By Sipho Masondo

The City Lodge Group has announced the construction of its fourth hotel in Nelson Mandela Bay, at a cost of R130-million.

The 204-room Town Lodge Hotel, which will be built at the corners of Beach and Lodge Road in Humewood, will be the 44th hotel in the group‘s portfolio.

Project manager Angus MacMillan said the 17-month building of the hotel will begin shortly and be completed in the first quarter of 2010.

“We will open in time for the 2010 soccer World Cup. That‘s what we are targeting,” McMillan said.

Following the decision to build the hotel in the city, he said all the group‘s four brands, the Court Yard, Road Lodge, City Lodge and Town Lodge Hotels, will now be represented in the Bay.

“We are excited to deliver the Town Lodge, our 44th hotel, to Nelson Mandela Bay.

“This is a sign of the group‘s confidence in the area. Port Elizabeth is the fastest growing town in South Africa.”

He said it would be the biggest Town Lodge in South Africa and would employ about 60 people.

“The new hotel will have underground parking, internet facilities, breakfast and sundowner bar facilities. Demand will come mainly from business travellers during the week and local and international leisure travellers over weekends.”

About 70% of the hotel‘s client base will be business travellers, and the remaining 30% will be holiday makers, Angus said.

The group, which is listed on the JSE, also announced that the construction of a 90-room Road Lodge Hotel, which is due to be opened in early November in Potchefstroom, was progressing well.

Source: The Herald