SIMPIWE PILISO

THE revamped Rosebank Hotel will open its glass doors to guests in August — alleviating the shortage of top-end hotel accommodation in Johannesburg.

Rosebank, a northern suburb of Johannesburg, has three other hotels: The Grace, The Hyatt and The Don.

Private developer Greg Hutton recently said the increase in holiday and business tourists had resulted in huge increase in demand for hotel accommodation in Johannesburg.

“On a Monday night, it’s almost impossible to find a top end hotel suite.”

Pieter de Bruin, head of tourism for First National Bank, said Johannesburg’s and Cape Town’s four- and five-star hotels were experiencing 72percent occupancy rates, and one- to three-star hotels were also doing well, supported mainly by business visitors.

The owners of the Rosebank Hotel, the Hospitality Property Fund, said the hotel’s make-over had cost R250-million.

“The 318-room establishment has taken on a new and energetic lease on life with an elegant, modern look,” said Andrew Rogers, chief operating officer of Hospitality.

A business centre, conference facilities, a gym and a spa have also been and added to the hotel’s attractions. Suites offer oversized showers and Wi-Fi

Hyatt International, which has one hotel in South Africa, plans to build seven more across the country.

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

Holiday Inn, which recently opened a R23.4-million hotel in Soweto, is investigating other possibilities.

Transnet is to sell the Carlton Hotel and Centre in Johannesburg’s CBD. The 220000m² Carlton property is twice the size of Sandton City. It cost about R50 million to build in the early 1970s.

Source: The Times