A NEW six-storey hotel is going to open for business in Margate on November 1, it was announced yesterday. “That’s really exciting news for Margate and the South Coast. “We have plenty of B&Bs and self-catering businesses, but what we need are more hotel rooms,” said a delighted Michael Bertram, the chief executive of South Coast Tourism. The hotel will have 60 rooms and is on Marine Drive – Margate’s main thoroughfare – overlooking the Blue Flag beaches.
It will be called BON Hotel Margate. The BON group has struck a joint venture agreement with the developer, who has not been named, to manage and market the hotel, with the rooms being sold under sectional title at prices ranging from R750 000 and with the owners obliged to place them in the hotel-operated rental pool. “Our joint venture agreement with the developer demonstrates our commitment to partner with property developers on hospitality projects where we can confidentially add value, to inject capital into our ventures, and to add significant value to partnerships with our hospitality experience,” said Guy Stehlik, the chief executive of BON Hotels.
He said that the hotel’s position close to the beach and town centre, and its likely appeal to passing walk-in trade, would preclude it from being too upmarket and exclusive. Stehlik was looking forward to working with domestic wholesalers, conference organisers and the travel trade in projecting the hotel into domestic markets. The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast needed to re-establish its rightful position as an exciting, value-packed, mid-market destination that catered for all spectrums of the tourism market, he said. The hotel would be positioned “in the three-star market, but with four-star facilities and five-star service”.
The announcement comes as Durban prepares to host the high-profile Hotel Investment Conference Africa today and tomorrow, and before Africa’s four-day premier tourism trade show, Indaba, at the Durban International Convention Centre, which starts on Saturday It also follows the recent South Coast announcement that the Blue Marlin Hotel in Scottburgh will be undergoing a R30 million facelift.
GOING UP: The new BON Hotel Margate on Marine Drive, which will open in time for the end of year holiday season.
