Largest Hotels in South Africa*

1. Southern Sun Waterfront - **** - 546 rooms - built 1998 - Cape Town
2. Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays - ***** - 483 rooms - built 2003 - Cape Town**
3. Southern Sun Elangeni - **** - 450 rooms - built 1971,1973 - Durban
4. Birchwood Executive Hotel - *** - 450 rooms - built 1998, 2001, 2006, 2007 - Johannesburg
5. Garden Court Sandton City - *** - 444 rooms - built 1994, 1995 - Johannesburg
6. Garden Court South Beach - *** - 414 rooms - built 1972 - Durban
7. Southern Sun The Cullinan - **** - 410 rooms - built 1998 - Cape Town
8. Sun City Cabanas - *** - 380 rooms - built 1981/1994 - Sun City
9. Southern Sun Cape Sun - **** - 368 rooms - built 1983 - Cape Town
10. Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport - **** - 365 rooms - built 1972,1982 - Johannesburg

** Note: Formerly known as ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel Cape Town


Largest Hotels in Johannesburg

1. Birchwood Executive Hotel - *** - 450 rooms - built 1998, 2001, 2006, 2007
2. Garden Court Sandton City - *** - 444 rooms - built 1994, 1995
3. Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport - **** - 365 rooms - built 1972,1982
4. Southern Sun Grayston - **** - 350 rooms - built 1982, 1995
5. Sandton Sun Hotel - ***** - 333 rooms - built 1984***
6. Sandton Hilton - ***** - 329 rooms - built 1997
7. Protea Hotel Balalaika - **** - 324 rooms - built 1969, 1989, 1993
8. Protea Hotel Parktonian - **** - 294 rooms - built 1984
9. Rosebank Hotel - **** - 292 rooms - built 1975, 1993
10. Radisson SAS Sandton - ***** - 283 rooms - opening 2008

*** Note: Sandton Sun & Towers InterContinental - ***** - 565 rooms - built 1984/1993 - Johannesburg has been divided into two hotels as of July 2007: Sandton Sun Hotel and InterContinental Sandton Towers.

InterContinental Sandton Towers - ***** - 231 rooms - built 1993


Largest Hotels in Cape Town

1. Southern Sun Waterfront - **** - 546 rooms - built 1998
2. Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays - ***** - 483 rooms - built 2003 - Cape Town**
3. Southern Sun The Cullinan - **** - 410 rooms - built 1998
4. Southern Sun Cape Sun - **** - 368 rooms - built 1983
5. Protea Hotel President - **** - 349 rooms - built 1997
6. Table Bay Hotel - ***** - 329 rooms - built 1997
7. Garden Court Eastern Blvd - *** - 292 rooms - built 1974
8. Breakwater Lodge - *** - 268 rooms - built 1992
9. Commodore Hotel - ***** - 233 rooms - built 1998
10. Ritz Hotel - *** - 222 rooms - built 1972

** Note: Formerly known as ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel Cape Town


Largest Hotels in Durban

Largest Hotels in Durban

1. Southern Sun Elangeni - **** - 450 rooms - built 1971,1973
2. Garden Court South Beach - *** - 414 rooms - built 1972
3. Garden Court Marine Parade - *** - 344 rooms - built 1985
4. Durban Hilton - ***** - 327 rooms - built 1997
5. Southern Sun North Beach - ***** - 285 rooms - built 1978
6. Royal Hotel - ***** - 272 rooms - built 1979
7. Blue Waters Hotel - *** - 265 rooms - built 1972
8. Umhlanga Sands - *** - 237 rooms - built 1977
9. Protea Hotel Umhlanga - *** - 236 rooms - built 1998, 2009
10. City Lodge Umhlanga -*** - 228 rooms - built 2003, 2008




Largest Hotels in Pretoria

1. Manhattan Hotel - *** - 270 rooms - built 1974
2. Southern Sun Pretoria - **** - 241 rooms - built 1984
3. Burgers Park Hotel - *** - 240 rooms - built 1973
4. Hotel 224 - ** - 224 rooms - built early 1970's
5. Pretoria Sheraton Hotel - ***** - 175 rooms - built 1999


Largest Hotels in Port Elizabeth

1. Garden Court Kings Beach - *** - 280 rooms - built 1971,1995
2. Summerstrand Hotel - *** - 241 rooms - built 1971
3. Radisson SAS Port Elizabeth - ***** - 173 rooms - opening 2008
4. City Lodge Port Elizabeth - *** - 148 rooms - built 1989
5. Protea Hotel Edward - *** - 106 rooms - built 1903


Largest Hotels in East London

1. Premier Hotel Emonti - **** - 254 rooms - opening 2008
2. Premier Hotel Regent - *** - 187 rooms - built 1998
3. Garden Court East London - *** - 173 rooms - built 1973
4. Osner Hotel - *** - 110 rooms - built 1972
5. Kennaway Hotel - *** - 106 rooms - built 1967


Largest Hotels in Bloemfontein

1. City Lodge - *** - 152 rooms - built 1989
2. Southern Sun Bloemfontein - **** - 148 rooms - built 1988
3. President Hotel - *** - 145 rooms - built 1969
4. Landmark Lodge Bloemfontein - *** - 112 rooms - built 1972
5. Protea Hotel Bloemfontein - **** - 96 rooms - built 2002

Note: Protea Hotel Willow Lake - **** - 94 rooms - opening 2008


Largest Hotels at Sun City

1. Sun City Cabanas - *** - 380 rooms - built 1981/1994
2. Sun City Hotel - ***** - 342 rooms - built 1979
3. The Palace of the Lost City - ***** - 338 rooms - built 1992
4. The Cascades - ***** - 241 rooms - built 1984
5. Sun City Vacation Club - self-catering - 230 units - built 1998


* Note: Wild Coast Sun - **** - 336 rooms - built 1981, 1987 - Bizana, Eastern Cape

Largest Hotels in South Africa*

1. Southern Sun Waterfront - **** - 546 rooms - built 1998 - Cape Town
2. Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays - ***** - 483 rooms - built 2003 - Cape Town**


surely there are bigger hotels than the Table Bay and Arabella?!?
I would not really have thought of them as the biggest. They are within 2km of each other. quite cool I suppose...uh...would have been perfect for the international broadcast centre., media walking to their hotels in the area..grrr

Guys, what you think the occupancy is like? Peak and off peak season?

surely there are bigger hotels than the Table Bay and Arabella?!?
I would not really have thought of them as the biggest. They are within 2km of each other. quite cool I suppose...uh...would have been perfect for the international broadcast centre., media walking to their hotels in the area..grrr

The largest hotel is not the Table Bay which is run by Sun International. The Southern Sun Waterfront is the former Holiday Inn. It is currently the biggest in SA now that the Sandton Sun & Towers has been split up into two separate operating hotels with the Towers run as an InterContinental and the while the Sandton Sun is split off and run as a Southern Sun.

The largest hotel is not the Table Bay which is run by Sun International. The Southern Sun Waterfront is the former Holiday Inn. It is currently the biggest in SA now that the Sandton Sun & Towers has been split up into two separate operating hotels with the Towers run as an InterContinental and the while the Sandton Sun is split off and run as a Southern Sun.

How dare they use the word "waterfront", its in the CBD/.

How dare they use the word "waterfront", its in the CBD/.

You're right it's on the foreshore portion of the CBD. I think they named it after the Waterfront to associate it more with the Waterfront than the CBD at the time it was built in 1998 when the CBD of Cape Town was in a period of decline (this was before the Cape Town Partnership and the CID's came into being) which obviously from a tourist point of view has a negative appeal as opposed to the Waterfront which at the time was taking off. But I do get your point now since the SS Waterfront is across the street from the Arabella hotel.

Guys, what you think the occupancy is like? Peak and off peak season?

Average 2006 occupancy rate for SA was 70% and for Durban 77%. Not sure about other major cities.

Average 2006 occupancy rate for SA was 70% and for Durban 77%. Not sure about other major cities.

Cape Town prob in the 60's.

Cape Town prob in the 60's.

Cape Town is lower than both Durban and Johannesburg. Cape Town's is in the lower to mid 60's, which is below the national average of nearly 70%. The rest of the Western Cape is in the md to upper 50's as there are already alot of new hotel rooms on the Garden Route and Cape Winelands. Johannesburg and Pretoria/Tshwane hotels are around 70%.

The Birchwood Executive Hotel in Boksburg (near the OR Tambo International Airport) is now the largest hotel in the Johannesburg area after it added 120 rooms in October 2007 and has been doubled in size since last year. The hotel now has 450 rooms and suites and a conference centre for 1,000 delegates.

The Sandton Sun, recently refurbished... very OTT, but I love it... gold gold gold. Reminds me of the TV show Dallas - at least in a good way

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/DSC00871.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/DSC00876.jpg

From level 20
http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/DSC00882.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/DSC00881.jpg

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa259/granova/DSC00880.jpg

The Durban list is set to change come dec 2008...as shown below

Largest Hotels in Durban

1. Southern Sun Elangeni - **** - 450 rooms - built 1971,1973
2. Garden Court South Beach - *** - 414 rooms - built 1972
3. Garden Court Marine Parade - *** - 344 rooms - built 1985
4. Durban Hilton - ***** - 327 rooms - built 1997
5. Southern Sun North Beach - ***** - 285 rooms - built 1978
6. Royal Hotel - ***** - 272 rooms - built 1979
7. Blue Waters Hotel - *** - 265 rooms - built 1972
8. Umhlanga Sands - *** - 237 rooms - built 1977
9. City Lodge Umhlanga -*** - 228 rooms - built 2003, 2008
10. Cabana Beach - *** - 218 rooms - built 1976
11. Protea Premier Umhlanga Ridge - **** - 206 rooms - built 2008
12. Suncoast Hotel - ***** - 180 rooms - built 2006

In 2009 the expanded Protea Umhlanga will open with 236 rooms as will the Marriot with 198 and the Radisson Umhlanga with 194 (but will both miss the top 10).

Most of the new Durban hotels are in the 100 - 200 range. The only other hotel we dont have final size confirmation on is the ICC hotel, which is stipulated to be a min of 220 rooms and a max of 400.

The Durban list is set to change come dec 2008...as shown below


Most of the new Durban hotels are in the 100 - 200 range. The only other hotel we dont have final size confirmation on is the ICC hotel, which is stipulated to be a min of 220 rooms and a max of 400.

Thanks for the update regarding Durban. I'll copy and paste it. Interesting to note that City Lodge Umhlanga will now be larger than the one on the V&A Waterfront which has 208 rooms and used to be the biggest one in the chain. Regarding the ICC hotel, who is the operator and what size do you think it will be? Which one are you talking about: the Arena one or the new one on the drawing board adjacent to the ICC?

the one on the icc plot, not across the road. its prob going to be 300.

Ya the city lodge in umhlanga is running at 95% occupany, its madness

the one on the icc plot, not across the road. its prob going to be 300.

Ya the city lodge in umhlanga is running at 95% occupany, its madness

Sorry for not getting back...but I got distracted by the news that.....Jacob Zuma has won!

By the way what will be the star grading for this hotel and who will be the operator?

^^ no idea

Largest Hotels in Cape Town

1. Southern Sun Waterfront - **** - 546 rooms - built 1998
2. Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays - ***** - 483 rooms - built 2003 - Cape Town**
3. Southern Sun The Cullinan - **** - 410 rooms - built 1998
4. Southern Sun Cape Sun - **** - 368 rooms - built 1983
5. Protea Hotel President - **** - 349 rooms - built 1997
6. Table Bay Hotel - ***** - 329 rooms - built 1997
7. Garden Court Eastern Blvd - *** - 292 rooms - built 1974
8. Breakwater Lodge - *** - 268 rooms - built 1992
9. Commodore Hotel - ***** - 233 rooms - built 1998
10. Ritz Hotel - *** - 222 rooms - built 1972

** Note: Formerly known as ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel Cape Town



Mosi, should the hotels in bold not replace Commodore and Ritz Hotel?


Lagoon Beach Hotel Milnerton 272 ****
Fountain Hotel Central City, CBD 270 ****
Mount Nelson Tamboerskloof 206 *****
RadissonSAS G/Bay Granger Bay (V&A) 182 *****
Eurocape’s Mandela-Rhodes Place Greenmarket 180 *****
The Vineyard Newlands 173 *****
Victoria Junction Hotel Green Point 172 ****
Capetonian Hotel Foreshore, CBD 167 ****
Park Inn Hotel Central City, CBD 165 ***
City Lodge V&A Waterfront 164 ***
Newlands, Garden Court Newlands 162 ***
Le Vendome Sea Point 143 *****
St. Georges Hotel Central City, CBD 139 ****
De-Waal, Garden Court Central City, CBD 136 ***
One and Only V&A Waterfront Opening 130 *****
Best Western Cape Suites Central City , CBD 123 ****
Protea Sea Point Hotel Sea Point 123 ***
Cape Grace V&A Waterfront 122 *****
Cape Town Lodge Central City , CBD 114 ****
The Cape Manor Sea Point 108 ***
The Townhouse Central City, CBD 107 ****
Portswood Hotel V&A Waterfront 103 ****
Ambassador Hotel & Executive Suites Bantry Bay 97 ****
Victoria & Alfred Hotel V&A Waterfront 94 ****
Lady Hamilton Central City, CBD 78 ***
The Bay Campsbay 72 *****
12 Apostles Hotel De Oudekraal 70 *****
Protea Hotel North Wharf 68 ****
Cape Castle Protea Green Point 65 ****
Cape Castle Green Point 65 ***
Cape Diamond Hotel Central City, CBD 60 ***
Tulbagh Hotel City Centre, CBD 58 ***
The Cape Milner Central City , CBD 57 ****
Protea Pier Place Hotel Central City, CBD 56 ***
Winchester Mansions Sea Point 53 ****
Hotel Graeme Green Point 32 ***
Metropole Hotel Central City, CBD 29 ****
Adderley Hotel Central City, CBD 28 ****
Tudor Hotel City Centre, CBD 26 ***
La Splendida Boutique Hotel City Centre CBD 24 ****
Hippo Boutique Hotel Central City, CBD 20 ****
Bantry Bay Luxury Suites Bantry Bay 18 *****
Cape Heritage Hotel City Centre 15 ****

^^ lagoon beach has been downgraded to a 4 star hotel now

^^ lagoon beach has been downgraded to a 4 star hotel now

Yes it has and so has the Commodore on the V&A which should never have been classified as five-star (unlike Michaelangelo in Sandton) in the first place. I was surprised that Lagoon Beach was a five-star hotel as it is a stark-looking hotel with little plushness.

Mosi, should the hotels in bold not replace Commodore and Ritz Hotel?
Lagoon Beach Hotel Milnerton 272 ****
Fountain Hotel Central City, CBD 270 ****
Mount Nelson Tamboerskloof 206 *****
RadissonSAS G/Bay Granger Bay (V&A) 182 *****
Eurocape’s Mandela-Rhodes Place Greenmarket 180 *****
The Vineyard Newlands 173 *****


Mo Rush,

That is great! Where did you get that list from?


Didn't know that the Vinyard Hotel is now graded five-stars. It used to be four.

On Lagoon Beach it is my understanding that there are 202 hotel rooms and 70 self-catering apartments in a separate wing that is graded as self-catering by the TGC.

Is Fountain Hotel the new one that was opened last year on the Hereengracht?

Mo,
Can you post the rest of the Cape Town hotel list above Fountains Hotel so I can see if my numbers match on room numbers and star gradings for the largest hotels starting with the Southern Sun Waterfront?
Thanks,
Mosi

Mo,
Can you post the rest of the Cape Town hotel list above Fountains Hotel so I can see if my numbers match on room numbers and star gradings for the largest hotels starting with the Southern Sun Waterfront?
Thanks,
Mosi

The list is in the Cape Town, Hotels Development thread:

5 STAR

Hotel - Location - No. of rooms

ArabellaSheraton Grand Foreshore, CBD (in-house hotel – CTICC) 483
Cape Grace V&A Waterfront 122
Table Bay V&A Waterfront 329
RadissonSAS G/Bay Granger Bay (V&A) 182
Mount Nelson Tamboerskloof 206
The Bay Campsbay 72
Le Vendome Sea Point 143
12 Apostles Hotel De Oudekraal 70
The Vineyard Newlands 173
Eurocape’s Mandela-Rhodes Place Greenmarket Opening 2009
One and Only V&A Waterfront Opening 2010
Bantry Bay Luxury Suites Bantry Bay 18
Lagoon Beach Hotel Milnerton 272


4 STAR

Cape Castle Protea Green Point 65
Victoria Junction Hotel Green Point 172
Metropole Hotel Central City, CBD 29
The Commodore V&A Waterfront 236
Portswood Hotel V&A Waterfront 103
La Splendida Boutique Hotel City Centre CBD 24
Protea President Hotel Bantry Bay 349
Cape Heritage Hotel City Centre 15
Capetonian Hotel Foreshore, CBD 167
Cullinan Hotel Foreshore, CBD 410
Holiday Inn Waterfront Foreshore, CBD 546
Cape Sun, Southern Sun Central City , CBD 368
Winchester Mansions Sea Point 53
Ambassador Hotel & Executive Suites Bantry Bay 97
Hippo Boutique Hotel Central City, CBD 20
The Cape Milner Central City , CBD 57
Cape Town Lodge Central City , CBD 114
Best Western Cape Suites Central City , CBD 123
The Townhouse Central City, CBD 107
St. Georges Hotel Central City, CBD 139
Fountain Hotel Central City, CBD 270
Victoria & Alfred Hotel V&A Waterfront 94
Protea Hotel North Wharf 68
Adderley Hotel Central City, CBD 28

3 STAR



Protea Pier Place Hotel Central City, CBD 56
Breakwater Lodge V&A Waterfront 251
Protea Sea Point Hotel Sea Point 123
City Lodge V&A Waterfront 164
Park Inn Hotel Central City, CBD 165
Eastern Boulevard, Garden Court Central City CBD 292
Newlands, Garden Court Newlands 162
De-Waal, Garden Court Central City, CBD 136
The Cape Manor Sea Point 108
Lady Hamilton Central City, CBD 78
Cape Diamond Hotel Central City, CBD 60
Hotel Graeme Green Point 32
Cape Castle Green Point 65
Tudor Hotel City Centre, CBD 26
Tulbagh Hotel City Centre, CBD 58

Mo Rush,

That is great! Where did you get that list from?


Didn't know that the Vinyard Hotel is now graded five-stars. It used to be four.

On Lagoon Beach it is my understanding that there are 202 hotel rooms and 70 self-catering apartments in a separate wing that is graded as self-catering by the TGC.

Is Fountain Hotel the new one that was opened last year on the Hereengracht?

http://www.iapsouthafrica.co.za/static/documents/bid/pathology_bid_sec_3.pdf

There's an Orion in Kempton park at the intersection of R24 and N12, its about 17 floors. Can anyone provide us with an info on that one.

With new hotels being constructed on the way to 2010, I think we need to update this frequently.

PROVINCIAL BREAKDOWN OF ACCOMMODATION ESTBLISHMENTS GRADED TO DATE

Western Cape 1712 (Hotels: 154)
Gauteng 854 (Hotels: 118)
Kwazulu Natal 794 (Hotels: 64)
Eastern Cape 573 (Hotels: 49)
Mpumalanga 363
Limpopo 331
Northern Cape 315
North West 285
Free State 261

Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

The total number of Hotel Rooms contracted to MATCH as at the end of December 2007 is as follows


Total Contracted Hotels per Province

Province No. of Rooms
Eastern Cape 1,261
Free State/Northern Cape 684
Gauteng 8,159
KZN 3,688
Limpopo 575
Mpumalanga 864
North West 1,259
Western Cape 5,532
Total 22,022

i would not want to contract my hotel with match. after the chaos that ensured in germany with hotels actually losing out by being part of the fifa partner, it seems wiser not to join.

i would not want to contract my hotel with match. after the chaos that ensured in germany with hotels actually losing out by being part of the fifa partner, it seems wiser not to join.

as before, we do not enjoy the same luxury of excess hotel rooms as germany did. if anything we're falling short in some host cities.

yes i agree. BUT i see no benefit in signing up with Match if i am a hotel operator, my rooms will be filled anyway

yes i agree. BUT i see no benefit in signing up with Match if i am a hotel operator, my rooms will be filled anyway

Yes you are correct Dysan, MATCH needs you more than you need them. They probably going to offer you a fixed price that will be below what you can actually make during 2010.

LOL :lol::lol:

yes i agree. BUT i see no benefit in signing up with Match if i am a hotel operator, my rooms will be filled anyway

Agreed. Not all visitors will be so stupid as to be unable to find a room using their own skills instead of Match's service. Personally, if I were a potential 2010 visitor, I'd be skeptical of staying in a Match-affiliated room, because I'd be worried about paying extra for the 'convenience'.

im not clued up on accommodation, but the international marketing your hotel/lodge gets from the fifa.com site could be beneficial to some hotels/lodges/guest houses.

Surely it will be beneficial. There are thousands of tourists who will no doubt look for the FIFA 'seal of approval'. But I also am willing to bet that Dysan is absolutely correct - hoteliers who do not sign on with MATCH will fill their rooms, and I predict that they will do so without running a loss. As you pointed out yourself, Mo, there is no hotel room surplus in SA, so any hotel will be found by the tourists, regardless of the hotel's affiliation with MATCH.

any of the new ones recently announced going to challenge any here?

R1bn George complex for 2010 World Cup on track
13 May 2008 - Inet Bridge -

Intro
Building of a five-star luxury hotel worth nearly R1-billion at the Oubaai golf resort in Herold's Bay near George is on track.

By Janine Oelofse

Building of a five-star luxury hotel worth nearly R1-billion at the Oubaai golf resort in Herold's Bay near George – to be completed for the 2010 soccer World Cup – is on track.

The Global Hyatt Corporation and the MA Kharafi group have agreed that Hyatt will manage the hotel.

The 100-room luxury hotel and resort, to be called the Hyatt Regency Oubaai, will be Hyatt‘s second hotel in South Africa following the Hyatt Regency Johannesburg, which opened in 1995. Building started last August and should be finished in time for the 2010 soccer World Cup, according to project manager Mohamed Shetata.

In a statement on Monday, Hyatt and MA Kharafi said the hotel would open its doors early in 2010.

The hotel will form part of the Oubaai Golf and Lifestyle Centre, an upmarket residential and golf development which includes Ernie Els‘s first 18-hole championship golf course in South Africa, a golf academy and a lifestyle centre. Both the golf course and the lifestyle centre have been completed and are in operation.

The hotel will include a 200-seat convention centre, health spa and a 3000m² shopping complex. The resort is located five minutes from the George Airport and makes an ideal venue for a soccer team base camp.

MA Kharafi bought the Oubaai site, comprising 263 hectares with sea and mountain views, in 2000 with the express purpose of developing a luxury golf and lifestyle estate.

The group has invested more than R650-million in the project and will have spent R920-million by the time the hotel and retail complex is completed at the end of next year.

Mohamed Fahmy, managing director of MAK Hotel Holdings – part of the MA Kharafi group – said: “We are confident that the global travellers coming to South Africa in 2010 will be able to experience a one-of-a-kind African getaway with the availability of first-class leisure facilities.”

Gebhard Rainer, managing director of Hyatt Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said: “South Africa is one of the world‘s fastest-growing holiday and business destinations with endless opportunities for visitors of all interests.

The opening of Hyatt Regency Oubaai is part of Global Hyatt‘s initiative to expand its brand in Africa. “We are particularly proud to be associated with this development, in an idyllic setting overlooking the Indian Ocean.”

MA Kharafi, established in Kuwait a century ago, is a multi-national firm covering construction, manufacturing, IT, aviation, fast food franchises, agriculture, property and hotels.

Global Hyatt has more than 750 hotels and resorts in over 45 countries.

Source: The Herald

Southern Sun pushes ahead with R1,5bn capex plan, despite slowdown

South African hotel group Southern Sun is pressing ahead with a R1,5-billion, three-year expansion and refurbishment plan, despite the current slowdown in demand from both the tourist and corporate markets.

However, the planned spend is down on the R2,5-billion invested in the previous three-year cycle, when the focus had been on upgrading its hotel portfolio and replacing the Holiday Inn Garden Court brand with the group’s own identity.

New MD Graham Wood, who has occupied the position for less than 100 days, says the bulk of the new capital will be spent on four projects in Rustenburg, Witbank, Hyde Park and at One Monte, in the Montecasino precinct, north of Johannesburg.

Together, the projects – the first of which opened this week in Rustenburg and will host the Bafana Bafana team ahead of its game against Cameroon at the weekend, and the last of which is scheduled to open in May 2010 – would add nearly 600 new rooms to its existing domestic portfolio of 73 hotels, which together have more than 12 000 rooms.

Wood reveals that the company is also interrogating new prospects in Umhlanga, Durban and Johannesburg, but indicates that it has not yet committed to any of these ventures.

Southern Sun will be seeking to integrate green-building and operational techniques at its new facilities, partly as a response to the power crisis, but also to align itself to the growing international appetite for green hotels.

The group, which is focusing primarily on expanding its budget, economy and four-star brands, will hold back from any new five-star hotel investments until it is satisfied that it can secure the sites and the construction prices that will make such ventures viable.

The cost of building a new five-star room has surged from about R1,9-million-a-unit three years ago to as much as R3-million. This has also placed upward pricing pressure on lower-end hotel building costs.

Wood is of the view that the building supply sector remains overheated, but feels that prices will soften as the more generalised economic slowdown takes effect.

That slowdown is already evident in some industry statistics, with inbound travel having shown its first year-on-year decline in August, a trend that is expected to continued into September and October.

In addition, national hotel occupancy levels have moderated as the corporate travel market, in particular, has responded to the slowdown by cutting back on air travel and limiting the duration of trips.

FOOTBALL FILLIP
Wood anticipates that the slowdown might endure for the next six to eight months, but is optimistic that the British Lions Tour and the Confederations Cup, both of which will take place next year, will boost demand in 2009.

“The last British Lions tour saw 30 000 people visiting South Africa and we are expecting 50 000 this time around.

“We then hope that the economic fundamentals will recover to take us through to the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” Wood says.

Analysts estimate that the tournament could attract more than 350 000 visitors to the country, which could strain South Africa’s accommodation resources.

Southern Sun has already allocated 80% of its rooms to Match, the company tasked with arranging ticketing and accommodation for the event, and Wood is sanguine about prospects for an amicable resolution to the current spat between South African Tourism and Match.

South African Tourism CEO Moeketsi Mosola indicated recently that his organisation could quit the Match advisory board because Match had attempted to “bully” smaller establishments and independent hotels into dropping prices.

“I am concern about it, but I believe a resolution is imminent,” Wood says.

He argued that the Match system, which is based on selling accommodation in five-day-minimum tranches, will benefit companies such as Southern Sun, and reveals that about 20% of the 80% allocated by Southern Sun is already let.

“Therefore, we are still optimistic about the long-term outlook for the industry in South Africa.

“Yes, occupancy levels and rates will be under pressure for the next six to eight months, but we see a correction in mid-2009,” Wood avers, adding that he still believes there is sufficient space to add new accommodation capacity for 2010 and beyond.

SA may be in line for eight luxury hotels
26 November 2008

Johannesburg - German group Arabella Hotel Holdings International’s joint venture could see another eight hotels being built in SA in the next few years. The group, which has business co-operation with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, already plans to provide three new hotels by 2010 in SA and Namibia. It has identified sites in Sandton, Durban and Cape Town.

It is also looking at other areas, including Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein and Kimberley, says Heinz Grub, the newly appointed chief operating officer of Arabella South Africa Holding. He has previously managed the Le Royal Mansour Miridien in Casablanca, Morocco.

Grub said that ArabellaStarwood’s “area of exclusivity” included Germany, Switzerland and the Balearic Islands, but it had expanded to include SA and Namibia. “This means the Sheraton Pretoria is now part of ArabellaStarwood’s portfolio and all future projects in SA and Namibia will form part of the joint venture,” said Grub.

He said the group had already received financial backing from a South African bank which would partner them in the hotel venture in Cape Town. It could possibly be part of ArabellaStarwood’s “W” brand, a trendy and vibrant hotel product. This site was situated in the V&A Waterfront.

Grub said it would be difficult to speculate on the size of the investment as the group had a range of hotel brands. The investment would depend on which type of hotel was built. ArabellaStarwood owns and operates the ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel, opposite the Cape Town International Convention Centre, and the Western Cape Hotel and Spa, a five-star luxury resort hotel on the Arabella Golf Estate near Hermanus.

It also owns the Blaauwklippen Agricultural Estate in Stellenbosch and the Paulaner Brauhaus in the V&A Waterfront. Grub said while the group was confident about the economy of SA, the country?s biggest challenge was to address crime.

“We still have a lot of work to do about our (international) customers’ perceptions about crime, especially those from the US. Crime is still a bit of a stumbling block, but we try to put the issue of crime in perspective with other world cities such as New York”

www.businessday.co.za

ArabellaStarwood owns and operates the ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel, opposite the Cape Town International Convention Centre,

I thought that hotel was owned by Westin??

Durban, Cape Town and Sandton make the international top 20 for fastest occupation cost growth

26 Nov 2008 - eProp - CBRE/Broll

Intro
London’s West End and Moscow remain the world’s two most expensive office markets, respectively, while Hong Kong’s CBD, Tokyo’s Inner Central District and Mumbai’s Nariman Point round out the top five

This is according to CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (CBRE) Research’s semi-annual Global MarketView/ Office Occupancy Costs survey. Broll is CBRE’s South African partner.

The report tracks world markets with the highest as well as fastest-growing occupancy costs for the 12 months ended September 30, 2008.

The average rate of growth for office occupancy costs among the 172 markets monitored in the survey was 8%, almost double last year’s world inflation rate. Up 94.6%, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) had by far the fastest growing occupancy costs, with three of the top five fastest growing countries situated in the Middle East. The rise in occupancy costs in the UAE over the past twelve months has reflected market fundamentals—limited supply of quality office space and high demand from international firms, primarily law firms, financial institutions and real estate and construction companies planting a footprint in the UAE.

“Our current perceptions are greatly affected by the current economic malaise and we tend to forget how fast rents and occupancy costs were rising over the last 12 months,” said Dr. Raymond Torto, CBRE’s Global Chief Economist. “Clearly the rate of change is generally slowing, and in some markets the pricing direction is down. The turn in rent trajectory will provide some relief to occupiers and angst to owners. However, unlike previous downturns, which have occurred simultaneously with extensive overbuilding, the real estate market globally today is in a stronger position to weather the difficulties than in the past.”

Asia Pacific was the fastest growing region among markets in the top 50, at an average rate of 26.2%. Among the region’s ten entries into the top 50 fastest growing and second overall, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was up 51.4%. Multi-national corporation tenants have driven demand for the limited supply of prestige prime office buildings in that city; however Ho Chi Minh City’s rents largely surged in the fourth quarter of 2007 and the first half of 2008. Perth, Australia, was second in the region and fourth overall, up 45.2%, while Hong Kong’s CBD had the third largest increase in the region and 12th overall, up 29.1%.

Occupancy costs in the six Latin American markets that made the top 50 fastest growing rankings grew an average of 21.5%, with two new cities—Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Lima, Peru—making the list. São Paulo, Brazil, led the region and was the seventh fastest growing market overall, up 34%. São Paulo’s occupancy cost increase reflects a shortage of prime office space combined with a relatively strong local economy supported by global demand for commodities and a growing middle class. Meanwhile, of the nine North American markets in the top 50 fastest growing rankings (down from the last report’s15 markets), occupancy cost growth rates averaged 14.5%, the slowest of all the regions covered.

Asia-Pacific
Hong Kong jumped into the top three most expensive cities globally, with occupancy costs rising to $231.59. Ho Chi Minh City dropped from the top spot to number two among the top 50 fastest growing cities, while Perth, Australia, jumped up 10 spots in the most expensive rankings, coming in at number 31.

Europe
London’s West End remained the world’s most expensive office market at $248.66, and Moscow retained its number two spot at $234.73. The City of London was next among the European markets and eighth most expensive overall, at $146.61. In Europe, occupancy costs grew fastest in Moscow and Rome, with increases of 29.8% and 29.5%, respectively.

Richard Holberton, Director EMEA Research CB Richard Ellis, said: “European cities still account for over half of the top 50 most expensive global office markets. The fact that Moscow is the only European location that appears in the global list of top ten fastest growing markets, however, reflects the fact that the economic climate has slowed occupier activity across Europe in recent months, reducing upward pressure on occupier costs. European markets as a group are expected to experience reduced occupier costs over the course of next year as landlords seek to secure tenants in a tougher business environment.”

Americas
Five North American cities are among the world’s Top 50 most expensive office markets: Midtown Manhattan (15th at $98.08); Calgary CBD (38th at $66.58); suburban Los Angeles (41st at $63.58); Toronto CBD (43rd at $61.54); and Downtown New York City (48th at $59.16). In Latin America, São Paulo increased nine spots to 26th, at $75.13.

Top Ten Markets with Fastest Growing Occupancy Costs
(In local currency & measure)
1. Abu Dhabi, UAE
2. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
3. Dubai, UAE
4. Perth, Australia
5. Tel Aviv, Israel
6. Durban, South Africa
7. São Paulo, Brazil
8. Panama City, Panama
9. Cape Town, South Africa
10. Moscow, Russia

I thought that hotel was owned by Westin??

Westin is a brand within the Arabella group

The Durban list is set to change come dec 2008...as shown below

Largest Hotels in Durban

1. Southern Sun Elangeni - **** - 450 rooms - built 1971,1973
2. Garden Court South Beach - *** - 414 rooms - built 1972
3. Garden Court Marine Parade - *** - 344 rooms - built 1985
4. Durban Hilton - ***** - 327 rooms - built 1997
5. Southern Sun North Beach - ***** - 285 rooms - built 1978
6. Royal Hotel - ***** - 272 rooms - built 1979
7. Blue Waters Hotel - *** - 265 rooms - built 1972
8. Umhlanga Sands - *** - 237 rooms - built 1977
9. City Lodge Umhlanga -*** - 228 rooms - built 2003, 2008
10. Cabana Beach - *** - 218 rooms - built 1976
11. Protea Premier Umhlanga Ridge - **** - 206 rooms - built 2008
12. Suncoast Hotel - ***** - 180 rooms - built 2006


Dysan, please update and include the hotels under construction or planned that form part of this top 10 list.

^^ sure thing...here we go...this is based solely on completed or u/c hotels and NOT proposed ones

Largest Hotels in Durban

1. Southern Sun Elangeni - **** - 449 rooms - built 1971,1973
2. Garden Court South Beach - *** - 414 rooms - built 1972
3. Garden Court Marine Parade - *** - 346 rooms - built 1985
4. Durban Hilton - ***** - 327 rooms - built 1997
5. Southern Sun North Beach - ***** - 285 rooms - built 1978
6. Blue Waters Hotel - *** - 278 rooms - built 1972
7. Royal Hotel - ***** - 272 rooms - built 1979
8. Holiday Inn Express Umhlanga - *** - 254 rooms - u/c completion 2010
9. Umhlanga Sands - *** - 237 rooms - built 1977
10. Cabana Beach - *** - 218 rooms - built 1976
11. Protea Premier Umhlanga Ridge - **** - 208 rooms - built 2009
12. Breakers Resort - *** - 204 rooms -
13. Suncoast Hotel - ***** - 180 rooms - built 2006
14. Riverside Hotel - **** - 169 rooms - 1998
15. Tropicana Hotel - *** - 168 rooms
15. City Lodge Umhlanga Ridge - *** - 168 rooms - built 2003

Largest Under construction hotels (those with unknown room numbers at end)

1. Holiday Inn Express Umhlanga - *** - 254 rooms - completion 2010
2. Fairmont Zimbali - ***** - 187 rooms - completion 2009
3. Road Lodge Umhlanga - * - 125 rooms - completion 2009
4. Oyster box hotel - ***** - 107 rooms - completion 2009
5. Endless Horizons - ***** - 19 rooms (10 room expansion) - completion 2009
6. Quarters on Avondale - ***** - 18 rooms - completion 2009

Southern Sun Umhlanga Ridge - ****
Radisson Umhlanga - *****
Relais Gateway - ****
The Square boutique hotel - ****

^^ sure thing...here we go...this is based solely on completed or u/c hotels and NOT proposed ones

Largest Hotels in Durban

1. Southern Sun Elangeni - **** - 449 rooms - built 1971,1973
2. Garden Court South Beach - *** - 414 rooms - built 1972
3. Garden Court Marine Parade - *** - 346 rooms - built 1985
4. Durban Hilton - ***** - 327 rooms - built 1997
5. Southern Sun North Beach - ***** - 285 rooms - built 1978
6. Blue Waters Hotel - *** - 278 rooms - built 1972
7. Royal Hotel - ***** - 272 rooms - built 1979
8. Holiday Inn Express Umhlanga - *** - 254 rooms - u/c completion 2010
9. Umhlanga Sands - *** - 237 rooms - built 1977
10. Cabana Beach - *** - 218 rooms - built 1976
11. Protea Premier Umhlanga Ridge - **** - 208 rooms - built 2009
12. Breakers Resort - *** - 204 rooms -
13. Suncoast Hotel - ***** - 180 rooms - built 2006
14. Riverside Hotel - **** - 169 rooms - 1998
15. Tropicana Hotel - *** - 168 rooms
15. City Lodge Umhlanga Ridge - *** - 168 rooms - built 2003

Largest Under construction hotels (those with unknown room numbers at end)

1. Holiday Inn Express Umhlanga - *** - 254 rooms - completion 2010
2. Fairmont Zimbali - ***** - 187 rooms - completion 2009
3. Road Lodge Umhlanga - * - 125 rooms - completion 2009
4. Oyster box hotel - ***** - 107 rooms - completion 2009
5. Endless Horizons - ***** - 19 rooms (10 room expansion) - completion 2009
6. Quarters on Avondale - ***** - 18 rooms - completion 2009

Southern Sun Umhlanga Ridge - ****
Radisson Umhlanga - *****
Relais Gateway - ****
The Square boutique hotel - ****

Marriott Ridgeside?

Whats the situation on that one?

^^ nothing on it. Tongaat have a non disclosure on it at the moment...and anyway it would not qualify for that list anyway as it is not underconstruction