bring Sun International's total investment in Worcester to date to 218 million rand, adding significant value to the region's leisure product.

In addition to boosting job creation during the construction phase, once opened the hotel will implement a preferred procurement policy. The policy will be aimed at maximising economic opportunities in the Worcester region, both with regard to employment, and also to servicing the hotel's other business needs.

The Golden Valley Casino is the largest investment ever made in tourism in Worcester and is expected to have a significant and positive impact on the Breede Valley district.

So far the project has created 316 new jobs. Of these, 126 are directly related to the casino and 190 to concessionaires such as the restaurant and bars;

The casino's operator, Sun International, holds the balance of 40% of the shares, and, from its shareholding will come the 3.5% which is to be allocated to previously disadvantaged employees through the Sun International Employee Share Trust.

I-Net Bridge