By Simpiwe Piliso

The increase in holiday and business tourists has resulted in a phenomenal demand for hotel accommodation in Joburg

The secret is out — Hyde Park Shopping centre is set to get a new neighbour in the form of a R176-million hotel.

Construction on the 132-room hotel is scheduled to begin soon.

The company behind the development has opted to remain tight-lipped for now, but Metro has established that Hyprop Investments plans to complete construction by July next year.

Hyprop also owns, in Joburg, Hyde Park Shopping, the Glen Shopping Centre and the Mall of Rosebank.

Approached for comment, Hyde Park Shopping centre general manager Reinette Atkinson said: “Please be advised that we are in the process of finalising our press release.”

Existing five-star guest houses in the upmarket suburb will have to pull out all the stops to hang on to their guests; this new development adds to a variety of others already under way — such as the R250- million redevelopment of the Rosebank Hotel.

Property development analysts this week said the developments were a welcome relief and would assist in addressing the shortage of top-end hotel suites.

Private developer Greg Hutton said the increase in holiday and business tourists had resulted in a phenomenal demand for hotel accommodation in Joburg. “On any given Monday night, it’s almost impossible to find an available top-end hotel suite,” he said.

Local hotels have recorded some of the highest occupancy rates in the world over the past three years, a Deloitte survey found.

Hyatt International Hotels & Resorts, which has one hotel in South Africa, plans to build seven others across the country.

The UK and Dubai-led consortium, Istithmar, which bought Cape Town’s landmark Victoria & Alfred Waterfront for R7-billion in 2006, is investigating new five-star hotel and resort developments around the country, including in Joburg.

Holiday Inn, which recently opened a R23.4-million hotel in Soweto, is investigating other development possibilities to add to its portfolio.

The Holiday Inn Soweto, which boasts 48 rooms, including two suites and two executive boardrooms, is planning to benefit from the estimated 200000 visitors who tour the township every year.

Parastatal Transnet is also finalising preparations for the sale of the Carlton Hotel and Centre in Joburg’s CBD.

Spokesman John Dludlu said the hotel could be put on the market for bidders as early as next month.

The 220000m² Carlton property — twice the size of Sandton City — which cost about R50-million to build in the early ’70s, boasts 72000m² of office space, a 52 000m² shopping centre , a 2600-bay parking garage and a 620-bedroom hotel .

Nearby in Marshall Street, the 91- room Mapungubwe Hotel Apartments opened its doors for guests this month.

Source: Sunday Times