November 1, 2013 will see the opening of BON Hotel Margate, a six-story, 60-room, full-service hotel on Margate’s main thoroughfare overlooking the blue flag beaches.
Adding to their growing stable, BON Hotels, have concluded a joint venture with the developer, and to manage and market this exciting new hotel on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast, that will carry the name, BON Hotel Margate. Says Guy Stehlik, CEO of BON Hotels, “Our joint venture agreement with the developer demonstrates our commitment to partner with property developers on hospitality projects where we can confidently add value, to inject capital into our ventures, and to add significant value to partnerships with our hospitality experience”.
Margate is a surprisingly exciting and vibrant town and its beauty is obvious from the moment you enter into its sub-tropical paradise of golden beaches and coastal forests, where year- round sunshine maintains an inviting atmosphere, and makes it an extremely popular destination for families, students, conference delegates, golf lovers and more budget conscious travellers.
The new hotel, said Stehlik, will be situated on Marine Drive, within a few minutes’ walk of the beach with its hard won Blue Flag facilities – ablutions, showers and lifeguards are in place, with extensive shark netting to ensure safe bathing.
The hotel will be attractive not only to holiday-makers and families, but to the corporate, government and golfing market – with some of South Africa’s best golf courses in close proximity, two of which are rated amongst the top 12 in the country, and Durban only 120km’s away.
Other attractions include scuba-diving and deep sea fishing, bungee -jumping and hiking at nearby Oribi Gorge, the beautiful Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, golden beaches, lakes and lagoons. Stehlik says that the KZN South Coast needs to re-establish its rightful position as an exciting, value-packed, mid-market destination that caters to all spectrums of the South African tourism market and we will do everything in our power to assist in this regard.
Group conferencing, team building, day conferencing and meetings will constitute the hotel’s core business throughout the week, with the various venues accommodating up to 250 delegates, says Stehlik.
The rooms in the hotel will be spacious and modern and guests will have a choice of 1, 2 or 3 bedroom units, all with balconies and most with sea views. In addition to the regular hotel facilities, the units will also have WIFI and limited self- catering facilities. The rooms will be sold under sectional title at prices ranging from R750 000 upwards and the owners will be obliged to place them into the hotel-operated rental pool.
Stehlik added that BON Hotels is looking forward to working with domestic wholesalers, conference organisers and travel trade in projecting the hotel into the domestic markets.
Stehlik added that the hotel’s position close to the beach and to Margate village, and its likely ability to appeal to the passing walk-in trade, will preclude it from being too upmarket and exclusive. “BON Hotel Margate will be positioned in the 3-star market, but with 4 star facilities and 5 star service”!
